Watch Friday the 13th in release order from Friday the 13th (1980), where the killer is Jason's mother, Pamela Voorhees; Jason takes over in Part 2 and gets the hockey mask in Part III. The Final Chapter, A New Beginning and Jason Lives form the Tommy Jarvis trilogy. Jason X (2001) is set in 2455, so in story order it comes last, after Freddy vs. Jason. The 2009 remake stands alone.
- Titles
- 12
- Films
- 12
- Watch time
- 18 hours
- Box office
- $447 million
- Avg IMDb
- 5.4
Friday the 13th movies in release order
Here is every Friday the 13th title in the order it came out, 1980 to 2009: 12 films. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday the 13th | 1980 | Film | 1h 35m | 6.3 |
| 2 | Friday the 13th Part 2 | 1981 | Film | 1h 26m | 6.1 |
| 3 | Friday the 13th Part III | 1982 | Film | 1h 35m | 5.6 |
| 4 | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter | 1984 | Film | 1h 31m | 6 |
| 5 | Friday the 13th: A New Beginning | 1985 | Film | 1h 32m | 4.8 |
| 6 | Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives | 1986 | Film | 1h 26m | 6 |
| 7 | Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood | 1988 | Film | 1h 28m | 5.2 |
| 8 | Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan | 1989 | Film | 1h 40m | 4.5 |
| 9 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | 1993 | Film | 1h 28m | 4.1 |
| 10 | Jason X optional | 2001 | Film | 1h 31m | 4.5 |
| 11 | Freddy vs. Jason | 2003 | Film | 1h 37m | 5.8 |
| 12 | Friday the 13th | 2009 | Film | 1h 37m | 5.5 |
Friday the 13th timeline: movies in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday the 13th | Camp Crystal Lake, 1980 | 1980 |
| 2 | Friday the 13th Part 2 | Five years later | 1981 |
| 3 | Friday the 13th Part III | The next day | 1982 |
| 4 | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter | The next night | 1984 |
| 5 | Friday the 13th: A New Beginning | Years later | 1985 |
| 6 | Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives | Forest Green | 1986 |
| 7 | Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood | Crystal Lake | 1988 |
| 8 | Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan | Manhattan | 1989 |
| 9 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | Crystal Lake | 1993 |
| 10 | Freddy vs. Jason | Springwood & Crystal Lake | 2003 |
| 11 | Jason X | 2455 | 2001 |
| 12 | Friday the 13th | Crystal Lake | 2009 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 2 titles here. In release order you start with Friday the 13th (1980); in story order you start with Friday the 13th, set in Camp Crystal Lake, 1980.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Friday the 13th into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Friday the 13th also runs a separate continuity: The 2009 remake. It has its own line on the timeline, so you can watch it on its own without breaking the main story.
Where to start
Start with Friday the 13th and go in release order, skipping the 1 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 11 titles and about 17 hours, 8% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Friday the 13th (6.3), Friday the 13th Part 2 (6.1), and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (6).
Every Friday the 13th movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1980 · Film · 1h 35m
Friday the 13th
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
Why it matters: The original; the killer is Jason's mother, Pamela.
- Starring
- Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor, and Robbi Morgan
- Director
- Sean S. Cunningham
- Box office
- $40 million
- Scores
- IMDb 6.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 48%
No. 02 · 1981 · Film · 1h 26m
Friday the 13th Part 2
Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake, new counselors roam the area, not sensing the ominous lurking presence that proves that the grisly legend is real.
Why it matters: Jason takes over, with a sack over his head.
- Starring
- Amy Steel, John Furey, and Adrienne King
- Director
- Steve Miner
- Box office
- $22 million on a $1 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 27%
No. 03 · 1982 · Film · 1h 35m
Friday the 13th Part III
An idyllic summer turns into a nightmare of unspeakable terror for yet another group of naïve friends. Ignoring Camp Crystal Lake's bloody legacy, one by one they fall victim to the maniacal Jason, who stalks them at every turn...
Why it matters: Jason gets the hockey mask.
- Starring
- Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, and Richard Brooker
- Director
- Steve Miner
- Box office
- $37 million on a $2 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 17%
No. 04 · 1984 · Film · 1h 31m
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
After his revival in a hospital morgue, Jason fixes his vengeful attention on the Jarvis family and a group of hitherto carefree teenagers.
