Friday the 13th Series, Ranked

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Friday the 13th has become an institution of a horror franchise. Haunting audiences for nearly five decades, this iconic series has spawned numerous sequels, remakes, and spin-offs. With its iconic hockey-masked killer, Jason Voorhees, stalking campers and counselors alike, the series has become a cornerstone of the slasher genre, with many slasher films of the 1980s aping its aesthetic and thematic preoccupations. It’s hilarious, given its roots as a Halloween rip-off. 

From the original 1980 film to the most recent entries, each installment offers its blend of backwoods terror, gruesome kills, and bizarre new teens. In this article, we’ll delve into the murky depths of Crystal Lake and rank the top Friday the 13th movies, from the campy to the classic.

1. Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985) 

This entry is the sleaziest film in the series, and it follows immediately after the events of Part IV. Tommy Jarvis has been admitted to a mental institution after the events of the last film, only to discover a slew of new killings. Delivering a higher body count than any film prior, this entry is notable for not featuring the iconic Jason Voorhees as the killer.

2. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

Picking up immediately where the original left off, Friday the 13th Part 2 introduces audiences to a new killer: Jason Voorhees himself. Taking cues from Mario Bava’s A Bay of Blood, this sequel ups the ante with more elaborate death scenes and a higher body count. While the plot may follow a familiar formula, Part 2 excels in executing a tangibly grimy vision of Camp Crystal Lake, delivering plenty of scares along the way.

3. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

Marking a transitional point in the series—literally, the film changed studios from Paramount to New Line—this odd entry sees Jason Voorhees blown up within the first ten minutes in an excellent opening sequence. Delivering a different kind of horror, this entry becomes a body horror film that sees Jason transformed into a body-swapping slug as he looks for a new body to be reborn into. It’s a wild entry but an interesting new direction for the series.

4. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

In this installment, Jason is resurrected by a teenaged Tommy Jarvis. Rising from the grave, he once again terrorizes the inhabitants of Crystal Lake. Jason Lives, directed by future Lifetime movie veteran Tom McLoughlin, injects new life into the franchise with self-aware humor and a slew of inventive kills. McLoughlin pays tribute to classic horror films—Frankenstein gets several homages throughout—while also delivering plenty of thrills and chills. With its memorable characters, clever dialogue, and iconic moments, including a memorable showdown between Jason and a group of paintball players, Jason Lives is one of the series’ most substantial entries. 

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5. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Despite its title, The Final Chapter is anything but the end of Jason’s reign of terror. This installment follows a group of teenagers as they encounter the hockey-masked killer at Crystal Lake. What sets The Final Chapter apart is its memorable cast of characters, including Corey Feldman as the young Tommy Jarvis, who proves to be a formidable foe for Jason as the series progresses. The Final Chapter ranks among the series’ best with its inventive kills and tense atmosphere.

6. Friday the 13th (2009) 

Seeing Marcus Nispel return to the director’s chair after helming the shockingly well-made Platinum Dunes remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this remake combines the first three films. Slickly made, this entry takes the best elements of the original trilogy and boils them down to their grimy essence. It is a must-see for fans of this long-running series.

7. Friday the 13th (1980)

The film that started it all remains a standout in the slasher subgenre. Directed by horror producer Sean S. Cunningham, Friday the 13th introduced audiences to the iconography of Camp Crystal Lake and the vengeful wrath of a young Jason Voorhees. (Though it is a common misconception, Jason is not the killer in this film.) With its atmospheric setting, tense build-up, and shocking twist ending, this slasher classic set the template for countless imitators to follow. Though Jason doesn’t don his iconic hockey mask until the third film in the series, his presence is felt throughout, making this film a must-watch for any horror fan.

8. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

In this installment, Jason faces off against a telekinetic teenager named Tina, adding a supernatural twist to the series five years before Jason Goes to Hell. Special effects guru John Carl Buechler tackles this entry, offering a fresh take on the formula while still delivering the gruesome kills and suspenseful moments fans have come to expect. Kane Hodder makes his debut as Jason Voorhees, bringing a new level of menace and physicality to the role. Though it’s ranked relatively low on this list, that should tell you about the quality of this series!

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9. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

In this crossover event, horror icons Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees face off in a battle for supremacy. Directed by Bride of Chucky auteur Ronny Yu, Freddy vs. Jason delivers on the promise of its premise with plenty of gory mayhem and tongue-in-cheek humor. While the plot may be thin, the film makes up for it with its inventive kills and Hong Kong flare. Plus, seeing Freddy and Jason go head-to-head is a dream come true for any self-respecting horror fan. 

10. Jason X (2001)

Produced while Freddy vs. Jason was stuck in development hell, this is the entry where Jason Voorhees finally goes to space. Featuring some creative gore, a fun cameo from David Cronenberg, and a memorable scene involving Jason and a simulation of Camp Crystal Lake, this entry is sure to be loved by fans of the series, even if it feels like a case of diminishing returns. 

11. Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

This entry is notable for being the first to feature Jason in his iconic hockey mask. Directed by Steve Miner, who returns from Part Two, Part III follows a group of friends who find themselves in the crosshairs of Crystal Lake’s most infamous resident. While the 3D effects may feel dated by today’s standards, Part III still delivers plenty of thrills and kills, including some creative use of farm tools. Plus, it features one of the series’ most memorable final girls in the form of Chris Higgins, who proves to be more than a match for Jason. 

12. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

Despite its ambitious title, Jason Takes Manhattan is most notable for its little time in the titular Big Apple. This installment follows Jason as he stows away on a cruise ship bound for New York City. While the premise may sound promising, the execution leaves much to be desired, with much of the action taking place on the ship rather than in the urban jungle. However, Jason Takes Manhattan still has its moments, including some goopy practical gore and a memorable showdown in the sewers of New York.

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