The Friday the 13th franchise is a classic in the horror genre, centered around the iconic and intimidating character Jason Voorhees. The storyline generally follows Jason’s quest for revenge on counselors at Camp Crystal Lake, where he drowned as a child. The franchise includes various films with different actors portraying Jason and exploring different aspects of the character’s origin. The primary films in the franchise include:
- Friday the 13th (1980):
- Introduces the character Jason Voorhees and his mother Pamela as the killer.
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981):
- Jason, now the main antagonist, seeks revenge on new counselors.
- Friday the 13th Part III (1982):
- Continues the story with new characters and introduces Jason’s iconic hockey mask.
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984):
- Despite the title, this film wasn’t the final chapter, as Jason returns for more mayhem.
- Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985):
- Features a copycat killer posing as Jason, confusing the timeline.
- Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986):
- Jason is resurrected as a zombie, and the film takes a more humorous approach.
- Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988):
- Introduces psychic abilities as a girl faces off against Jason.
- Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989):
- Jason leaves Crystal Lake and wreaks havoc in New York City.
- Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993):
- Jason faces a supernatural threat, and the film explores the Voorhees family curse.
- Jason X (2002):
- Jason is cryogenically frozen and awakens in a futuristic setting.
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003):
- A crossover film with Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
- Friday the 13th (2009):
- A reboot of the franchise, with a new portrayal of Jason Voorhees.
While the films often feature different actors and variations of Jason, they generally fit into one major timeline. The franchise also includes a reboot in 2009 and a crossover with Freddy Krueger. Despite the “final” titles in some films, Jason continues to return for more horror. The films are available for streaming and rental on various platforms.