If you’re a fan of spine-chilling horror tales involving cursed VHS tapes and vengeful ghosts, you’re in luck! Just in time for Halloween, a phenomenal deal has dropped for The Ring Collection. This three-film 4K Blu-ray box set, originally priced at $90, is now available for an incredible $40. That’s over 50% off and the lowest price ever recorded for this collection!
This collection is your go-to for experiencing The Ring 2 and Rings in stunning 4K Blu-ray, as standalone 4K releases for these sequels aren’t available. However, if your heart belongs only to the original (and many argue, the best) film, The Ring’s 4K Blu-ray standard edition is currently discounted to $15.46. For collectors, the Limited Edition Steelbook can be yours for $24.49, down from its usual $35.
And for those eager to delve into the roots of this horror phenomenon, the recently released Ringu 4K Blu-ray Special Edition – the original Japanese film – is also available with a 30% discount. This is just one of many incredible horror movie and TV deals surfacing on Amazon as Halloween approaches. It’s the perfect opportunity to expand your spooky season watchlist!
Unpacking The Ring 4K Blu-ray Collection
This impressive 6-disc box set includes three 4K UHD discs and three 1080p Blu-ray discs. Shout Factory meticulously restored The Ring (2002) and The Ring Two (2005) using their original camera negatives. Even better, director Gore Verbinski, who helmed the first film, personally supervised and approved the 4K restoration for both movies. For Rings (2017), Shout Factory utilized the existing 4K master.
All three 4K discs boast Dolby Vision and HDR10, ensuring a visually stunning experience, along with dual audio tracks. The first two films feature DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0, while Rings comes with Master Audio 7.1 and 2.0. The 1080p Blu-ray version of The Ring benefits from the 4K scan of the negatives, offering superior visuals compared to prior Blu-ray releases. Notably, The Ring Two’s Blu-ray edition is the unrated cut.
The collection is also packed with bonus features, including the short film Rings, an audio commentary for The Ring Two, interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, and various behind-the-scenes featurettes. All special features, except for the audio commentary, are found on the 1080p Blu-ray discs.
- Disc 1: The Ring on 4K Blu-ray
- 4K Scan of Original Camera Negative
- Dolby Vision / HDR10
- Disc 2: The Ring on Blu-ray
- Based on 4K scan
- Rings: Short Film
- The Origin of Terror
- Ghost Girl Gone Global
- Interviews with cast and crew
- Don’t Watch This: Deleted Footage
- Trailer
- Disc 3: The Ring Two on 4K Blu-ray
- 4K Scan of Original Camera Negative
- Dolby Vision / HDR10
- Audio Commentary: Film critics Emily Higgins and Billy Dunham
- Disc 4: The Ring Two on Blu-ray
- Unrated Cut
- The Making of the Ring Two
- Rings: Short Film
- Fear of Film: Special Effects
- Faces of Fear: The Phenomenon
- Samara: From Eye of Icon
- The Power of Symbols
- Trailer
- Disc 5: Rings on 4K Blu-ray
- 4K Master
- Dolby Vision / HDR10
- Disc 6: Rings on Blu-ray
- Based on 4K Master
- Resurrecting the Dead
- Terror Comes Full Circle
- Scary Scenes
- Deleted Scenes
- Extended Scenes
It’s important to remember that The Ring Two and Rings are exclusively available on 4K Blu-ray in the US through this box set. While Shout Factory did release individual 4K editions in 2014 and 2017, those are now out of print. When The Ring Collection first debuted last March, it was also the only way to get the first film in 4K Blu-ray, though a standalone release for The Ring became available last October.
Current Deals on The Ring Series
4K Blu-ray Options:
- The Ring (4K) – Now $15.46 (originally $20)
- The Ring Limited Edition Steelbook (4K) – Now $24.49 (originally $35)
- The Ring Collection (4K) – Now $40 (originally $90)
DVD Options:
- The Ring Collection (DVD) – $20
- The Ring + The Ring 2 (DVD) – Now $6.32 (originally $10)
- The Ring (DVD) – Now $5.38 (originally $6)
Ringu Series (Japanese):
- Ringu 4-Film Collector’s Set (Blu-ray) – $59
- Ringu Special Edition (4K) – Now $35 (originally $50) | Released September 2
- Ringu Special Edition (Blu-ray) – $17
While the Ring Collection doesn’t include the Steelbook case, it’s worth noting how visually striking it is. The design evokes the iconic staticky VHS tape from the film, with Samara emerging from the well. The interior art shows Samara in a stark room, and the slipcase perfectly captures the moment the tape cuts to black.
