The Friday The 13th franchise is one of the biggest in horror history. With the iconic villain Jason Voorhees and the memorable Camp Crystal Lake from which his origin story spawned, the series has spanned 4 memorable decades.
Celebrate this Friday the 13th with us as we run down what we love about each of the films, and then nab our Deluxe Collection Blu-ray to draw your own conclusions about which film in the franchise reigns supreme.
Friday The 13th (1980)
Friday the 13th is a film that helped cement the slasher genre in horror history, thanks to director Sean S. Cunningham’s desire to capitalize on the success of Halloween and the masterful contributions of some of horror’s greatest talents. Legendary special effects artist Tom Savini brought the kills to life in brutally creative ways, including Kevin Bacon’s now-iconic death scene, where an arrow pierces through his throat while he lies in bed—a terrifying reminder that no one is safe, not even under the covers.
What truly set Friday the 13th apart, however, was its shocking ending. Just when you think you’ve figured everything out, the movie flips your expectations. Jason Voorhees, the name that would become synonymous with the franchise, was not the killer. Instead, it was his mother, Mrs. Pamela Voorhees, played with ferocious intensity by acclaimed Broadway actress Betsy Palmer. Palmer’s performance is the bloody beating heart of the movie, a villain driven by grief and revenge who truly thinks she’s in the right. Screenwriter Victor Miller was never a fan of the sequels because he preferred Mrs. Voorhees as the killer, and Jason as a victim.
You can’t talk Friday the 13th without discussing composer Harry Manfredini, who created one of the most instantly recognizable horror themes, standing alongside Jaws, Psycho, and Halloween. His famous “ki-ki-ki-ma-ma-ma” sound came from the dialogue of the film. He took the line “Kill her, Mommy!” and then spoke the “ki” from “kill” and the “ma” from “mommy” in a rhythmic, echoing style. The result is a haunting sound that perfectly captures the stalking presence of the killer and has been knocked off in plenty of camp horror flicks since.
Friday The 13th Part 2
Friday the 13th Part 2 wastes no time delivering a shocking twist, killing off the original final girl, Alice Hardy, in the opening scene—a bold move that predates Scream's infamous Drew Barrymore bait-and-switch by more than a decade. From there, it dives into a story that elevates everything fans loved about the first film.
Knowing Jason Voorhees is actually the killer this time brings a raw brutality to the franchise. One of the film’s standout moments is when final girl Ginny (played by Amy Steel) outsmarts Jason using a psychological trick—pretending to be his mother. This clever moment adds layers to both characters, making their showdown more intense than a simple cat-and-mouse game.
The film also gives fans one of the longest and most suspenseful chase scenes in horror history. The kills are more creative, the tension is tighter, and for some, this sequel is even better than the original—perfecting the slasher formula that would define the rest of the series.
Behind the scenes, special makeup effects artist Carl Fullerton stepped in to take over from Tom Savini, creating grisly effects that helped solidify the film's reputation. Fullerton’s career would later include classics like The Silence of the Lambs, Goodfellas, and Philadelphia, where he earned an Oscar nomination.
Friday the 13th Part 2 is a horror sequel that proves sometimes, the second time’s the charm.
Friday the 13th Part III - Ben S.
With the series invigorated by a new focal antagonist, director Steven Miner and producer Frank Mancuso Jr. returned from Friday the 13th Part 2 to usher more Jason Voorhees and more hapless victims into “A New Dimension in Terror.” In 1982, no self-respecting franchise would be caught dead releasing their third installment without tacking on a “-D!” after “Part 3” and slapping some red and blue stereoscopy over its cinematography.
Story-wise, Part 3 doesn’t strive to break the mold. It picks up right after the events of the previous film, and, of course, another group of teens has descended upon Crystal Lake for a few days in the woods. But appealing young actors here break up some of the sameyness of the first 2 casts, and when Jason finally acquires his iconic hockey mask, the franchise really gels as an American folk villain is truly born. Purists can defend the originals however they want, but to the casual viewer, Part 3 will feel more Friday the 13th-y than anything that came before.
Miner and Mancuso celebrate their murderous debutante by crystallizing key moments of his carnage into entertaining set pieces whose spectacle pops off the screen. A shameless gimmick, the 3-D work is nevertheless by turns awesome, silly, and inventive. Weapons are brandished, axes are swung, Jason lunges— all directly into camera. If a creepy old drifter on the edge of town shows off the nasty-ass eyeball he likes to carry around, he’s gonna hold it out—you guessed it—DIRECTLY INTO CAMERA. If the affable stoner comic relief finds himself overwhelmed by a stovetop popcorn popsplosion while trying to stave off a case of the munchies, you’d better believe you’re gonna get a POV shot of the kernels raining down all around you.
But when the script's action grinds to a halt so that ‘Final Girl’ Chris can recount her tale of escaping the Crystal Lake madman years before, a flashback reenactment of the event plays out atop a close-up of her lowering face. One image hovers above the other, smothering, dreamlike, and in an uncanny moment of pure cinema, the gimmick technology breathtakingly embodies trauma.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter - Joey G.