Why it matters: Starts the Tommy Jarvis trilogy.
- Starring
- Judie Aronson, Kimberly Beck, and Joan Freeman
- Director
- Joseph Zito
- Box office
- $33 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6 · Rotten Tomatoes 20%
No. 05 · 1985 · Film · 1h 32m
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Homicidal maniac Jason returns from the grave to cause more bloody mayhem. Young Tommy may have escaped from Crystal Lake, but he’s still haunted by the gruesome events that happened there. When gory murders start happening at the secluded halfway house for troubled teens where he now lives, it seems like his nightmarish nemesis, Jason, is back for more sadistic slaughters.
Why it matters: Tommy Jarvis grown up, and a copycat killer.
- Starring
- John Shepherd, Tiffany Helm, and John Robert Dixon
- Director
- Danny Steinmann
- Box office
- $22 million on a $2 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 12%
No. 06 · 1986 · Film · 1h 26m
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Tommy Jarvis, tormented by the fear that maybe Jason isn't really dead, unwittingly resurrects the mass murderer for another bloody rampage.
Why it matters: Jason is resurrected; ends the Tommy Jarvis trilogy.
- Starring
- Thom Mathews, Jennifer Cooke, and David Kagen
- Director
- Tom McLoughlin
- Box office
- $19 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6 · Rotten Tomatoes 39%
No. 07 · 1988 · Film · 1h 28m
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Tina Shepard, a telekinetic teenage girl, accidentally unchains Jason from his watery grave, allowing him to go on another killing spree in the area.
Why it matters: Jason versus a telekinetic teen.
- Starring
- Lar Park Lincoln, Kane Hodder, and Terry Kiser
- Director
- John Carl Buechler
- Box office
- $19 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 21%
No. 08 · 1989 · Film · 1h 40m
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Jason ships out aboard a teen-filled "love boat" bound for New York, which he soon transforms into the ultimate voyage of the damned.
Why it matters: Mostly on a boat, briefly in New York.
- Starring
- Jensen Daggett, Sharlene Martin, and Scott Reeves
- Director
- Rob Hedden
- Box office
- $14 million on a $5 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 8%
No. 09 · 1993 · Film · 1h 28m
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Jason Voorhees is tracked down and blown to bits by a special FBI task force, reborn with the bone-chilling ability to assume the identity of anyone he touches.
Why it matters: Jason body-hops; sets up Freddy vs. Jason.
- Starring
- Kane Hodder, John D. LeMay, and Kari Keegan
- Director
- Adam Marcus
- Box office
- $16 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 11%
No. 10 · 2001 · Film · 1h 31m · 11th in story order · optional
Jason X
In the year 2455, Old Earth is now a contaminated planet abandoned for centuries -- a brown world of violent storms, toxic landmasses and poisonous seas. Yet humans have returned to the deadly place that they once fled, not to live, but to research the ancient, rusting artifacts of the long-gone civilizations. But it's not the harmful environment that could prove fatal to the intrepid, young explorers who have just landed on Old Earth. For them, it's Friday the 13th, and Jason lives!
Why it matters: Jason in space in 2455; last in story order. Optional.
- Starring
- Kane Hodder, Jeff Geddis, and Lexa Doig
- Director
- James Isaac
- Box office
- $17 million on a $11 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 22%
No. 11 · 2003 · Film · 1h 37m · 10th in story order
Freddy vs. Jason
Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees return to terrorize the teenagers of Elm Street. Only this time, they're out to get each other, too.
Why it matters: The crossover with A Nightmare on Elm Street.
- Starring
- Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, and Monica Keena
- Director
- Ronny Yu
- Box office
- $117 million on a $30 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 42%
No. 12 · 2009 · Film · 1h 37m
Friday the 13th
A group of young adults visit a boarded up campsite named Crystal Lake where they soon encounter the mysterious Jason Voorhees and his deadly intentions.
Why it matters: A remake in its own continuity.