The 2002 American remake of The Ring, directed by Gore Verbinski, was a pivotal film that ushered in a new era of horror in the early 2000s. Its central premise, revolving around a cursed VHS tape, a prophetic phone call, and a deadly seven-day countdown, felt distinctly old-school even then, adding to its eerie charm.
Delve deeper into the phenomenon by exploring the Japanese film series and the original book series that inspired this global horror sensation.
Exploring the Japanese “Ringu” Series
Arrow Video recently unveiled a 4K Blu-ray edition of Ringu on September 2. Though Arrow Films restored the 1998 Japanese horror classic back in 2019, this is its first 4K Blu-ray release, building upon the earlier 1080p Blu-ray which was based on the same 4K scan.
The Ringu 4K Blu-ray edition supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 and includes all the special features from its original Blu-ray release:
- Reversible sleeve with exclusive artwork
- 4K Scan from Original Camera Negative
- Dolby Vision / HDR10
- Lossless Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0
- English subtitles
- Audio commentary: David Kalat (film historian)
- The Ringu Legacy: Interviews with critics and filmmakers
- A Vicious Circle: Interview with critic Kat Ellinger on the career of Hideo Nakata
- Circumnavigating Ringu: Video essay by critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on the evolution of the franchise
- Spooks, Sighs, and Videotape: Video essay by critic Jasper Sharp on J-horror
- Sadako’s Video
- Trailers
While Ringu’s Special Edition Blu-ray is available for just $17, consider the Ringu 3-Disc Special Edition Collector’s Set if you’re a true completist. Originally $100 in 2020, this set is the Japanese equivalent of The Ring Collection, featuring Ringu, Ringu 2, Ringu 0, and Spiral, along with all the bonus features mentioned above.
It’s interesting to note that while The Ring is the American adaptation of Ringu, the other three films in this Japanese collection have not received Hollywood adaptations.
Historically, Ringu and its original sequel, Spiral, premiered on the same day in theaters. While Ringu was a success, Spiral unfortunately flopped, leading to its effective “erasure” by Ringu 2 the following year.
Despite both being named “2,” Ringu 2 and The Ring Two diverge significantly in their storytelling, though they share a common director: Hideo Nakata, who directed both the original Ringu and Ringu 2. The Japanese sequel picks up a month after the events of Ringu. The 2000 film Ring 0 serves as a prequel to the first Ringu.
The Japanese films generally adhere more closely to Koji Suzuki’s original novels and stories. In contrast, the Hollywood adaptations, while drawing inspiration from the books and Japanese films (for example, Rings was inspired by the novel Spiral), often introduce many elements not found in the source material.
The Ring Book Series by Koji Suzuki
Koji Suzuki’s terrifying series encompasses six books, with five currently available in English. If the films have captivated you but you haven’t yet explored their literary origins, four of the novels and the short story collection Birthday can be found in paperback for $14 or less. Interestingly, stories within Birthday were the inspiration for the prequel film Ringu 0. For those planning to watch the Japanese movies, reading the books first could significantly enrich your viewing experience.
Paperback Editions of The Ring Books:
- Ring: A Novel – $14
- Spiral: A Novel – Now $11.86 (originally $14)
- Loop: A Novel – Now $13 (originally $14)
- Birthday: Stories – $14
- S: A Novel – Now $11 (originally $15)
Beyond the Ring universe, we also recommend some of Suzuki’s other compelling works. His short story collection Dark Water is available in paperback for $13. Additionally, you can find his Shirley Jackson Award-winning novel Edge for $13.90 (originally $15). Other notable Suzuki novels available in English include the love stories The Shining Sea and Paradise.