The Complete Friday the 13th Ranking

Friday the 13th is one of the greatest horror franchises ever made and one of the most enjoyable watches in the genre. Few franchises have defined horror quite like Friday the 13th. However, the series does tend to be repetitive at times, and some films simply stand out far better than others. So here is the complete ranking of every single Friday the 13th film from worst to best.

12. Freddy vs. Jason

Released in: 2003

Directed by: Ronny Yu

Runtime: 97 mins

IMDb: 5.8/10

The screenplay is honestly just an excuse to put two icons against each other, and it shows. The story and dialogue are weak, no character leaves any real impression and the chances of remembering anyone as great in this film are essentially zero. Every single person on screen exists purely as a body count. The pacing also struggles because of this, the human plot drags while the audience simply waits for the big fights to happen.

But what this film absolutely gets right is the main event itself. Whenever Freddy and Jason go head to head this film becomes one big thrilling showdown that delivers on every level. The fan service alone is outstanding, horror fans had been waiting decades to see two of the genre's greatest icons share the screen and finally fight each other, and this film delivers exactly that. Not a great film. But one of the most satisfying horror showdowns ever put on screen. That is Freddy vs. Jason's legacy.

11. Friday the 13th (2009)

Released in: 2009

Directed by: Marcus Nispel

Runtime: 97 mins

IMDb: 5.5/10

The atmosphere gets completely butchered in this film. It strips away the fun and charm that made the originals so beloved and tries way too hard to be a modern horror film, losing everything that made Friday the 13th special in the first place. The script is terrible throughout, with weak dialogue and a story that adds absolutely nothing new to the franchise. The victims are also completely unlikable, making it nearly impossible to sympathize with any of them.

But Jason Voorhees himself is done brilliantly. Brutal, terrifying and refreshingly new, he makes every scene involving him genuinely thrilling. The kills are also outrageously creative, a machete driven through a dock into a victim's skull, a girl trapped in her sleeping bag hung over a campfire. When this film leans into Jason it delivers. A weak script, a butchered atmosphere and zero likeable characters. But Jason is brutal, the kills are creative and when he is on screen this film works. The reboot had potential and simply did not use it.

10. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning

Released in: 1985

Directed by: Danny Steinmann

Runtime: 92 mins

IMDb: 4.8/10

Friday the 13th Part V is nowhere near as terrible as its reputation suggests and is quite a bit overhated simply for not featuring Jason. The film carries a genuine psychological edge through Tommy Jarvis and his PTSD. The colorful cinematography is stunning throughout and the characters are genuinely memorable. The humor between them creates such a fun and entertaining watch that is hard not to enjoy.

However this film still suffers significantly despite its good sides. The rewatchability takes a real hit mainly because of the twist and the film's repetitiveness. The rhythm never changes, the plot quickly dissolving into a predictable loop of introducing a minor character only to kill them off minutes later. The pacing is awful throughout, featuring a sloppy and sluggish first half followed by a rushed climax with little to no tension built up along the way. More interesting than its reputation suggests. Also more flawed than its defenders admit. Part V sits uncomfortably in the middle and that is exactly where it belongs.

9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

Released in: 1993

Directed by: Adam Marcus

Runtime: 88 mins

IMDb: 4.1/10

Friday the 13th Part 9 is honestly not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. The film opens with one of the boldest sequences in the entire franchise, Jason being blown to pieces is an immediately striking way to kick things off. The demon concept is genuinely cool and stands out from every other entry in the series. In the unrated version the gore and kills alone are enough to elevate this film significantly. But the best thing this film has going for it is Creighton Duke, a bounty hunter played by Steven Williams. His hardened no nonsense attitude and unique knowledge of Jason make him one of the most memorable and compelling characters in the entire franchise.

Although the concept is genuinely cool, this film never truly feels like a Friday the 13th film, playing far more like Evil Dead than anything in this franchise. Jason has minimal screentime, and the sudden introduction of a half sister and niece never mentioned before makes the story feel convenient and confusing. But Friday the 13th does tend to get repetitive, and taking a bold new direction is always the right call for these films. Friday the 13th Part 9 is not a great entry and without a doubt very flawed but far from the disaster people call it.

