How to Watch theFriday the 13thMovies in Order (Chronologically and by Release Date)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kane Hodder as Jason in the 1988 film ‘Friday the 13th: The New Blood’.Photo:Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

WhenFriday the 13thpremiered in 1980, initially, it was intended to be a cheap, easy-to-make copy of the 1978 filmHalloweento cash in on the massive boom inslasher movies. However, instead of being just a quick way to make a buck,Friday the 13thbecame one of the longest-running horror franchises ever.

That said, there hasn’t been a newFriday the 13thmovie since 2009, asCNN reported, due to a legal battle between the original movie’s screenwriter and director. Currently, the courts have ruled that one party has the rights to the franchise while the other has the rights to the character Jason and his iconic hockey mask, so trying to create another rendition would be difficult.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

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Friday the 13th(1980)

At the end of the movie, a young Jason (Ari Lehman) pops out of the water during a dream sequence, grabbing the sole survivor and dragging her underwater … alluding that there’s more horror to come.

Friday the 13thalso markedKevin Bacon’s first and, ultimately foray into horror, with the Emmy-nominated actor playing the role of Jack, one of the teenage counselors who succumbed to the massacre at camp.

“I wasn’t gonna stick around in that moviefor very long,” Bacon said on a 2024 episode of hisSix Degrees with Kevin Baconpodcast before adding his character didn’t stand a chance in the 1980 original, considering “the combination of the speedo and the marijuana and the sex.”

He continued, “There was such a trope in horror movies that continued forever, and that was that if you had sex or did drugs, you were definitely gonna die.”

WatchFriday the 13thon Paramount+

02of 12Friday the 13th Part 2(1981)Amy Steel as Ginny in the 1981 film ‘Friday the 13th: Part 2,'.Georgetown Prods/Kobal/ShutterstockThe following year, a sequel was released with Jason wearing a burlap sack instead of his iconic mask. InFriday the 13th Part II, Alice (Adrienne King), the survivor from the first film, returns and attends a camp counselor training school that happens to be built right near the abandoned Camp Crystal Lake. Now an adult, Jason (Warrington Gillette) is out for revenge after his mother’s death and kills the counselors.WatchFriday the 13th Part 2on Paramount+

02of 12

Friday the 13th Part 2(1981)

Amy Steel as Ginny in the 1981 film ‘Friday the 13th: Part 2,'.Georgetown Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

Georgetown Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

The following year, a sequel was released with Jason wearing a burlap sack instead of his iconic mask. InFriday the 13th Part II, Alice (Adrienne King), the survivor from the first film, returns and attends a camp counselor training school that happens to be built right near the abandoned Camp Crystal Lake. Now an adult, Jason (Warrington Gillette) is out for revenge after his mother’s death and kills the counselors.

WatchFriday the 13th Part 2on Paramount+

03of 12Friday the 13th Part III(1982)Dana Kimmell (left) as Chris and Richard Brooker as Jason in 1982’s ‘Friday the 13th Part 3’.AJ Pics/AlamyTaking place soon after the events ofPart 2, the beginning ofFriday the 13th Part IIIreveals that Jason has survived and is continuing his murder spree. Meanwhile, Chris (Dana Kimmell), a traumatized girl who was assaulted years ago, decides to visit her old family homestead near Crystal Lake to confront her past.Upon arriving, it becomes clear that the man who assaulted her was Jason (Richard Brooker), and he still stalks the woods around the lake. This is also the first movie where he sports his now-iconic hockey mask. After its initial theatrical run,Part IIIwas released as a 3D movie.WatchFriday the 13th Part IIIon Paramount+

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Friday the 13th Part III(1982)

Dana Kimmell (left) as Chris and Richard Brooker as Jason in 1982’s ‘Friday the 13th Part 3’.AJ Pics/Alamy

AJ Pics/Alamy

Taking place soon after the events ofPart 2, the beginning ofFriday the 13th Part IIIreveals that Jason has survived and is continuing his murder spree. Meanwhile, Chris (Dana Kimmell), a traumatized girl who was assaulted years ago, decides to visit her old family homestead near Crystal Lake to confront her past.

Upon arriving, it becomes clear that the man who assaulted her was Jason (Richard Brooker), and he still stalks the woods around the lake. This is also the first movie where he sports his now-iconic hockey mask. After its initial theatrical run,Part IIIwas released as a 3D movie.

WatchFriday the 13th Part IIIon Paramount+

04of 12Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter(1984)From left: Frankie Hill as Lainie, Antony Ponzini as Vincent and Bruce Mahler as Axel in 1984’s ‘Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,'.Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockFriday the 13th: The Final Chapterexplores the idea that Jason isn’t mortal and has some supernatural power. Taking place the day afterPart III, police take Jason’s (Ted White) corpse to the morgue, where his body suddenly reanimates and his killing spree resumes. Meanwhile, a group of teens are taking a weekend trip to a cabin on Crystal Lake, and all hell breaks loose when Jason arrives.This was supposed to be the potential conclusion of the franchise since the slasher genre hit a lull in the mid-80s. However,The Final Chapterbecame a financial success, and later that year,A Nightmare on Elm Streetpremiered — reinvigorating the slasher genre and prompting both franchises to release more sequels.WatchFriday the 13th: The Final Chapteron Paramount+

04of 12

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter(1984)

From left: Frankie Hill as Lainie, Antony Ponzini as Vincent and Bruce Mahler as Axel in 1984’s ‘Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,'.Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapterexplores the idea that Jason isn’t mortal and has some supernatural power. Taking place the day afterPart III, police take Jason’s (Ted White) corpse to the morgue, where his body suddenly reanimates and his killing spree resumes. Meanwhile, a group of teens are taking a weekend trip to a cabin on Crystal Lake, and all hell breaks loose when Jason arrives.

