Our Friday the 13th movies ranked list covers all 12 films and both TV series in the franchise, counting down from our least favorite to our absolute favorite. It includes the new Peacock series Crystal Lake, which premiered on October 15, 2026. Light spoilers ahead for older entries and for the premise of Crystal Lake.
From Indie Slasher to Horror Icon
Friday the 13th began in 1980 as an independent horror movie from director Sean S. Cunningham and writer Victor Miller, made in the wake of Halloween’s success and distributed by Paramount. It had a camp full of teenage counselors, makeup effects by Tom Savini, a creepy score by Harry Manfredini, and a killer who turned out to be Pamela Voorhees, played by Betsy Palmer. Jason only showed up at the very end, as a jump scare from the lake, and nobody could have guessed that moment would launch one of the biggest slasher franchises ever.
The sequels quickly turned Jason into the star. Part 2 made him the killer, Part III added 3D and gave him his famous hockey mask, and Part IV, subtitled The Final Chapter, proved that “final” is a flexible word in horror. Paramount kept the series going through Part VIII in 1989, with Jason Lives bringing in more humor and The New Blood introducing a telekinetic heroine and Kane Hodder as the new Jason.
After that, the rights moved to New Line Cinema, which sent Jason to Hell in 1993 and into outer space in 2002, then pitted him against Freddy Krueger in 2003. A 2009 reboot followed, and in between there was Friday the 13th: The Series, a 1987 show that had nothing to do with Jason at all. Now, with Crystal Lake, the franchise has finally gone back to where it all started: the camp, the lake, and Pamela Voorhees.
A Quick Note on How We Ranked
We know movies and TV shows are playing different games. A film has around 90 minutes to get in, stack up a body count, and get out, which leaves plenty of room to be as gory and murderous as it wants. A series gets many more episodes to tell a story and build characters, but usually has to trade away some of the more extreme horror to do it. We tried to keep that in mind, and we ranked everything on how much we enjoyed it, not on how it compares in kills.
Every Friday the 13th Project Ranked
14. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
This one deserves credit for swinging big. It tries to give Jason a brand new mythology, with body-hopping and a mystical dagger, and it changes the franchise’s rules in ways that left a lot of fans scratching their heads. The ideas are interesting on paper, but the plot and the production never come together, and it ends up feeling more like a different movie wearing Jason’s mask.
13. Jason X (2002)
Sending Jason to space is a gloriously silly idea, and the movie knows it. Unfortunately, it leans so hard into winking humor and budget sci-fi sets that it forgets to be scary or funny. There are some fun moments (including a cameo by director David Cronenberg), but they aren’t enough to keep it afloat.
12. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
The title promises a rampage through New York City, but most of the movie takes place on a boat. Once Jason finally does arrive in Manhattan, it’s a short visit. What’s left is a slicker version of the same formula, which feels a little too close to a parody of the series.
11. Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)
Part V tried to shake things up by bringing back Tommy Jarvis and introducing a copycat killer instead of Jason, but the swap left a lot of fans cold. The kills are plentiful but forgettable, and there’s little tension or style to make them stick. It’s one of the most repetitive entries in the series.
10. Friday the 13th (2009)
This reboot is well made and looks great, and Derek Mears brings a genuinely imposing physical presence to Jason. The problem is that it mixes elements of the first few films without adding much of its own. It’s solid and competent, but you won’t feel the need to rewatch it.
9. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
Jason versus a girl with telekinetic powers is a fun hook, and Kane Hodder’s debut as Jason gave the character a new level of menace. The movie never quite delivers on that premise, though, and falls back on familiar kills and some uncomfortable exploitation. It’s a nice idea that gets lost along the way.
8. Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
The 3D gimmick is the main attraction, with objects constantly flying toward the camera, and it does add a fun, carnival feel. This is also where Jason picks up his hockey mask, which is a huge moment in horror history. Beyond that, the story is thinner and the characters are even less memorable than before.
7. Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984)
This is where Jason’s story gets a real sense of momentum, with a young Tommy Jarvis (Corey Feldman) giving the series an unexpectedly fun hero. Tom Savini returned for the effects, and the kills have real bite. It’s easily one of the better sequels, even if the “final” part didn’t last long.
6. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Part 2 is where Jason takes over as the killer, burlap sack and all, and Amy Steel’s Ginny is a strong final girl. It repeats a lot of the original’s beats and mistakes a rising body count for suspense. Still, it’s a key step in how Jason became Jason.
5. Friday the 13th: The Series (1987)
Fans were understandably confused when Jason was nowhere to be found in this show. It’s actually an occult mystery anthology about cursed antiques, not a slasher spinoff at all. Once you adjust your expectations, it’s a fun, moody show that tells its own kind of horror stories.
4. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Director Tom McLoughlin brought personality to this one, with self-aware humor and a lot of visual flair. Jason gets brought back by a lightning bolt, which is the best kind of horror logic. It still follows the usual pattern of carnage, but it’s a blast, and it’s one of the most rewatchable films in the series.
3. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Watching two horror icons collide is exactly as silly and gory as it sounds. The dialogue is rough and the plot is mostly an excuse for the main event, but when Freddy and Jason finally face off, it delivers some memorable moments. It may not live up to the hype, but it’s the kind of movie that’s easy to love anyway.
2. Crystal Lake (2026)
Linda Cardellini is the star here as Pamela Voorhees, turning a villain who was once a surprise twist into a grieving, devoted, and terrifying mother. The eight-episode Peacock series from A24 leans into practical gore, creative kills, and a 1970s camp look, and it ties back to the original films with Manfredini’s music cues. According to Complex, it’s the highest-rated entry in the franchise, which fits how much it respects the roots of the series while giving them more room to breathe.
1. Friday the 13th (1980)
Call it nostalgia, or call it a bad take, but the original earns its spot. It plays like a campfire story in slasher form, built around creative, effects-driven kills that still hold up. The plot is thin and the scares aren’t the strongest in the series, but it has an atmosphere and a final twist that the franchise has been chasing ever since.
What Comes Next for Camp Crystal Lake
With Crystal Lake now streaming, the franchise has its strongest reason in years for fans to go back to the beginning. Whether that leads to more seasons or a new wave of movies hasn’t been announced, so for now the best move is to pick your favorite and make a case for it. Where would you put Crystal Lake?
