Friday the 13th movies in order
Twelve films, and two facts that surprise almost everyone who starts the series.
Updated 5 August 2026 · 12 titles tracked
The order is simple — release order throughout, with the 2009 remake standing apart. But two things trip up nearly everyone starting it.
Jason is not the killer in the first film. And the hockey mask does not appear until the third.
Every Friday the 13th film in order
Release order. The first ten form one loose continuity.
- 1Friday the 13th1980 · The Crystal Lake Years · Essential
- 2Friday the 13th Part 21981 · The Crystal Lake Years · Essential
- 3Friday the 13th Part III1982 · The Crystal Lake Years · Essential
- 4Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter1984 · The Crystal Lake Years
- 5Friday the 13th: A New Beginning1985 · The Crystal Lake Years
- 6Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives1986 · The Crystal Lake Years · Essential
- 7Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood1988 · The Crystal Lake Years
- 8Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan1989 · The Later Films
- 9Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday1993 · The Later Films
- 10Jason X2002 · The Later Films
- 11Freddy vs. Jason2003 · The Crossover
- 12Friday the 13th (2009)2009 · The Remake
The two things nobody tells you
The 1980 original is a whodunnit, and the killer is not Jason Voorhees. Going in unspoiled is genuinely worth it, and it is one of the most widely spoiled reveals in horror.
Jason takes over in Part 2, wearing a sack over his head. The hockey mask — the single most recognisable thing about the franchise — only arrives in Part III, which was shot in 3D and never lets you forget it.
Which ones are actually good
The 1980 original and Part 2 are solid slashers. Part VI: Jason Lives is the best-made of the sequels — self-aware, funny, and years ahead of Scream in tone.
Everything after that gets strange. Jason Takes Manhattan is mostly set on a boat. Jason Goes to Hell is about body-hopping demonic possession. Jason X puts him in space in 2455, and is much more fun than it sounds.
The remake
The 2009 film compresses the first four into one and is a separate continuity. A sequel was announced and never happened — the rights were tangled in litigation for years afterwards.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Friday the 13th movies?
Release order: the 1980 original through Jason X, then Freddy vs. Jason. The 2009 remake is a separate continuity.
Is Jason in the first Friday the 13th?
Not as the killer. The 1980 original is a whodunnit and Jason takes over in Part 2. The hockey mask does not appear until Part III.
How many Friday the 13th movies are there?
Twelve, counting Freddy vs. Jason and the 2009 remake.
Which Friday the 13th sequel is the best?
Part VI: Jason Lives is the usual answer — self-aware and genuinely well made.