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Friday the 13th Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Friday the 13th movies in order

Last updated: April 23 2026

Written by: ChronoAlice

Friday the 13th is one of horror's most enduring franchises, giving the world hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees and decades of summer-camp slasher mayhem. With twelve films spanning over thirty years, here is how to tackle Camp Crystal Lake in the right order.

Few horror franchises have left a mark on popular culture quite like Friday the 13th. Beginning in 1980 as a low-budget slasher riding the wave of Halloween's success, the series introduced audiences to Crystal Lake, a cursed summer camp, and eventually to Jason Voorhees — one of cinema's most iconic and unkillable villains. The franchise stretches across twelve films, a crossover with A Nightmare on Elm Street, and a 2009 reboot, offering horror fans plenty of bloody nights to enjoy.

🕐 Release Order

Release order is the classic way to experience the Friday the 13th series, letting you watch Jason's mythology grow from humble slasher origins to supernatural monster.

  1. Friday the 13th (1980)
  2. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
  3. Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
  4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
  5. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
  6. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
  7. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
  8. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
  9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
  10. Jason X (2001)
  11. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
  12. Friday the 13th (2009)

The original run from 1980 to 1993 forms a loose but continuous narrative, while Jason X and the 2009 remake stand somewhat apart from the main timeline.

📖 Story Chronology

Story chronology closely mirrors release order for the main series, though Jason X is set in the far future and the 2009 film reboots the timeline entirely. For those following the canonical story:

  1. Friday the 13th (1980) — Pamela Voorhees and the original Crystal Lake murders
  2. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) — Jason picks up where his mother left off
  3. Friday the 13th Part III (1982) — Jason acquires his iconic hockey mask
  4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
  5. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
  6. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) — Jason is resurrected as a supernatural killer
  7. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
  8. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
  9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
  10. Freddy vs. Jason (2003) — crossover with A Nightmare on Elm Street
  11. Jason X (2001) — Jason in space, set in the future
  12. Friday the 13th (2009) — standalone reboot

Which Order Should You Choose?

For most viewers, release order is the way to go. Start with the 1980 original — which delivers a genuinely surprising twist — and work your way through the classic run to Freddy vs. Jason. Jason X is a campy, fun detour best saved for after you have enjoyed the core series. The 2009 reboot can be watched at any time as a standalone introduction to the legend of Jason Voorhees. Horror marathons do not get more classic than a full Friday the 13th run.

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