The Friday the 13th franchise started as a way to cash in on the success of Halloween, and several Jason movies have matched up to the John Carpenter classic in terms of success. Director Sean S. Cunningham took an ad out in Variety calling it “The Most Terrifying Film Ever Made,” all before the movie even had a plot, according to Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th. Other films had the same goal of matching up a camp setting or day on the calendar to a slasher killer, but they never had the pure effect of Friday the 13th.
With writing that feels organic to the characters and the time period, Friday the 13th set a precedent that 11 follow-up movies have tried to match or top. These movies brought more victims to Crystal Lake for Jason Vorhees to dispatch. Soon, the Jason movies took him away from the lake setting, sending him to New York City, Elm Street, and even on a trip into outer space. Through it all, Jason killed 195 people on his way to becoming one of the most iconic slasher killers in horror movie history.
12 Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday
1993
Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday 1
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Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday is the ninth film in the horror/slasher franchise, directed by Adam Marcus. Jason Vorhees returns as a malevolent spirit seeking the means to resurrect himself – but to do so, he must find a surviving member of his bloodline. Leaping between bodies, Jason continues his trail of carnage in Crystal Lake as he hunts down his half-sister and her infant daughter.
Director Adam Marcus Release Date August 13, 1993 Studio(s) Sean S. Cunningham Films Distributor(s) New Line Cinema Writers Jay Huguely , Dean Lorey Cast John D. LeMay , Kari Keegan , Erin Gray , Allison Smith , Steven Culp , Steven Williams , Kane Hodder Runtime 90 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $3 Million Expand
After Paramount’s decade with the series, New Line took over with the help of the original film’s Sean S. Cunningham and gave audiences the very different Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. Cunningham brought on the very young Adam Marcus (23 at the time) to write and direct the film, and few could argue he played it safe. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday found a way to balance the original films’ cut-and-dry layouts and tones with high-concept, body-swapping material. The low box office finally doomed the franchise until the next Jason movies saw him go into space and then Elm Street to battle Freddy.
Related Friday the 13th’s Future Is The Brightest It’s Been In Years
Friday the 13th franchise’s new installment’s production was on a downward spiral for quite some time, but some new updates indicate a turnaround.
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11 Jason X
2001
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Jason X is the tenth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise. This 2001 sci-fi horror film brings back slasher icon Jason Voorhees in 2455 after being cryogenically frozen for 445 years. As usual, anyone who crosses the path of the now cybernetically enhanced killer suffers a painful death, this time in outer space.
Director James Isaac Release Date April 26, 2002 Studio(s) Crystal Lake Entertainment , Friday X Productions Distributor(s) New Line Cinema Writers James Isaac Cast Kane Hodder , David Cronenberg , Lexa Doig , Lisa Ryder , Chuck Campbell , Melyssa Ade , Peter Mensah Runtime 93 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $14 million Expand
Jason wielded his iconic horror movie weapon, the machete, in space for the late James Isaac’s Jason X. Seen by some as the nadir of the Friday the 13th franchise, Jason X blows most of its comparably “high” budget on the opening credits (where the audience sees themselves ascending from Hell). While the movie received poor reviews, it was at least funny and highly creative. A frozen face smash kill was unlike any kill seen before in the Jason movies and there was a hilarious callback to the sleeping bag scene in a holo-deck scene. This movie also saw Jason battle a female cyborg in an inventive battle so it gets points for being different.
10 Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
1989
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Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan is the eighth installment in the horror/slasher franchise featuring the hockey-masked serial killer Jason Vorhees. Jason is resurrected again, setting him on a killing spree aboard a teen-filled yacht. However, the survivors escape into New York City, setting the zombified serial killer loose on the Big Apple.
Director Rob Hedden Release Date July 28, 1989 Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Rob Hedden Cast Jensen Daggett , Scott Reeves , Barbara Bingham , Peter Mark Richman , Martin Cummins , Kane Hodder Runtime 100 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $5.3 Million Expand
Jason Takes Manhattan is the eighth and final Friday the 13th installment of the Paramount golden years, but most fans hated it. Based on fan scores, it ranked at 4.5 on IMDb and a low 27% on Rotten Tomatoes audience score. While almost none of the Jason movies had positive critical scores, this was one of the movies that the fans agreed fell short of expectations. Part of the problem was taking Jason to New York City and out of Crystal Lake while another problem was budget limitations keeping the project from exploring enough of New York City. It did feature one of the best Friday the 13th kills as Jason has a boxing match with one victim.
