Friday the 13th Franchise Overview and Production History
The Friday the 13th series is a long-running American horror franchise created by Victor Miller. The first film, Friday the 13th, premiered on May 9, 1980, and was produced by Sean S. Cunningham and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The franchise expanded across multiple sequels, a crossover film, a reboot, and television series. The series is known for the hockey mask-wearing character Jason Voorhees, who became the primary antagonist after the first installment. The films were primarily produced by Paramount Pictures and later by New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. The franchise includes theatrical releases spanning from 1980 to 2009, with the most recent mainline film being the 2009 reboot. The series has generated substantial box office revenue and remains a fixture of the slasher horror genre. For a detailed production history, see the franchise overview on Forbes.
The original Friday the 13th was produced on a budget of approximately 55 million dollars and grossed over 39 million dollars domestically, making it one of the most profitable horror films of its era. The success led to a rapid expansion of the franchise, with sequels released throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. The series changed hands between major studios, with Paramount Pictures handling the early releases and New Line Cinema taking over for later installments. The franchise includes 12 mainline films, plus additional media such as television series and video games. The films were primarily shot in New Jersey and other locations in the northeastern United States. The series has been recognized by the Box Office Mojo as one of the highest-grossing horror franchises in North America.
Complete List of Friday the 13th Movies and Release Timeline
The Friday the 13th film series includes the following mainline theatrical releases: Friday the 13th (1980), Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Friday the 13th Part III (1982), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985), Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989), Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), Jason X (2001), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), and the reboot Friday the 13th (2009). The series also includes the television series Friday the 13th: The Series, which aired from 1987 to 1990. The films were released by Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Pictures at various times. The 2009 reboot was distributed by Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes. The complete list of films is documented by the Internet Movie Database.
The release timeline of the Friday the 13th franchise shows a pattern of frequent sequels in the early years, with annual or near-annual releases from 1980 to 1989. After a hiatus, the franchise