Fans are hoping to see another entry or reboot in the hit Friday the 13th franchise following the recent end of legal disputes over ownership of the characters. The masked killer Jason Voorhees has been absent from the big screen since the 2009 reboot failed to impress fans of the character.
The long-running Friday the 13th franchise is one of the most rewatched horror series in the genre, though it doesn’t always feature titles or numbering that made sense. It can sometimes be difficult to follow the movies when exploring Jason’s various massacres over the years without a guide to all the Friday the 13th movies in order.
Updated on April 17, 2023, by Scoot Allan: Fans haven't been able to watch a Friday the 13th movie on the big screen for years. However, recent legal resolutions regarding the franchise could lead to a new entry in the hit horror franchise. The potential for a new film starring Jason Voorhees has fans heading back to the original franchise, and this list has been updated with release dates and chronological viewing orders.
12 Friday The 13th
Release Date: May 9, 1980
Fans looking to begin their exploration of Jason Voorhees should start with the original Friday the 13th from 1980. Friday the 13th helped elevate slasher films' status in the horror genre after classics like Halloween and Black Christmas.
While Friday the 13th didn’t star Jason Voorhees, it helped set up his legend and plays a crucial role in the killer's origin story. Friday the 13th also features one of the best horror movie endings ever. The original massacre at Camp Crystal Lake continued to influence the rest of the films in the franchise, making it a great starting point.
11 Friday The 13th Part 2
Release Date: May 1, 1981
The first official appearance of the adult Jason Voorhees came in Friday the 13th Part 2, which took place five years after the original killings at Camp Crystal Lake. The iconic slasher made his official debut at a new school for camp counselors on Crystal Lake.
Jason’s final look was still evolving in Part 2. He first appeared wearing a burlap sack as a mask to cover his deformed face. The sequel and franchise became known for following the typical “final girl” trope. However, it also delivered some unforgettable kills that showcased Jason's competence as a horror movie slasher.
10 Friday The 13th Part III
Release Date: August 13, 1982
Jason Voorhees finally found his iconic look in 1982’s Friday the 13th Part III. The second sequel took place the night after the events of Part 2. While attacking a group of teens at a lake house, Voorhees donned the slasher’s recognizable hockey mask for the first time.
Friday the 13th Part III was the first film to create a confusing difference in the titles as it abandoned Part 2’s choice of numerics. Instead, it adopted the Roman numerals from other horror movie franchises like A Nightmare on Elm Street. It was also officially released in some theaters as Friday the 13th Part 3 3D, to further confuse some fans.
9 Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter
Release Date: April 13, 1984
1984’s Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter effectively closes off the first Jason Voorhees trilogy. The masked killer continued his massacre after the previous night’s attack. However, he would meet his match with a young new protagonist named Tommy Jarvis.
Since the franchise became a long-running hit series, the title of Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter felt a bit premature. It also dropped the numbering completely, which can be confusing to fans looking to watch the series in order. The Final Chapter stands out in the franchise as one of the best slasher sequels from the horror genre.
8 Friday The 13th: A New Beginning
Release Date: March 22, 1985
An older Tommy Jarvis returned in 1985’s Friday the 13th: A New Beginning. He was institutionalized at a halfway house near Crystal Lake as he attempted to recover from his traumatic encounter with Jason Voorhees. However, a familiar masked killer returned to resume killing at Crystal Lake.
A New Beginning effectively established Tommy Jarvis as the new hero of the franchise, though fans weren’t on board with the twist reveal of the killer. The fifth entry in the franchise also lacked any numbering, which might trick some new fans who are diving into the series.
7 Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Release Date: August 1, 1986
Jason Voorhees officially returned in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. This was the first movie that gave the iconic slasher a new supernatural edge. Tommy Jarvis accidentally brought about the resurrection of his greatest enemy who quickly returned to his murderous roots.
Jason Voorhees's new status as an undead slasher made him even more dangerous. It also set the character up for a number of follow-up stories that didn’t have to worry about explaining how Jason survived his grievous injuries from earlier films.
6 Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Release Date: May 13, 1988
The newly undead Jason Voorhees encountered a deadly new psychic threat at Crystal Lake in 1988’s Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. A young teen with psychic powers unknowingly awakened Jason from his slumber within Crystal Lake. She used those developing powers to survive and stop Jason's latest massacre.
The New Blood is a bit easier to watch in order as it returned to the Roman numeral titling that was last seen in Friday the 13th Part III. The seventh entry in the franchise also helped kick off a new era for Jason that kept pushing the limits of the character.
5 Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Release Date: July 28, 1989
Almost all the Friday the 13th films take place on or near Crystal Lake, but 1989’s Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan attempted to change the scenery. A school group heading to New York on a cruise ship soon became targeted by Jason Voorhees when he stowed aboard.
The eighth entry in the franchise became infamous due to the small amount of time that Jason actually spent in Manhattan. Jason Takes Manhattan didn’t fare well with fans or critics, though it has remained a favorite for some fans who enjoy the ridiculous aspects of movies.
4 Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday
Release Date: August 13, 1993
The masked slasher underwent another new change in Jason Goes To Hell: The Friday Friday from 1993. After Jason’s body was finally destroyed, his dark spirit began possessing others from Hell as it attempted to be reborn on Earth.
Jason Goes To Hell not only abandoned any numerical titles that helped place the movie in order within the franchise, but it also removed Friday the 13th as well. The Final Friday is one of the lowest-received films in the series, but not the worst.
3 Jason X
Release Date: April 26, 2002
Jason X is the tenth movie in the Friday the 13th franchise. It hit theaters over a decade after The Final Friday in 2002. After Jason was frozen during a massacre, he awoke in the future where he was rebuilt with advanced technology. Jason X effectively jumped the shark by taking Jason to space in order to continue his massacre aboard a starship.
The tenth entry in the franchise is definitely not considered one of the best Jason Voorhees movies. However, it also became known as a slasher movie with a high kill count, due to Jason taking out an entire space station filled with people. The title’s use of Roman numerals accurately place it in order within the franchise, though removed any other connection to Friday the 13th.
2 Freddy Vs. Jason
Release Date: August 15, 2003
2003 saw the long-awaited release of Freddy vs. Jason, which brought together the two iconic slashers. They joined forces for a new massacre that reached the town of Springwood and the shores of Camp Crystal Lake before they turned on each other.
Freddy vs. Jason takes place before the masked slasher headed to space and after the events of the final Nightmare on Elm Street movie. The horror crossover became an instant hit with fans, though it didn’t add much to Jason’s ongoing storyline.
1 Friday The 13th
Release Date: February 13, 2009
The Friday the 13th franchise wasn’t safe from the wave of horror remakes that reimagined classic slasher films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Hills Have Eyes. The 2009 remake brought a fresh new crop of college kids to the infamous Camp Crystal Lake.
Unfortunately, the 2009 remake failed to capture the menace of Jason Voorhees like previous installments in the franchise. Fans weren’t behind the modernized horror and plans for a new sequel fell apart, leaving the Friday the 13th franchise dead in the water.