Related I’m So Disappointed A24 Canceled Its Friday The 13th TV Show – It Sounded Perfect
Hannibal showrunner Bryan Fuller’s canceled plans for Friday the 13th’s prequel show, Crystal Lake, sounded like they would have been incredible.
However, fan opinion of Jason Takes Manhattan has grown more positive in the years since its release. The film’s camp and goofy premise makes it stand out among the already campy franchise, turning it into a fun watch. When compared to some of the aforementioned Friday the 13th movies, which can tend to feel generic due to the repetitive nature of the franchise, Friday the 13th Part VIII‘s change of setting at least puts a fun twist on the formula, even if it is far from the best that Friday the 13th has to offer.
9 Friday The 13th Part III
1982
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Directed by Steve Miner, Friday the 13th Part III is the third film in the horror/slasher franchise and picks up directly after the events of Part 2. Wounded and recovering from his last killing spree, Jason Vorhees prepares for his next set of victims when a new group of teenagers arrives at a remote cabin on Crystal Lake.
Director Steve Miner Release Date August 13, 1982 Studio(s) Jason Inc. Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Martin Kitrosser , Carol Watson Cast Dana Kimmell , Paul Kratka , Richard Brooker , Tracie Savage , Jeffrey Rogers , Catherine Parks , Larry Zerner Runtime 95 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $2.2 Million Expand
There’s something about Friday the 13th Part III that feels like a natural continuation from the first two films while simultaneously being a step in a darker direction. Jason was never scarier than he was in Part III, and he was also never more cold and ruthless. The filmmakers also got away with some of the most shocking imagery seen in the franchise, particularly Vera’s spear-in-the-eye death, expectant father Andy’s bisection while walking on a handstand, and the pregnant Debbie’s hammock demise. It’s a grim film with the best third act of the franchise, but it isn’t as widely accepted as the first two.
8 Friday The 13th Part 2
1981
Friday the 13th Part 2 
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Friday the 13th Part 2 was directed by Steve Miner and written by Ron Kurz. It’s a direct sequel to the horror/slasher film Friday the 13th and is the second overall movie in the series. Two months after the first film’s events, the only surviving camper is murdered by a new unknown entity, acting as a catalyst for a new massacre at Camp Crystal Lake.
Director Steve Miner Release Date May 1, 1981 Studio(s) Georgetown Productions Inc. Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Ron Kurz Cast Amy Steel , John Furey , Adrienne King , Stu Charno , Warrington Gillette , Steve Daskewisz , Walt Gorney Runtime 87minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $1.25million Expand
Steve Miner, a producer on the original, took over the directorial reins for Friday the 13th Part II and delivered a film just as entertaining and possibly even more well put together. However, it doesn’t quite match the gorily inventive and grisly heights of the original, even if it did bring the series’ iconic antagonist to the forefront, as this was the first movie that had Jason as the killer. It also introduced the franchise’s best protagonist, Ginny Field, who only appeared in the second movie. It seems strange that she never once returned for any of the sequels after such a great performance in this movie.
Related I Can’t Believe How Much Disrespect 2009’s Friday The 13th Reboot Still Gets
The Friday the 13th remake pays homage to the original Jason Voorhees franchise while carving out a space of its own with a mix of comedy and horror.
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At the time of its release, this was only one of two Friday the 13th films, meaning that the formula still felt fresh and unique. In retrospect, however, Friday the 13th Part II doesn’t really stand out from the rest of the franchise, with it seeming like just another generic entry in the slasher series. While there is still fun to be had, the restrictions of its 1981 release date mean that it feels too close to the original film, with later films having more opportunities to evolve the classic formula.
7 Friday The 13th: A New Beginning
1985
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Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is the fifth film in the horror/slasher franchise directed by Danny Steinmann. Set over a decade after the last film, Tommy Jarvis returns after years spent in an institution after he slew Jason Vorhees to protect himself and his sister. However, when a new killer donning the mask of Jason arrives at Crystal Lake, Tommy must face his nightmare-given form once again as a new group of teenagers struggle to stay alive.
