Ju-on: The Grudge(Movie, 2003)

Ju-On: The Grudge is a 2002 Japanese supernatural horror film written and directed by Takashi Shimizu. It is the third installment in the Ju-On series and the first to be released theatrically (the first two being direct-to-video productions). It stars Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Takashi Matsuyama and Yui Ichikawa. Ju-On: The Grudge premiered at the Screamfest Film Festival on 18 October 2002, by Lions Gate Films. The film received favourable reviews from critics, but was initially unfavourably compared to another Japanese horror film, Ring. Subsequent reception has been more positive, with both Ju-On and Ring being considered two of the greatest J-horror films ever made. It spawned a franchise, an American remake, 2006 and 2009 sequels, a 2020 sidequel to the remake and a prequel television series entitled JU-ON: Origins, which premiered in 2020. ()