The Ring American remake trilogy is set to be released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray box set by Scream Factory later this year, Collider is reporting. The American series is based on the celebrated Hideo Nakata-directed 1998 Japanese film Ring.
The upcoming collection will include the original 2002 film, which was helmed by Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski. The box set will also feature the remake’s 2005 sequel, The Ring Two, and the franchise’s third installment, 2017’s Rings.
The Ring‘s triple pack collection is set to be released following the distribution of such fellow iconic horror movies as Scream 3, Bride of Chucky and Night of the Demons in 4K earlier this year. The upcoming release will include a 4K/Blu-ray combo pack that will be secured in a slip box case. The artwork for the slipcover features the iconic image of the series’ beloved villain, Samara Morgan, coming out of a television screen
The original remake follows investigative journalist Rachel (Naomi Watts, in one of her breakout American roles) as she’s trying to find closure for her sister whose daughter recently died under mysterious circumstances. The reporter learns from her niece’s friends that her death may have been linked to an urban legend surrounding a cursed videotape that supposedly kills its viewers seven days after they watch it.
Rachel is skeptical about the story until she discovers that the deaths of several other teens who were also seemingly connected to the tape. Eager to investigate the case, she watches the video herself, which cements the fact that the urban legend was true all along. This puts Rachel and the people she loves in a deadly game, especially after she realizes that she now only has seven days left to unravel the mystery before it’s too late for her.
Aside from Watts, The Ring also stars Martin Henderson as Noah Clay, Rachael Bella as Rebecca Kotler, Amber Tamblyn as Katherine Embry, Brian Cox as Richard Morgan, Shannon Cochran as Anna Morgan, David Dorfman as Aidan Keller, Lindsay Frost as Ruth Embry and Jane Alexander as Dr. Grasnik. Daveigh Chase brought the iconic role of Samara to life on screen.
While American remakes of beloved Japanese horror films are rarely well received, The Ring is a rare expectation. The critically acclaimed psychological supernatural drama is one of the highest-grossing horror remakes of all time. Verbinski infused the movie with the same sense of grand atmosphere that he incorporated into the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, which he’s best known for directing outside of The Ring.
However, when The Ring Two was initially distributed in theaters two-and-a-half years after its predecessor, it didn’t receive as much critical acclaim or commercial success. But upon its release, it did gain attention for being helmed by Nakata, who directed the first two entries of the Japanese Ring series. However, since its theatrical distribution, The Ring Two has gained a cult following.
After The Ring was a surprise success in the American market, it also inspired multiple remakes based on other Asian horror movies. Throughout the rest of the 2000s other American horror films that were inspired by successful Asian horror features included The Grudge, Dark Water, One Missed Call, Shutter, The Eye and The Uninvited. However, many didn’t compare to the legacy of their source material.
The Ring collection will be released on December 12, 2023, and will cost $89.98. The six-disc 4K and Blu-ray box set can be pre-ordered on Amazon. The franchise may see future installments if the 4K collection helps revive interest amongst horror fans.
Arrow Video has released the original Japanese franchise as a Ringu Collection Blu-ray set, which can be ordered on Amazon. The collection includes Nakata’s Ringu, as well as Ringu 2, Ringu 0 and Spiral.