- Starring
- Jared Padalecki, Travis Van Winkle, and Danielle Panabaker
- Director
- Marcus Nispel
- Box office
- $92 million on a $19 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 27%
Friday the 13th box office and budgets
The 12 Friday the 13th films with reported numbers have grossed $447 million worldwide on about $82 million in combined budgets, roughly 5.0 times what they cost. The biggest is Freddy vs. Jason at $117 million, 26% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Friday the 13th ($92 million) and Friday the 13th ($40 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Friday the 13th Part 2, which made 17 times its $1 million budget. The weakest was Jason X at 1.6 times its $11 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Friday the 13th movies
Across 12 rated titles, Friday the 13th averages 5.4 on IMDb. The top of the list is Friday the 13th at 6.3, then Friday the 13th Part 2 (6.1) and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (6). At the bottom: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (4.1) and Jason X (4.5). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Freddy vs. Jason, is only the 5th best rated.
- Friday the 13th6.3 · RT 48%
- Friday the 13th Part 26.1 · RT 27%
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter6 · RT 20%
- Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives6 · RT 39%
- Freddy vs. Jason5.8 · RT 42%
- Friday the 13th Part III5.6 · RT 17%
- Friday the 13th5.5 · RT 27%
- Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood5.2 · RT 21%
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning4.8 · RT 12%
- Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan4.5 · RT 8%
Who appears in the most Friday the 13th movies
Kane Hodder leads with 4 appearances as Jason Voorhees and Security Guard #2, ahead of Adrienne King (2) and Corey Feldman (2). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kane Hodder | Jason Voorhees / Security Guard #2 | 4 | Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) to Jason X (2001) |
| Adrienne King | Alice | 2 | Friday the 13th (1980) to Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) |
| Corey Feldman | Tommy Jarvis / Tommy Jarvis Age 12 | 2 | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) to Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) |
Friday the 13th directors and creators
11 filmmakers have directed or created Friday the 13th; Steve Miner has the most, with 2.
- Steve MinerFriday the 13th Part 2 (1981) and Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
- Sean S. CunninghamFriday the 13th (1980)
- Joseph ZitoFriday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
- Danny SteinmannFriday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
- Tom McLoughlinFriday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
- John Carl BuechlerFriday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
- Rob HeddenFriday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
- Adam MarcusJason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
- James IsaacJason X (2001)
- Ronny YuFreddy vs. Jason (2003)
- Marcus NispelFriday the 13th (2009)
How long it takes to watch every Friday the 13th movie
All 12 titles add up to 18 hours. That is about 10 two-hour evenings, or 2 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 17 hours. The longest film is Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan at 1h 40m.
The 4 best rated films: Friday the 13th, Friday the 13th Part 2, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, and Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.
Everything takes about 3 weeks; the essentials about 3 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Friday the 13th movies can you skip?
1 title can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 2 hours.
- Jason X2001 · Film · 1h 31m · optionalJason in space in 2455; last in story order. Optional.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Friday the 13th movies in?
Watch Friday the 13th in release order from Friday the 13th (1980), where the killer is Jason's mother, Pamela Voorhees; Jason takes over in Part 2 and gets the hockey mask in Part III. The Final Chapter, A New Beginning and Jason Lives form the Tommy Jarvis trilogy. Jason X (2001) is set in 2455, so in story order it comes last, after Freddy vs. Jason. The 2009 remake stands alone.
How many Friday the 13th movies and shows are there?
There are 12 titles in the Friday the 13th franchise: 12 films and 0 series, released from 1980 to 2009.
How long does it take to watch all the Friday the 13th movies?
About 18 hours for all 12 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (11 titles) take about 17 hours.
What is the first Friday the 13th title in chronological order?
Friday the 13th, set in Camp Crystal Lake, 1980. In release order the first is Friday the 13th (1980).
Which Friday the 13th titles can I skip?
Jason X. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Friday the 13th movie?
By IMDb score, Friday the 13th (1980) at 6.3, followed by Friday the 13th Part 2 at 6.1.
What is the highest-grossing Friday the 13th movie?
Freddy vs. Jason (2003), with $117 million worldwide. Friday the 13th films have made $447 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Friday the 13th movies?
Kane Hodder, in 4 of them as Jason Voorhees.
What is the longest Friday the 13th movie?
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, at 1h 40m.
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