8. Friday the 13th: The New Blood

Released in: 1988

Directed by: John Carl Buechler

Runtime: 88 mins

IMDb: 5.2/10

Friday the 13th Part 7 is another overhated entry that deserves far more credit. The Carrie vs. Jason concept is genuinely brilliant, the telekinetic protagonist is a refreshing shift and Jason's zombie look is one of the most intimidating designs in the franchise. The iconic sleeping bag kill alone is one of the franchise's greatest moments. Kane Hodder and John Carl Buechler delivered something truly special here.

However this film does fail on some aspects. The butchered gore is the biggest disappointment, leaving so much potential completely wasted. The teenagers are pure 1980s slasher stereotypes, bland and completely unmemorable with the exception of Tina who holds her own. The film also loses the classic Friday the 13th atmosphere, reducing the setting to two boring suburban houses next to a generic pond, stripping away all the isolation and dread that made the earlier films so effective. Not perfect, but unforgettable where it counts.

7. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

Released in: 1986

Directed by: Tom McLoughlin

Runtime: 86 mins

IMDb: 6.0/10

If it hasn’t already, here’s where this list gets very controversial. Friday the 13th Part 6 is what would be considered the most overrated film in the franchise. The biggest issue is Tommy Jarvis. He is one of the most inconsistent characters in the series. In Part 5 he is traumatized, then here he suddenly turns into a comedian making corny jokes nonstop. The humor in general is a problem too. Because of the fast paced goofy meta tone, the tension disappears and the victims end up feeling like generic background fodder. Even the kills and gore feel bland and forgettable.

What this film gets right is bringing back Jason as a new zombie version and shifting the franchise from realistic to supernatural. By resurrecting Jason Voorhees with a lightning strike at his grave, the movie drops the gritty realism and fully embraces him as the immortal, unstoppable, almost mythological Crystal Lake boogeyman fans know today. The pacing is also fantastic, getting straight to the point without dragging, something the franchise is often guilty of. Part 6 is fun, but it is not scary and it is not as great as its reputation. The supernatural Jason angle works and the pacing is sharp. Everything else feels too forgettable to justify the hype.

6. Jason X

Released in: 2001

Directed by: James Isaac

Runtime: 92 mins

IMDb: 4.5/10

Jason X does not suffer from that many negatives compared to most other entries, but the biggest issue is the visual effects. A lot of it looks extremely cheap and the CGI has not aged well at all. Because of the limited budget, the spaceship exteriors, laser blasts and the virtual reality sequences look noticeably rough and video game like compared to modern standards. The characters are also forgettable once again, to the point where you are mostly just waiting for the next death rather than caring who survives.

Other than that Jason X is severely underrated and gets trashed the moment it is mentioned, but it is way more than that. It is a creative shake up that actually fixes the franchise repetitiveness, and it delivers some of the best and most creative kills in the series, especially the liquid nitrogen kill. Cyborg Jason is a genuinely fun sci fi twist on the classic design, and the idea of an old school slasher fighting futuristic space marines gives the formula a fresh new scale. The runtime is fast paced and the pacing is genuinely well structured, yet people still reduce it to a guilty pleasure when it does not deserve that label at all. Call it goofy if you want but it delivers.

5. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

Released in: 1989

Directed by: Rob Hedden

Runtime: 100 mins

IMDb: 4.5/10

And it gets more controversial. This film has one of the best atmospheres in the franchise. Jason’s look is fantastic with the glowing orange yellow tone in his mask and the pure black suit, easily one of his best designs. The Times Square scenes deliver the money shots everyone remembers, with Jason stalking through neon drenched streets and a subway car. Even though most of it is set on a cruise ship because of the budget, the maritime setting adds a refreshing claustrophobic vibe to it. The Julius rooftop scene is one of the greatest moments in the series, and Kane Hodder’s performance only elevates it further.

It’s sad how much wasted potential this film has. If more of it actually took place in New York instead of spending most of the runtime on a boat, it could have easily been a top tier entry. Everyone wanted the city and the film barely delivers that, so the disappointment makes sense. The kills (expect Julius's death) and the acting are also pretty weak, and that drags the whole thing down. It does not fully deliver on the title, but when it hits, it hits hard and those moments carry the film.

