The Ring is based on the 1998 Japanese horror classic, Ringu. Directed by Hideo Nakata, the film was an instant hit and became a part of a cluster of horror films that hailed out of the land of the rising sun. The J-Horror boom included films such as Audition, Ju-on: The Grudge, and Pulse.
The frenzy of J-Horror films around the turn of the 21st century deeply impacted American cinema as well. Along with The Ring, The Grudge and Pulse were also developed into Hollywood remakes. However, neither of the latter two films was able to stand up to the success of The Ring.