Director Danny Steinmann Release Date March 22, 1985 Studio(s) Georgetown Productions Inc. , Terror, Inc. Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Martin Kitrosser , David Cohen , David Steinmann Cast Melanie Kinnaman , John Shepherd , Shavar Ross , Richard Young , Marco St. John , Tom Morga , Dick Wieand Runtime 92 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $2.2 Million Expand
Danny Steinmann’s Friday the 13th: A New Beginning is one of the most notorious Jason movies for one big reason. This was the only movie in the franchise that didn’t have Jason Voorhees in the movie. Tommy Jarvis was back, and he was having nightmares of Jason years after the killer’s death. However, when Jason returned and started killing again, no one could figure out how he survived. That is because this was a copycat Jason. A New Beginning has more detractors than defenders, but it feels in line with the first four more than any subsequent entry when it comes to the violent kills on display.
6 Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood
1988
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Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood is the seventh mainline film in the iconic horror/slasher franchise, directed by John Carl Buechler. Following a traumatic incident from her childhood, a telekinetic teenager named Tina Shepard returns to her old home on Crystal Lake years later, where she accidentally resurrects the masked serial killer, Jason Vorhees.
Director John Carl Buechler Release Date May 13, 1988 Studio(s) Friday Four, Inc. Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Manuel Fidello , Daryl Haney Cast Lar Park Lincoln , Kevin Blair , Susan Blu , Terry Kiser , Kane Hodder , Susan Jennifer Sullivan , Elizabeth Kaitan Runtime 88 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $2.8 Million Expand
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood featured one of the best Jason designs in any movie in the franchise. It also changed things in the Jason movies by introducing a protagonist with superpowers in Tina Shepard, a young woman who had telekinetic abilities, which was how Jason was brought back from the bottom of Crystal Lake for his killing spree to start again. The movie was a huge success, with a $19.1 million box office on only a $2.8 million budget (via The Numbers). The movie had low critical reviews, as is the norm for the franchise, but dollars made sure the Jason movies continued on,
5 Friday The 13th
2009
Friday the 13th (2009) 0
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Friday the 13th is a remake of the 1980s iconic horror slasher franchise, directed by Marcus Nispel and released in 2009. This reboot centers on Clay Miller, a young man searching for his missing sister in Crystal Lake. As Clay runs into a group of friends vacationing at the ill-fated lake, a hockey-masked killer begins to stalk them relentlessly as they approach the campgrounds.
Director Marcus Nispel Release Date February 13, 2009 Studio(s) New Line Cinema , Paramount Pictures , Platinum Dunes , Crystal Lake Entertainment Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Damian Shannon , Mark Swift Cast Jared Padalecki , Danielle Panabaker , Aaron Yoo , Amanda Righetti , Travis Van Winkle , Derek Mears Runtime 97 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $19 Million Expand
The first 15 minutes of Marcus Nispel’s Friday the 13th remake are phenomenal. It swiftly introduces a group of teens looking for weed, has two of them have sex, and then Jason kills them all, save for one. But then the movie repeats itself, only in a more elongated fashion with new characters. This arrived in an era where Hollywood was remaking several classic horror movies, and it was a box office success, making $92.7 million on a $19 million budget (via The Numbers), the second-highest gross of the Jason movies, although that wasn’t enough to warrant another entry in the years since its release.
4 Freddy Vs. Jason
2003
Freddy vs. Jason 3
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The rise of Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees in the ‘80s made them two of horror’s most iconic villains, and in 2003 after years in development hell, the pair finally faced off. In order to return to power, Freddy (Robert Englund) needs people to be scared of him again. To make this happen, Freddy resurrects Jason (Ken Kirzinger) and tricks him into going on a killing spree around Springfield. Things don’t go according to plan when Lori (Monica Keena) and her friends fight back, which results in Freddy and Jason duking it out for supremacy.
Director Ronny Yu Release Date August 15, 2003 Studio(s) New Line Cinema , Crystal Lake Entertainment Distributor(s) New Line Cinema , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Mark Swift , Damian Shannon Cast Robert Englund , Ken Kirzinger , Monica Keena , Jason Ritter , Kelly Rowland , Chris Marquette Runtime 98 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th , A Nightmare on Elm Street Budget $30 million Main Genre Horror Expand
Ronny Yu’s Freddy vs. Jason showed that the director’s successful Bride of Chucky was no fluke, but rather the work of someone who knows how to reboot dormant horror franchises by giving fans what they want. The movie saw Jason and Freddy go to battle with The Nightmare on Elm Street icon manipulated Jason to put fear into the hearts of Elm Street kids once again. Out of all the Jason movies, this made the most money of the entire franchise, making $92.7 million on a $19 million budget (via The Numbers). It also had the third-highest critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes with 42% and fans liked it, giving it a 50% audience score.