Despite being subtitled The Final Chapter, Jason would return just 11 months later for another sequel. You just can’t keep a bad guy down!
Still, notwithstanding this gotcha!, one can’t help but feel that director Joe Zito and the crew of producers actually intended for this to be the last entry in the franchise, what with the brutal machete attack Jason incurs during the final moments of the film.
Come for Crispin Glover’s herky-jerky dancing, stay for Corey Feldman’s weird gravelly voice every time he says “Gordon” (the name of his Golden Retriever).
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning - Joey G.
A New Beginning, indeed! While the Friday franchise has never exactly been lighthearted (it is, after all, about a masked maniac murdering innocent teenagers), director Danny Steinmann’s entry is particularly mean and crude.
Proving this, there are 21 kills in its short 92-minute runtime, averaging a kill every 4 minutes of screentime. No one is safe: not the teens, not old lady Hubbard, not that random vagrant dude, not those poor greasers working on their car. Hell, this might even be the only entry where a character (who isn’t Jason) intentionally murders another character (who also isn’t Jason)!
Come for Violet dancing in her room; stay for Shavar Ross’s decibel-destroying scream.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives – AJ
Emphatically putting the “camp” in Crystal Lake, Jason Lives marks a turning point for the masked killer that takes this beloved horror franchise in a winkingly comic direction. Tasked with resurrecting the series in a way that felt fresh, director Tom McLoughlin knew the only logical move was to make it as self-aware as possible, while paying respect to its roots as a modern horror classic. This resulted in a newfound enthusiasm you can feel from the opening frames as Tommy Jarvis (John Shepherd) accidentally reanimates Jason’s buried corpse with a bolt of lightning, setting off his most unhinged killing spree yet.
Opening with a title sequence that comically riffs on the iconic James Bond intro, the movie’s creative choices unfold like they’re tailor-made for a cult audience. The kills are over-the-top and its supporting characters feel so dispensable, you don’t feel bad when they meet their gruesome ends. On the contrary, you might actually find yourself rooting for Jason!
Voorhees’ kill-a-thon rampages into a territory brimming with so much humor, it verges on the brink of parody. But what ultimately sets it apart is McLoughlin’s strong predilection for genre, who envisioned Jason Lives as a Gothic Horror film. As the first entry in the F13 saga filmed in the American South, it’s powered by a rich visual energy steeped in rustic, boggy atmosphere. That balanced dynamic between cheeky, late ‘80s humor with genuine horror craftsmanship is what distinguishes Part VI as a true standout in the F13 canon.
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood marks a pivotal moment in the franchise with the debut of Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees. Hodder, who would go on to become the definitive Jason, brought an unmatched physicality to the role, performing all of his own stunts and even setting a Hollywood record for the longest uninterrupted on-screen controlled burn, staying engulfed in flames for a staggering 40 seconds.
Originally envisioned as the film where Jason would face off against Freddy Krueger, The New Blood was forced to change course when Paramount and New Line couldn’t come to an agreement. Instead, we got a monster movie twist with Jason squaring off against Tina (played by Lar Park Lincoln), a final girl with telekinetic powers. Tina’s abilities accidentally summon Jason from his watery grave, making it her responsibility to stop him.
Legendary makeup artist John Carl Buechler directed the film, giving Jason a more monstrous look than ever before and turning him from a slasher villain into something out of a creature feature. However, the film’s brutality was heavily censored, with much of the gore cut from the final version, frustrating fans hoping for an even more intense entry in the franchise.
Despite the toned-down violence, The New Blood stands out as an exciting new turn for Jason Voorhees and a look that brought new life to the character.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan is the worst-reviewed entry in the series. Instead of delivering the thrilling Manhattan massacre that fans were promised, much of the film takes place on a cramped cruise ship and in a series of sewers. However, while it may have disappointed those hoping for Jason to fully embrace his new urban setting, there is something to love about every entry in this series, and Jason Takes Manhattan has its own charms.
Due to budget constraints, there wasn’t as much New York scenery as anyone would have liked, director/writer Rob Hedden included. Jason in Times Square is a fantastic visual, though, and we can only hope he got a chance to take in a show. Maybe Chicago? Pop, six, squish, uh-huh, Cicero… Jason. He had it comin’, he had it comin’… he only had himself to blame for a face full of toxic waste from the New York City sewers courtesy of final girl Rennie (Jensen Daggett).
The Lazarus cruise ship is a fantastically claustrophobic setting and might have gone over better if the film was called Jason Takes Titanic. As-is, he’s got an entire class of teens cornered on their big graduation trip and Jason’s affinity for water makes his time on the cruise ship oddly fitting. He’s basically a mermaid, always damp, lurking around the water. This is the dream vacation for him! And the first time he has escaped Camp Crystal Lake that we’ve seen.
