Ring 2

Mai Takano dives into a mystery after the death of her boyfriend and soon discovers a haunted videotape that curses anyone who watches it to die seven days later. The tale expands when the boyfriend's young son, Yoichi, begins to display eerie powers linking him to infamous spirit Sadako. As Mai races to understand the link between the boy and the footage, she confronts a chain of events that threaten their lives. With time running out, she must untangle the supernatural mechanism behind the curse and find a way to protect both herself and Yoichi from a fate they never asked for. With pacing and a claustrophobic atmosphere, the tone balances dread with intrigue about memory and media shaping fear.

Directed by Hideo Nakata, Ring 2 continues the Ring universe created by Kōji Suzuki and Hiroshi Takahashi. Released in 1999, the production carries the same eerie atmosphere and builds on the original's premise while expanding the Sadako myth for global audiences.

The film earned roughly 31.4 million dollars worldwide on a modest six million dollar budget, signaling strong profitability for a horror sequel and underscoring the Ring series' international appeal, making it one of the more successful entries in the franchise.

As part of the Ring franchise Ring 2 helped expand the Sadako myth and cemented the series' influence on 1990s horror. The image of a cursed videotape and the idea of technology spreading terror found echoes in later thrillers, and its themes resonated in remakes and spin offs across cultures.

Reception was mixed with praise for Nakata's atmosphere and a darker mood that expands Ring mythos, though critics argued the sequel doesn't match the original's impact. Reviewers note the film emphasizes family bonds, memory, and the consequences of media curses, with some praising its tone while others found pacing uneven.