The Friday the 13th series serves as a map of the rise and fall of slashers as a subgenre of film, peaking early with teen popcorn fun before tailing off into silly oblivion, stupid lore, and abandoned rebirths.
I kicked off a binge of the series in 2023. Using the curriculum of renowned slasher enthusiast Brennan Klein, I watched the Screams in 2021 (somehow two more have released since then). In 2022, I watched the sprawling Halloween series from start to finish. And now I hit the next curriculum item on Brennan’s list, the Friday the 13th series. (The fact that 2023’s October has a Friday the 13th is pure coincidence.)
Friday the 13th Movies By Release Date
The Paramount Films
- Friday the 13th (1980) (Nearly Good)
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) (Good)
- Friday the 13th Part III (1982) (Not Very Good)
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) (Good)
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) (Not Good)
- Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) (Good)
- Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) (Nearly Good)
- Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) (Not Very Good)
The Post-Paramount Films
- Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) (Not Very Good)
- Jason X (2001) (Nearly Good)
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
- Friday the 13th (2009)
Friday the 13th Movies, Ranked
As I watch and review, I’ll expand this ranking
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) (Good)
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) (Good)
- Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) (Good)
- Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) (Nearly Good)
- Friday the 13th (1980) (Nearly Good)
- Jason X (2001) (Nearly Good)
- Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) (Not Very Good)
- Friday the 13th Part III (1982) (Not Very Good)
- Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) (Not Very Good)
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) (Not Good)
Review Index
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