The Friday the 13th franchise has certainly seen its ups and downs, and depending on who you ask, the films range from delightfully campy to, well, downright terrible. Whether it’s the iconic hockey mask or Jason’s sheer inability to stay dead, there’s a lot to unpack with this long-running slasher series.
Here’s a breakdown of all the Friday the 13th movies, ranked from worst to best. Join us on a wild ride through the good, the bad, and the “what on earth were they thinking?”
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Let’s start with the bottom of the barrel. Jason Goes to Hell is, quite frankly, a mess. It barely feels like a Friday the 13th movie, and that’s probably because Jason spends most of the film possessing other people. Yes, you read that right—he becomes a parasitic hell-slug that jumps from body to body. There’s no hockey mask and little slashing action. The one redeeming factor? Freddy Krueger makes an appearance, dragging Jason to hell and teasing their eventual showdown.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Despite its title, this certainly wasn’t the final chapter in the series. The Final Chapter tries to up the ante with some star power, featuring Crispin Glover and Corey Feldman, but ultimately, it’s forgettable. The most cringeworthy moment? Feldman’s character, Tommy Jarvis, pretending to be a mini-Jason to confuse the real thing. It’s unintentionally hilarious, and not in a good way.
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Some fans think that Jason Voorhees took a break only for the first Friday the 13th film—boy, are they in for a shocker. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) decided to pull a fast one and keep the hockey mask but ditch the iconic machete-wielding menace himself. Instead, we get… a copycat killer. Yep, a knockoff Jason, complete with a bald cap and hockey mask, running around like he’s doing his best impersonation for a discount Halloween party.
Why would anyone pretend to be Jason? Because of reasons, I guess? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe they just thought, “What this series really needs is a fake Jason!” Honestly, the film should have been titled Friday the 13th: The Great Copout, because while the body count piles up, Jason himself is barely there, making only brief appearances through flashbacks and a totally unnecessary recap.
If you’re in it for the campy kills, sure, this movie delivers. But if you’re hoping for the actual Jason Voorhees to terrorize unsuspecting campers, you might feel a little cheated.
Friday the 13th (1980)
The original Friday the 13th is undeniably iconic. It set the stage for the series and introduced us to Camp Crystal Lake, but let’s be real—it’s overrated. Sure, we get a plot twist where Jason’s mom, Pamela Voorhees, is revealed as the killer, and the creepy “cha-cha-cha” sound effect is memorable, but the film as a whole doesn’t hold up to the suspense and terror of other slasher classics like Halloween.
Friday the 13th Part 2
Jason finally takes center stage in Part 2, but he’s not the unstoppable killing machine we know today. Instead, he sports a potato sack on his head (not exactly terrifying) and takes over his mom’s role as the slasher. There are some solid kills, but the movie is bare-bones when it comes to creativity. It’s fun, but not a standout in the horror genre.
Friday the 13th Part III
Now we’re getting somewhere! Part III is where Jason finally dons his infamous hockey mask, cementing his place in slasher history. While the film itself isn’t groundbreaking, it’s at least memorable for this major development. Plus, there’s a lot of 3D gimmickry if you’re into that sort of thing.
Related: Every ‘Child’s Play’ Movie Ranked From Worst to Best
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Who thought it was a good idea to introduce telekinesis into the Friday the 13th universe? That’s what you get with The New Blood, which sees a teen with telekinetic powers accidentally resurrecting Jason from his watery grave. The movie is goofy, and while it’s kind of fun to see someone with actual powers take on Jason, it doesn’t quite stick the landing.
Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI
If there’s one thing Jason Lives does right, it’s that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. This movie is to Friday the 13th what Austin Powers is to James Bond—a self-aware parody of itself. It’s cheesy, ridiculous, and fully embraces its own absurdity. From the hilarious James Bond-inspired opening sequence to the fact that Tommy Jarvis is the one who brings Jason back to life, it’s all just one big, goofy ride.
Jason X
You know a franchise has gone off the rails when the killer is sent into space. Jason X is a slasher comedy more than anything else, and it knows it. Jason gets an upgrade (yes, really) into “Uber Jason,” and the kills are as campy as you’d expect. It’s far from a good movie, but it’s entertaining in a “so bad it’s good” kind of way.
Related: All the ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Movies Ranked From Worst to Best
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Don’t be fooled by the title—Jason doesn’t really take Manhattan. Instead, most of the movie is spent on a ship bound for New York, with Jason slashing his way through passengers on a senior class trip. When Jason finally reaches Manhattan, we get some hilariously ridiculous moments, including him punching a guy’s head clean off. The movie’s a wild ride, but it’s more entertaining than some of the other entries.
Freddy vs. Jason
Finally, fans’ dreams (or nightmares) came true with Freddy vs. Jason, the crossover we didn’t know we needed. While the movie itself is a schlocky mess, it’s undeniably fun. If you’re more of A Nightmare on Elm Street fan, this movie feels like a continuation of that series, with Jason playing second fiddle to Freddy Krueger’s antics. It’s over-the-top, silly, and full of fan service—but in the best way possible.
Friday the 13th (2009)
The 2009 reboot actually manages to do something decent with the franchise. Instead of remaking just one film, it combines elements of the first three movies into one, crafting a modern slasher that doesn’t totally suck. Jason is more terrifying than ever, and the film feels like a back-to-basics approach that works. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s solid enough to rank high on this list.
And there you have it—Jason’s finest (and not-so-finest) moments ranked from worst to best. Whether you’re here for the camp or the carnage, there’s no denying that Friday the 13th has earned its place in horror history.
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