This was supposed to be the potential conclusion of the franchise since the slasher genre hit a lull in the mid-80s. However,The Final Chapterbecame a financial success, and later that year,A Nightmare on Elm Streetpremiered — reinvigorating the slasher genre and prompting both franchises to release more sequels.

WatchFriday the 13th: The Final Chapteron Paramount+

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Friday the 13th: A New Beginning(1985)

Dick Wieand as Jason in 1985’s ‘Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning,'.RGR Collection/Alamy

RGR Collection/Alamy

WatchFriday the 13th Part V: A New Beginningon Paramount+

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

From left David Hagen as Sheriff Garris, Thom Mathews as Tommy and Vincent Guastaferro as Deputy Rick Cologne in the 1986 film ‘Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,'.Paramount/courtesy Everett

Paramount/courtesy Everett

He goes to a cemetery near Crystal Lake to destroy Jason’s body once and for all; however, a conveniently timed lightning bolt strikes the original serial killer, resurrecting him and starting the carnage again. In the finale, Tommy manages to wrap a chain around Jason (C.J. Graham), sinking him to the bottom of Crystal Lake — and just before the credits roll, his eyes move, indicating he’s not dead yet.

WatchFriday the 13th Part VI: Jason Liveson Paramount+

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

From left: Kane Hodder as Jason, Kevin Spirtas as Nick and Lar Park-Lincoln as Tina in 1988’s ‘Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, ‘.Paramount/courtesy Everett

This time around, Jason isn’t the only character with superhuman powers, and he’s forced to battle it out with Tina, whose telekinesis grows stronger with each scene.Part VIIwas also the first time fan-favorite Kane Hodder portrayed Jason, a role he would reprise four more times.

WatchFriday the 13th Part VII: The New Bloodon Paramount+

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

Set after the events ofPart VII, two teens mistakenly revive Jason (Hodder) from his watery grave, and he boards a cruise ship that’s headed to New York City. Unsurprisingly, the titular character starts picking off passengers during the voyage.

WatchFriday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes ManhattanonParamount+

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Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday(1993)

Kane Hodder as Jason in 1993’s ‘Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday,'.RGR Collection/Alamy

Although the concept was out of the box, the film’s ending played an important part in Jason’s rebirth. After he’s sent back to hell, his hockey mask is seen sitting on the sand. Suddenly, Freddy Krueger’s hand reaches up, grabs the mask and drags it underground.

RentJason Goes to Hell: The Final Fridayon Amazon Prime Video

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Freddy vs. Jason(2003)

Robert Englund (left) as Freddy Krueger and Ken Kirzinger as Jason in 2003’s ‘Freddy vs. Jason,'.New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

To gain enough energy to hijack people’s dreams, Freddy needs Jason to create some chaos, hoping that it makes everyone think he’s returned. However, once Jason gets going, he becomes uncontrollable, and Freddy realizes he’ll need to put a stop to it himself.

Freddy vs. Jasonis the highest-grossing Jason movie ever, raking in over $116 million (via Collider).

WatchFreddy vs. Jasonon Max

11of 12Friday the 13th(2009)Amanda Righetti as Whitney Miller and Jared Padalecki as Clay Miller in 2009’s ‘Friday the 13th,'.Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockPart reboot and part sequel, 2009’sFriday the 13thretcons the previous films and shows a world where Jason (Derek Mears) didn’t die. Instead, he witnessed his mother’s murder in the original film, turning him into a wild killer hellbent on revenge.A group of teens arrive at a summer cabin on the shores of Crystal Lake 30 years later, only to discover that Jason is out for blood. StarringJared PadaleckiofSupernaturalfame as Clay Miller — a survivor of Jason’s killing spree who seeks to avenge his kidnapped sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti) — the movie became a hit.According to Collider, it brought in $91.5 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossingFriday the 13thfilm ever and the second-highest-grossing Jason movie.WatchFriday the 13thon Max

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Friday the 13th(2009)

Amanda Righetti as Whitney Miller and Jared Padalecki as Clay Miller in 2009’s ‘Friday the 13th,'.Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Part reboot and part sequel, 2009’sFriday the 13thretcons the previous films and shows a world where Jason (Derek Mears) didn’t die. Instead, he witnessed his mother’s murder in the original film, turning him into a wild killer hellbent on revenge.

A group of teens arrive at a summer cabin on the shores of Crystal Lake 30 years later, only to discover that Jason is out for blood. StarringJared PadaleckiofSupernaturalfame as Clay Miller — a survivor of Jason’s killing spree who seeks to avenge his kidnapped sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti) — the movie became a hit.

According to Collider, it brought in $91.5 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossingFriday the 13thfilm ever and the second-highest-grossing Jason movie.

WatchFriday the 13thon Max

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Jason X(2002)

Peter Mensah as Sgt. Brodski and Kane Hodder as Jason in 2002’s ‘Jason X,'.Ava V Gerlitz/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

Ava V Gerlitz/New Line/Kobal/Shutterstock

Complete with androids, holograms and even “Cyber-Jason,” it’s a fantastically awful movie that is pure camp.Jason Xends with his body being burnt to a crisp while entering the orbit of Earth II, a new utopian planet humans have inhabited, alluding to the fact that, even in the future, Jason will still be stalking teens in the woods.

RentJason Xon Amazon Prime Video

source: people.com