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 rewatch 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 (2002)
- 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)
- Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) (Not Very Good)
- Friday the 13th Part III (1982) (Not Very Good)
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) (Not Good)
Review Index
Title | Date | Film Year | Director | Is It Good | Tags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) | 09/29/2024 | 1993 | Marcus, John | 3 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) | 11/14/2023 | 1989 | Hedden, Rob | 3 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) | 11/13/2023 | 1988 | Buechler, John Carl | 4 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) | 11/02/2023 | 1986 | McLoughlin, Tom | 5 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) | 10/23/2023 | 1985 | Steinmann, Danny | 2 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) | 10/16/2023 | 1984 | Zito, Joseph | 5 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th Part III (1982) | 10/09/2023 | 1982 | Miner, Steve | 3 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) | 10/06/2023 | 1981 | Miner, Steve | 5 | Friday the 13th |
Friday the 13th (1980) | 10/04/2023 | 1980 | Cunningham, Sean S. | 4 | Friday the 13th |
- Review Series: Friday the 13th
Dan is the founder and head critic of The Goods. Follow Dan on Letterboxd. Join the Discord for updates and discussion.