By Marquee Editorial11 entries
The Friday the 13th franchise is a long-running horror series centering on the infamous mass murderer Jason Voorhees and the cursed grounds of Camp Crystal Lake. The entries generally follow a continuous narrative arc of slasher sequels, escalating from isolated camp murders to urban locations, outer space, and a crossover event with another horror icon. For this franchise, watching the films in release order is the most logical approach, as it preserves the intended progression of the overarching mythology, recurring characters like Tommy Jarvis, and the evolving status of the central killer across the decades.

Friday the 13th
Movie, 1980
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.

Friday the 13th Part 2
Movie, 1981
Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake, new counselors roam the area, not sensing the ominous lurking presence that proves that the grisly legend is real.

Read what its ending meant, or search for another franchise.
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Friday the 13th Part III
Movie, 1982
An idyllic summer turns into a nightmare of unspeakable terror for yet another group of naïve friends. Ignoring Camp Crystal Lake's bloody legacy, one by one they fall victim to the maniacal Jason, who stalks them at every turn...

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Movie, 1984
After his revival in a hospital morgue, Jason fixes his vengeful attention on the Jarvis family and a group of hitherto carefree teenagers.

Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Movie, 1985
Homicidal maniac Jason returns from the grave to cause more bloody mayhem. Young Tommy may have escaped from Crystal Lake, but he is still haunted by the gruesome events that happened there.

Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI
Movie, 1986
Tommy Jarvis, tormented by the fear that maybe Jason isn't really dead, unwittingly resurrects the mass murderer for another bloody rampage.

Friday the 13th Part VII - The New Blood
Movie, 1988
Tina Shepard, a telekinetic teenage girl, accidentally unchains Jason from his watery grave, allowing him to go on another killing spree in the area.

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Movie, 1989
Jason ships out aboard a teen-filled love boat bound for New York, which he soon transforms into the ultimate voyage of the damned.

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Movie, 1993
Jason Voorhees is tracked down and blown to bits by a special FBI task force, reborn with the bone-chilling ability to assume the identity of anyone he touches.

Jason X
Movie, 2001
In the year 2455, Old Earth is a contaminated planet abandoned for centuries, where humans have returned to research ancient rusting artifacts.

Freddy vs. Jason
Movie, 2003
Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees return to terrorize the teenagers of Elm Street, while also targeting each other in this crossover event.
| # | Title | Type | Year | Rating | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday the 13th | Movie | 1980 | ★ 6.4 | Not yet |
| 2 | Friday the 13th Part 2 | Movie | 1981 | ★ 6.2 | Not yet |
| 3 | Friday the 13th Part III | Movie | 1982 | ★ 5.9 | Not yet |
| 4 | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter | Movie | 1984 | ★ 6.1 | Not yet |
| 5 | Friday the 13th: A New Beginning | Movie | 1985 | ★ 5.3 | Not yet |
| 6 | Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI | Movie | 1986 | ★ 6.3 | Not yet |
| 7 | Friday the 13th Part VII - The New Blood | Movie | 1988 | ★ 5.5 | Not yet |
| 8 | Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan | Movie | 1989 | ★ 4.9 | Not yet |
| 9 | Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday | Movie | 1993 | ★ 4.6 | Not yet |
| 10 | Jason X | Movie | 2001 | ★ 4.9 | Not yet |
| 11 | Freddy vs. Jason | Movie | 2003 | ★ 6.1 | Not yet |
Average audience ratings, in watch order.
You should start with the original 1980 film, which introduces the core premise, the setting of Camp Crystal Lake, and the foundational lore of the entire horror series before moving into the sequels.
Yes, release order is recommended because it follows the chronological evolution of the narrative, character arcs like Tommy Jarvis, and the changing presentation of Jason Voorhees across the decades.
None of the entries should be skipped if you want a complete viewing experience, as every film builds directly upon the established continuity and escalating adventures of the central slasher icon.
Watch in this order: 1. Friday the 13th, 2. Friday the 13th Part 2, 3. Friday the 13th Part III, 4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, 5. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, 6. Jason Lives - Friday the 13th Part VI, 7. Friday the 13th Part VII - The New Blood, 8. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, 9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, 10. Jason X, 11. Freddy vs. Jason.
This guide lists 11 entries, released between 1980 and 2003.
Friday the 13th has the highest average rating in this guide, at 6.4 out of 10.