The Definitive Count: How Many Friday The 13th Movies Are There (And What’s Next In The Jason Universe)?

As of December 2025, the official count of *Friday the 13th* films in the main franchise stands at a terrifying twelve (12) theatrical releases. This definitive number includes the original 1980 classic, the various sequels featuring the iconic slasher Jason Voorhees, the futuristic *Jason X*, and the crossover event *Freddy vs. Jason*. What makes this count particularly exciting for horror fans is the recent resolution of a decade-long legal battle, which has finally paved the way for a massive new content initiative: the Jason Universe, promising new films, games, and immersive experiences, with a highly anticipated 13th film potentially on the way in 2025.

The franchise, which began as a simple, low-budget slasher, has evolved into a global phenomenon, primarily due to the unstoppable nature of its main antagonist, Jason Voorhees. This guide breaks down every film in the series, explores the key characters and entities that define its topical authority, and provides the absolute latest information on the future of Camp Crystal Lake's most infamous resident.

The Complete List: All 12 Friday the 13th Films in Release Order

The *Friday the 13th* franchise is one of the most prolific in horror history, spanning four decades and introducing the world to the hockey mask-wearing killer. The series can be roughly divided into the original Paramount era (1980–1989), the New Line Cinema era (1993–2003), and the single-remake era (2009). Here is the complete, chronological list of all 12 films.

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• 1. Friday the 13th (1980): The film that started it all. Notably, the killer is not Jason Voorhees, but his mother, Pamela Voorhees, seeking revenge for her son's drowning at Camp Crystal Lake in 1957.
• 2. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981): Jason Voorhees officially takes over as the killer, wearing a sack over his head before adopting his signature look. This film establishes Jason’s adult presence and his devotion to his deceased mother.
• 3. Friday the 13th Part III (1982): This film is a landmark moment. It was shot in 3D and, most importantly, is where Jason acquires his iconic hockey mask, which he steals from victim Shelly.
• 4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984): Initially intended to be the final film, it introduces the fan-favorite character Tommy Jarvis, a young boy who manages to seemingly defeat Jason.
• 5. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985): This controversial entry does not feature Jason as the killer. The antagonist is a copycat killer, Roy Burns, which alienated many fans. It focuses on a now-institutionalized Tommy Jarvis.
• 6. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986): A return to form. Tommy Jarvis accidentally resurrects Jason, turning him from a simple slasher into a supernatural, undead killing machine. This film solidified the "zombie Jason" persona.
• 7. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988): Often referred to as "Jason vs. Carrie," this film pits Jason against Tina Shepard, a young woman with powerful telekinetic abilities.
• 8. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989): Despite the title, most of the film takes place on a cruise ship before a brief final act in New York City. This marks the end of the Paramount era.
• 9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993): The first film under New Line Cinema. This entry is widely debated due to its plot involving Jason's spirit possessing various people via a demonic worm, rather than Jason himself doing all the killing.
• 10. Jason X (2002): A radical departure, this film takes Jason into space in the year 2455, where he is eventually transformed into the cybernetic "Uber Jason."
• 11. Freddy vs. Jason (2003): The highly anticipated crossover film that pits Jason Voorhees against the other horror titan, Freddy Krueger of the *A Nightmare on Elm Street* franchise. This was a massive box office success.
• 12. Friday the 13th (2009): A reboot/remake of the original films, combining elements of the first four movies into a new origin story. This is the last theatrical film released to date.

The Legal Battle and the Birth of the Jason Universe

For over a decade following the 2009 remake, the *Friday the 13th* franchise was trapped in a complex and frustrating legal quagmire, effectively preventing any new films from being made.

The core of the dispute was a copyright termination lawsuit between screenwriter Victor Miller, who wrote the original 1980 script, and producer Sean S. Cunningham's company, Horror Inc. Miller successfully argued in court that the screenplay was not a "work for hire," meaning the copyright for the original film's story, characters, and setting—including the name Jason Voorhees and Camp Crystal Lake—reverted back to him in the U.S.

However, the ruling was nuanced: Miller gained the rights to the first film's elements, which include the young, drowned Jason and the human killer Pamela Voorhees. Horror Inc. retained the rights to the iconic elements introduced in the sequels, such as the adult, hockey mask-wearing, supernatural Jason and the title *Friday the 13th* itself.

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This complicated split of rights meant that for any new project to feature the full, iconic version of Jason, a deal between the two parties was necessary. The good news is that this period of stasis is officially over.

The Future: A 13th Film and the Crystal Lake TV Series

The resolution of the legal issues has unleashed a wave of new content, centered around the newly launched Jason Universe brand in early 2024. This initiative promises to expand the *Friday the 13th* mythology across multiple media, including films, video games, and immersive experiences.

The most anticipated project is the long-awaited 13th feature film. While details are scarce, the owners of the Jason Universe have teased a return to the slasher's roots, with a focus on the unstoppable nature of the killer. Some sources have even pointed to a potential release date of March 13, 2025, though this remains an unconfirmed but tantalizing possibility for the next installment.

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Beyond the big screen, the franchise is also making a major splash in streaming television with the upcoming prequel series, *Crystal Lake*. This series is being developed by horror auteur Bryan Fuller (*Hannibal*) and is set to explore the lore of Camp Crystal Lake and the Voorhees family before the events of the original films. This deep dive into the backstory is expected to significantly expand the franchise’s topical authority and provide a fresh take on the source material.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords That Define the Franchise

To truly understand the depth of the *Friday the 13th* mythology, one must recognize the core entities and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that fans and critics associate with the series. These elements are the building blocks of the franchise’s enduring appeal and are essential for any deep dive into the lore.

The Voorhees Family and Their Adversaries

• Jason Voorhees (The Killer): The central figure, known for his relentless pursuit and supernatural invulnerability after his resurrection in *Part VI: Jason Lives*. His signature weapons are the machete and, occasionally, an axe.
• Pamela Voorhees (The Original Killer): Jason's mother, whose grief and rage over her son's death drove her to murder the camp counselors in the first film. She serves as the tragic, emotional core of the series' origin.
• Tommy Jarvis (The Protagonist): The only recurring protagonist in the series, appearing in *The Final Chapter*, *A New Beginning*, and *Jason Lives*. His complex relationship with Jason—from child survivor to adult hunter—forms a crucial trilogy within the franchise.
• Ginny Field: The resourceful final girl from *Part 2* who famously uses her knowledge of psychology to briefly trick Jason by impersonating his mother.

Iconic Settings and Props

• Camp Crystal Lake (The Setting): The cursed location where the original tragedy occurred and the site of most of Jason's subsequent rampages. It is the inescapable nexus of the horror.
• The Hockey Mask (The Icon): Stolen in *Part III*, this piece of sporting equipment became the franchise's most recognizable visual element, transforming Jason from a disfigured man into an anonymous, terrifying icon.
• Crystal Lake Massacre: The collective term for the series of murders committed by both Pamela and Jason Voorhees over the decades.

With the legal hurdles finally cleared and the Jason Universe officially underway, the count of 12 films is set to increase. For fans, the long wait is over, and the promise of a 13th film and the *Crystal Lake* prequel series means that Jason Voorhees will be sharpening his machete for a new generation of victims—and viewers—very soon.