When it comes to slasher franchises, Friday the 13th is my absolute favorite. Here I rank all ten films of the original series (Parts I–X) from worst to best. I decided to leave out Freddy vs. Jason and the 2009 remake. Here’s how it all stacked up
10. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
"I’m just not into the supernatural stuff. Jason’s not in it. This is not the movie I wanted it to be."
After the FBI blows Jason to bits in the opening, the film takes a bizarre turn with body-hopping demons and Voorhees family mythology that feels completely disconnected from what made the franchise work. Jason barely appears as himself, instead possessing random people while hunting for a blood relative to complete his resurrection.
It's a divisive entry that radically shifts the lore with strange supernatural elements. Uneven and bizarre, but it dares to take the series somewhere new. If you approach it with curiosity, then maybe there are a couple of moments worth seeing.
For me this Friday was so bad. I saw it in the theater twice. I was a high school senior, and I went twice because I thought, "No way it was that bad." But it was that bad.
9. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
"What can I say, the trailer for this flick was dope!"
A graduating class boards a cruise ship headed for New York, but Jason stows away and starts picking them off one by one. By the time they reach Manhattan, the body count is already high, and the promised NYC mayhem amounts to only the final act—mostly shot in Vancouver alleys. The concept had so much potential, but budget constraints and the cruise ship setting meant we got far less Big Apple carnage than promised. A polarizing, yet watchable entry to the series.
This was the second Friday the 13th I was able to see at the movies, and boy was I excited. Hyped as Jason wreaking havoc in New York, most of the action actually takes place on a boat. Bummer. A few fun kills couldn't save the disappointment with this entry.
8. Jason X (2001)
"Ridiculous, silly, and wildly entertaining."
In the year 2455, Jason is thawed out aboard a space station and immediately starts slaughtering the crew. After being frozen for centuries, he's resurrected in the future where he faces off against androids, holographic simulations of Crystal Lake, and even gets a cyborg upgrade.
A completely over-the-top sci-fi take on Jason that puts him in space. More camp than horror, but it embraces the absurdity and delivers plenty of outrageous kills. A guilty-pleasure entry for ridiculous spectacle.
7. Friday the 13th (1980)
"Always takes me back to the first time I saw it in the basement of my grandmother's house. That's how you set a mood."
Camp counselors arrive at Camp Crystal Lake to reopen the cursed camp, ignoring warnings from the locals about its bloody past. One by one, they're picked off by an unseen killer in increasingly brutal ways.
It's not Jason doing the killing; it's his grieving mother, Mrs. Voorhees, seeking revenge for her son's drowning years earlier.
Kinda sad and creepy as all get out. The original is iconic, feels slow by today’s standards, but serves as a perfect launchpad for all the sequels that followed.
Friday the 13th (1980)
The iconic original — slow, suspenseful, and perfectly chilling.
Buy/Stream on Amazon6. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
"Even better than the original… fun slasher with that 80s campiness."
Five years after the original massacre, a new group of counselors-in-training arrive at a camp near Crystal Lake. This time, Jason himself is the killer, wearing a burlap sack over his deformed face, and seeking revenge. The kills are brutal, the tension is high, and final girl Ginny uses psychology to outsmart him.
The first two entries do the best job of giving you the heebie-jeebies while you watch, balancing suspense and classic slasher thrills.
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Jason’s first appearance — campy, creepy, and iconic.
Buy/Stream on Amazon5. Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)
"The kills are fun and the characters are the best kind of ridiculous."
Tommy Jarvis, traumatized from his encounter with Jason, is now a teenager living in a halfway house. When a series of murders begin, everyone assumes Jason has returned. But the twist reveals it's actually a copycat killer seeking revenge for his son's death.
It’s not Jason; it’s Roy, but the man behind the mask moves like Jason, busts through doors like Jason. To me, it feels like Jason, so I enjoy it.
4. Friday the 13th Part 3 (3D) (1982)
"Gimmicky, but iconic."
Jason continues his killing spree, now targeting a group of friends vacationing at a lakeside cabin. This entry is famous for one thing: Jason finally gets his iconic hockey mask after stealing it from a victim.
Shot in 3D, the film features plenty of "coming at you" moments with spears, yo-yos, and popcorn flying at the screen. The gimmick does not translate well, but the kills and energy are memorable. Pure early-80s slasher fun.
3. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
"This one strikes a balance between supernatural revival and slasher fun, making it a standout."
Tommy Jarvis, still haunted by Jason, digs up his grave intending to cremate the body once and for all. But when lightning strikes Jason's corpse, he's resurrected as an unstoppable undead killer. Now fully supernatural (that's what I thought), Jason returns to Crystal Lake, which has been renamed Forest Green and reopened as a summer camp.
Clean film with great kills. The box art was dope, and the film's mix of suspense and subtle humor keeps it engaging.
2. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
"Essential Friday viewing — probably the best entry of the series."
After being "killed" in Part 3, Jason's body is taken to the morgue, where he awakens and escapes. He returns to Crystal Lake for another killing spree, targeting a group of teenagers and a family living nearby, including young Tommy Jarvis, who becomes instrumental in stopping him.
A fan-favorite that solidified Jason's legend. Tighter pacing, memorable kills, and a perfect blend of suspense make it a classic. This could have been an ideal finish to the series
The Final Chapter (1984)
Tight, suspenseful, and unforgettable — a true fan favorite.
Buy/Stream on Amazon1. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
"Personal nostalgia makes this my top pick."
Tina, a telekinetic teenager haunted by accidentally drowning her father, returns to Crystal Lake for therapy. Her psychic powers accidentally free Jason from his watery grave, and he immediately resumes his killing spree. But this time, he faces an opponent who can fight back with her mind.
My favorite. The first Friday I saw at the movie theater. Telekinetic Tina introduces a fresh twist, while Kane Hodder takes over the role as Jason, bringing unprecedented physicality to the character. Sure, Friday the 13th is a bit watered down and neutered at this point, but this entry sits at the top of my list with clever kills, strong tension, and memorable visuals.
The New Blood (1988)
Telekinetic powers, suspense, and creativity at their peak.
Buy/Stream on AmazonFinal Thoughts
After revisiting the Friday the 13th films, it’s clear that not all films are equal. Jason Goes to Hell disappointed with its supernatural detour, and Jason Takes Manhattan underwhelmed with promises of a memorable NYC setting.The original Friday the 13th set the stage, Part 2 introduced Jason, Part 3 gave us the iconic hockey mask, and The Final Chapter delivered a thrilling finish.
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