Ch ch ch ah ah ah. When you hear that sound, you know our favorite hockey-masked killer with mommy issues is about to teach a couple of randy teenagers the dangers of unsafe sex. Or illicit drug use. But our man Jason Voorhees has taught us more than just basic health class stuff. He's also taught us to take our time and enjoy the moment. Some dimwit camp counselor will be running for their life in an all-out sprint, but Jason never moves faster than a lively stroll. And you know what? He always gets that counselor anyway. Patience is a virtue — that's the Voorhees way.
He's also taught us that you can be wildly successful despite what the haters say. Critics despise Friday the 13th films with such vehemence that you'd think it was their teenage kids getting stabbed at Camp Crystal Lake. Renowned film critic Gene Siskel once called director Sean S. Cunningham "one of the most despicable creatures ever to infest the movie business." Harsh.
Nevertheless, the franchise has spawned a massive fan following and 12 films so far, each more insane than the last. The original, produced on a shoestring budget of $550,000, defied expectations by grossing $59.8 million. This success laid the foundation for a slasher subgenre that would become a staple of horror cinema.
The franchise's emblematic hockey mask has become synonymous with horror. It's also backed by some genius marketing: Releasing each film on an actual Friday the 13th calendar day plays into our superstitions and begs fans to make hitting the theaters for some Jason Voorhees action an annual tradition. And by withholding emotional investment in the victims and instead having audiences cheer for Jason's ingenuity, the franchise offers a twisted sense of satisfaction.
The franchise's enduring popularity lies in its ability to capitalize on these elements. Ultimately, the Friday the 13th series remains a beloved favorite among horror aficionados, embodying the paradox of being both critically disregarded and culturally significant.
Halloween season is the perfect time to revel in Friday the 13th's gory thrills. Here's our ranking of all 12 films in the series, from worst to best.
12. Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)
Paramount Pictures
The fifth entry disappoints by straying from the franchise's core formula. Lacking Jason Voorhees as the main antagonist, the film's plot and kills lack the iconic horror elements fans expect. The attempt to introduce a new killer undercuts the suspense, resulting in a lackluster addition to the series. Silver lining: There's a hilarious (and strangely romantic) scene in which a couple sings a duet while the man sits in an outhouse relieving himself of those "damn enchiladas."
11. Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Paramount
This one was released in 3D, and the gimmick feels forced and distracting. The film's attempts at scares fall flat, and the lack of innovation leaves viewers yearning for the thrills that once defined the franchise. In the end, Part III embodies the worst aspects of a slasher sequel — stale, uninspired and, ultimately, forgettable. Its only saving grace is that it was the first film in the franchise to introduce the iconic hockey mask.
10. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Paramount Pictures
The title of this one is a bit of a misnomer: Budgetary concerns restricted much of the film to a boat rather than the streets of Manhattan. Claustrophobia can sometimes work in a film's favor, but here it makes for boring and uninspired kills. It's a shame they weren't able to capture more scenes on the city streets, as Jason standing in Times Square made for a fantastic shot.
9. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
New Line Productions
The ultimate showdown between two of the most iconic slasher villains in horror film history: Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees duking it out is an epic pitch. Too bad the final product is so underwhelming. The lame characters and aggravating, choppy slow-motion effects undermine what is actually a phenomenal final fight sequence between the titular baddies.
8. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Paramount
Essentially a rinse and repeat of the original film, the second entry shows a group of teenage would-be camp counselors getting picked off one by one at Camp Crystal Lake. We do have an affinity for final girl Jenny, however — especially when she uses child psychology to exploit Jason's weaknesses.
7. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
Paramount Pictures
We're treated here to the gnarliest-looking Jason yet with his exposed spine and horrifying rotted zombie face beneath the mask. Unfortunately, many of the gruesome kills were censored heavily in post-production, leaving us with ho-hum close-ups of sharp things tearing though clothing. And the addition of a final girl with telekinetic powers was just too much — we may have been willing to accept her had they leaned into the absurdity and made her character fun instead of self-serious.
6. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
New Line Cinema
The film begins with Jason getting blown into bloody smithereens by the FBI (he grunts loudly as each bullet hits him, creating an unintentionally hilarious effect). With his body obliterated — but his beating heart intact — he goes on to possess the bodies of various victims and use them as a meat puppet to carry out his ghastly murders. He sets out to find the body of a family member, which would return him to his ultra-strong, nearly-invincible state. We appreciate the attempt at spicing things up by making Jason more vulnerable in his avatars, but we want to see the iconic hockey mask spattered in blood, not a rotating cast of murderers.
5. Friday the 13th (2009)
Paramount Pictures
This reboot in the late aughts features the most lethal Jason yet. He's cunning: In one instance, he sets a trap for his victims where he leaves one of them dying and begging for help. And for the first time in franchise history, he runs — a sight to behold when he hasn't moved quicker than a power walk since the franchise began.
4. Jason X (2001)
New Line Cinema
Jason is back — in space! What could have burned up on the launchpad is actually a hilarious and gory romp filled with silly self-awareness and space murder. The liquid nitrogen face-smash is one of the coldest kills in the franchise (pun intended); there's an appearance from body horror master David Cronenberg; and there's a riotous scene in which Jason finds himself in a simulation of a summer camp filled with teens ripe for the killing.
3. Friday the 13th (1980)
Paramount Pictures
The film that started it all. We'll catch some flak for putting the beloved original shy of the top spot but we didn't hand out points for nostalgia's sake. Arguments that it's "so original" are also null — the film is basically a carbon copy of John Carpenter's Halloween, which premiered two years prior. Still, it's seriously impressive what they did on a shoestring budget. We love final girl Alice and the close-ups of a toothy Pamela Voorhees. Also, Kevin Bacon!
2. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Paramount Pictures
Friday the 13th is at its best when it's unafraid to have fun with its inherent absurdity, and Jason Lives does just that. It's got silly gags, fourth-wall breaks, a likable protagonist, and a capable final girl — not to mention an awesome hair metal soundtrack from Alice Cooper.
1. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Paramount Pictures
All the best elements of Friday the 13th align for the crown jewel of the franchise. It's got the summer camp setting, a masked-up Jason, and well-written characters who meet some of the grisliest ends in the franchise. Crispin Glover's dance moves are the icing on the murder cake.