4. Friday the 13th (1980)

Released in: 1980

Directed by: Sean S. Cunningham

Runtime: 95 mins

IMDb: 6.4/10

Brilliant film, but I do not think it deserves the highest IMDb score. The acting is rough, the dialogue is thin, and the pacing suffers because there is not enough character work to keep the middle engaging. Alice is also a weak final girl, and the emotional beats rarely land. Most of the supporting cast feel paper thin, which makes the whole thing easier to admire than to truly care about.

But also, this film changed horror forever. It helped popularize the summer camp slasher and proved that independent horror could still land major studio distribution. The score remains one of the most iconic in the genre, and the film works as a genuinely strong psychological mystery, following the murders from the killer’s point of view until the Pamela Voorhees reveal. Tom Savini’s makeup effects also deliver some of the era’s most shocking and seamless gore, with deaths that are stylized, creative, and memorable. This franchise's maker has flaws but its impact is undeniable.

3. Friday the 13th Part III

Released in: 1982

Directed by: Steve Miner

Runtime: 95 mins

IMDb: 5.6/10

The hockey mask debut is the single most important image the franchise ever created, and Part III is the movie that made it happen. Even though it gets dismissed for the basic story, thin characters, and obvious 3D tricks, it is stronger than people give it credit for. Higgins Haven has a great atmosphere, it feels cozy and comfortable before things take a turn, and the synth heavy soundtrack gives the film a weirdly comforting identity.

Chris also stands out as one of the first protagonists who feels genuinely developed, and her history with Jason adds a darker psychological layer that makes the final confrontation feel personal. Friday the 13th Part III is one of the most important entries in the franchise. The atmosphere is strong, Chris is more developed than most leads, and the finale actually feels meaningful. And once the hockey mask shows up, the franchise finally becomes what people think of when they hear Friday the 13th.

2. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

Released in: 1984

Directed by: Joseph Zito

Runtime: 91 mins

IMDb: 6/10

Friday the 13th Part 4 is genuinely incredible. The pacing is one of this film’s biggest strengths. Each act stays consistent, and the story moves forward without dragging. The characters are also a major step up for the franchise. They finally feel distinct and memorable, especially Tommy and Jimbo. Tommy stands out as the clear highlight, a curious little oddball who still comes across as genuinely brave, basically a true final boy. Jimbo brings some surprisingly effective humor too, and the whole dead fuck running gag gives the film a weirdly unique personality.

Overall, the new characters add real energy, making the deaths feel more meaningful, and Tommy in particular carries the film with ease, making this his best appearance in the series. The climax is legendary and instantly recognizable, with the iconic machete to the head finally putting Jason down. On top of that, the film is packed with memorable performances, and Tom Savini’s effects give the kills a much needed upgrade. This is the film where everything clicks and the ending seals its legacy.

1. Friday the 13th Part 2

Released in: 1981

Directed by: Steve Miner

Runtime: 87 mins

IMDb: 6.1/10

Friday the 13th Part 2 improves on the original in almost every way. The acting is stronger, the dialogue is sharper, and the pacing moves with far more confidence. Ginny is also one of the best written final girls in the franchise, with real personality and believable intelligence that makes her stand out from the typical slasher lead. Steve Miner’s direction brings more tension and tighter filmmaking, and the kills are classic, especially the wheelchair machete strike and the chilling double impalement.

Packanack Lodge adds a huge amount of atmosphere too. It feels genuinely nostalgic giving the film a distinct vibe even compared to other camp settings. Jason’s sack look is iconic, and his clumsy, inexperienced approach makes him feel more grounded and believable. Everything clicks here, which is exactly why this film is such an easy favorite. The original started it, Part 2 perfected it.

In Conclusion

This list may be controversial, but the franchise has so many unique and overlooked entries that get dismissed just for being different. Some of the most overhated films can even outshine the more highly acclaimed ones. The “worst” sequels take the biggest swings, and sometimes that’s the whole point. If it’s divisive, it’s doing something right.