The film serves up some fun, campy kills, including the second-best electric guitar death in cinema (the first being everything in Slumber Party Massacre II) and had an iconic poster.
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Instead of the usual masked killer stalking teens, Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday gives us a family twist—Voorhees vs. Voorhees. We meet Jason's sister, who holds the key to his destruction. The only way to truly kill Jason? Stab his blackened heart, which kicks off a bizarre journey of body-jumping possession.
One of the most polarizing entries in the series, Jason Goes to Hell has a surprising lack of Jason in his traditional form. Instead, we see him inhabiting different bodies. For fans, this new approach was either a refreshing twist or a frustrating deviation from the classic formula. Jason himself becomes the prey, hunted by those looking to finally put an end to his terror, offering a unique dynamic rarely seen in slasher films.
Whether you love it or hate it, Jason Goes to Hell certainly took risks, setting the stage for future face-offs, including the ultimate clash in Freddy vs. Jason.
Jason X - Emily H.
What do you get when you combine virtual reality, space marines, and an android proficient in martial arts? The tenth film in the Friday The 13th series, Jason X! This movie is a glorious mix of everything over-the-top you could want in a sci-fi slasher. And let’s not forget a whole new realm for killer death scenes, like the one where Jason shatters someone’s face—pure cold-blooded horror.
Before stepping into the director’s chair for Jason X, James Isaac was no stranger to crafting legendary films. He worked on special effects for The Fly, Star Wars: Episode IV - Return of the Jedi, and Gremlins. His deep ties to the world of sci-fi and horror helped shape the unique look of Jason X. And fun fact: Jason X even got a cameo from David Cronenberg, Isaac’s former mentor, who wanted one thing in return for the favor—an on-screen death!
Jason X stands out as my favorite entry in the Friday The 13th series for one simple reason: it takes Jason out of his comfort zone and into an entirely new world. Gone are the tents, trees, and cabins of Camp Crystal Lake. In their place? Smooth, metallic walls, chrome finishes, and laser guns! Watching Jason try to adapt to this futuristic setting is both hilarious and terrifying, making this installment an underrated gem.
Every horror franchise should have a “goes to space” installment, and Jason X proves why. Whether it's Leprechaun, Hellraiser, or Jason X, there's something delightfully bizarre about seeing iconic characters face off in space. The juxtaposition of old-school horror elements with futuristic settings makes for a weirdly entertaining mash-up that shouldn't work—but it does.
Freddy vs. Jason
Directed by Ronny Yu, who had a hand in resurrecting the Child’s Play franchise with Bride of Chucky and would go on to direct Fearless with Jet Li, Freddy vs. Jason is a crossover of epic proportions. After decades of rumors, the film finally brought together two of the most iconic horror villains of all time: Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street and Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th. This long-anticipated battle was hinted at in Jason Goes to Hell when Freddy’s glove snatched Jason’s mask, building hype among horror fans ready to see which icon would reign supreme.
With a new batch of teens that included Monica Keena (While You Were Sleeping), Jason Ritter (A Million Little Things), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), and Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child), the film feels more modern than its predecessors. This is the first return to a (supposedly) teen cast since the 1993 entry, Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, and things definitely changed in the decade between the two.
While not the scariest entry in either franchise, Freddy vs. Jason is very fun, paying homage to the legacy of both series and leaning into a campier vibe. For Robert Englund, it marked his final film portrayal of Freddy, though he later returned in a cameo for The Goldbergs episode Mister Knifey-Hands. With 20 films between these two horror juggernauts including remakes, Freddy vs. Jason stands out as a celebration of slasher cinema’s wildest creations.
Friday The 13th (2009) – AJ
When bombastic action filmmaker Michael Bay founded Platinum Dunes with intentions of reimagining legacy horror franchises, none would come to resonate with a fanbase like Marcus Nispel’s Friday The 13th. That Bayhem influence is at the forefront of this modern-day retelling from 2009 that reworks the Voorhees mythology with sleek visual flair and an outsized libido.
Even now in a pop culture climate that often holds contempt for remakes, horror fans still relish the fact that this one dared to reinterpret Jason as a lean, mean killing machine slashing through hapless, frisky teens with the help of hist trusty machete. Along the way, OG fans get treated to a speed-run through numerous nods to the first few films, including the iconic sack head Jason wore in Part 2.
With a new generation of fresh meat led by the undisputed 2000s Scream King, Jared Padalecki as “the only male character you’re not actively hoping dies an excruciating death”, the film’s cast plants it on a warm current of Y2K nostalgia featuring icons of the decade like Danielle Panabaker, Aaron Yoo, and The OC’s Amanda Righetti. Standing between them and certain doom is the battleground of Camp Crystal Lake, now featuring a network of subterranean tunnels to help the masked killer get around, adding a deadly element of logic to Jason’s menace. The thrills remain exquisite in this modest-budget teen scream that certainly does enough to distinguish itself from the long list of contemporary remakes.