3 Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter
1984
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Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is the fourth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise. Directed by Joseph Zito, the film continues the story of Jason Voorhees, the infamous and relentless killer, who goes on another murderous spree. Set in the familiar locale of Crystal Lake, it focuses on a group of teens who become Jason’s latest targets, culminating in a climactic confrontation meant to bring the saga to an end.
Director Joseph Zito Release Date April 13, 1984 Writers Barney Cohen , Bruce Hidemi Sakow , Ron Kurz , Victor Miller , Carol Watson , Martin Kitrosser Cast Judie Aronson , Kimberly Beck , Joan Freeman , Barbara Howard , Corey Feldman , Erich Anderson , Peter Barton , Crispin Glover Character(s) Samantha , Trish Jarvis , Mrs. Jarvis , Sara , Tommy Jarvis , Rob Dier , Doug , Jimmy Mortimer Runtime 91 Minutes Main Genre Horror Expand
The Jarvis house is one of the most iconic locations from the Friday the 13th game, just as it’s one of the top locations from the films. Positioned just by Crystal Lake, the Jarvis house is a perfect location for a “final” Friday the 13th because it added a new dynamic to the mix. The Final Chapter moved away from the teens-getting-slashed formula of the first three films to bring a single mother and her two kids into the mix. But the fourth film of the franchise managed to stand out because of who it primarily followed. Namely, the young Corey Feldman’s Tommy Jarvis, the ultimate Friday the 13th protagonist if there is one.
Related Wild Friday The 13th Theory Puts A Tragic Twist On Jason Voorhees’ Slasher Legacy
A Friday the 13th theory explains why Jason Voorhees kills while also adding a tragic twist that makes his story and legacy even more tragic.
2 Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
1986
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives 2
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The sixth film in the franchise, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, is a horror/slasher film that brings back Tommy Jarvis to contend with Jason Vorhees again. After Jarvis accidentally resurrects Jason while trying to destroy his body for good, Tommy must battle his inner demons and return to Crystal Lake to stop Jason’s undead rampage against a new group of teens and adults.
Director Tom McLoughlin Release Date August 1, 1986 Studio(s) Terror, Inc. Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Tom McLoughlin Cast Thom Mathews , Jennifer Cooke , David Kagen , Kerry Noonan , Renée Jones , Tom Fridley , Darcy DeMoss , C. J. Graham Runtime 86 Minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $3 Million Expand
Tom McLoughlin’s Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, is a film that’s much better than it had any right to be, considering it’s the sixth installment of a franchise. The film is a testament to just how big a filmmaker McLoughlin should have become. Serving as both writer and director, McLoughlin made a late installment of an at-the-time slumping series somewhat reputable. Jason Lives is effectively a precursor to Wes Craven’s Scream, possessing the ability to wink at the audience while simultaneously giving the fans the kills they paid for, to begin with.
1 Friday The 13th
1980
Friday the 13th 2
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Friday the 13th is a horror-slasher film by director Sean S. Cunningham and follows a group of camp counselors who are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer known to be the site of a child’s drowning and a grisly double murder. The film began a decades-long franchise that would eventually lead to the creation of Jason Vorhees, one of the most popular horror icons of all time.
Director Sean S. Cunningham Release Date May 9, 1980 Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures , Warner Bros. Writers Victor Miller Cast Peter Brouwer , Adrienne King , Betsy Palmer , Jeannine Taylor , Kevin Bacon , Robbi Morgan , Harry Crosby Runtime 95 minutes Franchise(s) Friday the 13th Budget $550,000 Expand
Sean S. Cunningham never really directed a major film outside of Friday the 13th, nor did he helm any of the sequels, but he did introduce the iconic Camp Crystal Lake to the world. The original Friday the 13th was lambasted by critics, to the point that Roger Ebert irresponsibly put poor Betsy Palmer’s mailing address on a public forum for all to see. In reality, Friday the 13th is extremely tame unless compared to John Carpenter’s Halloween or Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Friday the 13th is a journeyman filmmaking classic and one of cinema’s greatest success stories.
Friday the 13th is surprising in how different it is from the modern conception of Friday the 13th, with the original film barely featuring Jason Vorhees and not featuring his iconic hockey mask at all. While the original Friday the 13th did set the stage for what is to come, it still remains an achievement in the slasher genre, with it being better than any of the sequels that came after.