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The Complete Friday The 13th Timeline: All 12 Films In Order & The Shocking 2025 'Jason Universe' Update

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For decades, the name Jason Voorhees has been synonymous with summer camp slasher horror, yet navigating the full, bloody chronology of the *Friday the 13th* franchise can be as confusing as trying to escape Camp Crystal Lake itself. As of late 2025, the saga encompasses 12 feature films, spanning from the original 1980 shocker to a futuristic space romp and a legendary crossover. This comprehensive guide provides the definitive viewing order by release date, clarifies the tangled timeline continuity—including the infamous copycat killer and Jason’s transformation into an undead powerhouse—and, most importantly, reveals the fresh, cutting-edge details about the highly anticipated "Jason Universe" projects scheduled for 2025.

The franchise has remained in a decade-long limbo due to a complex legal battle, which makes the news of a 13th installment and a new video game—both confirmed for 2025—the most significant update in recent history. Understanding the full story of Jason Voorhees requires following the films in their original release sequence, which is the most common and intended viewing experience, before diving into the legal drama and the exciting future of the hockey-masked killer.

The Definitive Friday the 13th Movie Order (1980–2009)

The core continuity of the *Friday the 13th* series runs from the 1980 original through to *Jason X*, with *Freddy vs. Jason* and the 2009 reboot existing as separate, non-canon entries to the main storyline. Below is the full list of films in their original release order.

  • 1. Friday the 13th (1980)

    Release Date: May 9, 1980. This is the origin story, but the killer is not Jason Voorhees. The film centers on Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother, seeking revenge for her son's supposed drowning at Camp Crystal Lake in 1957. The final girl is Alice Hardy.

  • 2. Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

    Release Date: May 1, 1981. Jason Voorhees makes his debut as the main antagonist, now a fully grown man wearing a sack over his head, not the iconic hockey mask. It picks up five years after the original, with Jason killing Alice Hardy in the opening scene.

  • 3. Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

    Release Date: August 13, 1982. This is the movie where Jason finally acquires his signature hockey mask, taking it from victim Shelly Finkelstein. The film was originally released in 3D.

  • 4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

    Release Date: April 13, 1984. Despite the title, this was far from the end. It introduces Tommy Jarvis as a young boy who ultimately stops Jason. The film was intended to conclude the saga.

  • 5. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)

    Release Date: March 22, 1985. A controversial entry, as the killer is not Jason, but a copycat named Roy Burns, a paramedic seeking revenge after his son is murdered. The story focuses on an institutionalized, older Tommy Jarvis.

  • 6. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

    Release Date: August 1, 1986. This film officially brings Jason back as a supernatural, undead killing machine after Tommy Jarvis accidentally resurrects him with a metal fence post and a bolt of lightning. This establishes the 'Zombie Jason' era.

  • 7. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

    Release Date: May 13, 1988. Often nicknamed "Jason vs. Carrie," this installment features Jason battling Tina Shepard, a teenager with telekinetic powers. It continues the 'Zombie Jason' storyline.

  • 8. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

    Release Date: July 28, 1989. Despite the title, most of the action takes place on a cruise ship. Jason eventually makes it to New York City for the final act.

  • 9. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

    Release Date: August 13, 1993. Another "Final Friday," this film introduces a bizarre plot where Jason can possess other people's bodies. The ending features the iconic tease of Freddy Krueger pulling Jason's mask into the ground.

  • 10. Jason X (2001)

    Release Date: April 26, 2002. Jason is cryogenically frozen and wakes up in the year 2455 on a spaceship, leading to his transformation into the futuristic 'Uber Jason.' This is the final film in the original continuity.

  • 11. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

    Release Date: August 15, 2003. A crossover film where Freddy Krueger manipulates Jason into killing people on Elm Street to restore fear. It exists in its own separate continuity.

  • 12. Friday the 13th (2009)

    Release Date: February 13, 2009. A reboot that blends elements from the first four films, establishing a new timeline and a more grounded, human version of Jason Voorhees.

The Legal Battle That Froze Jason Voorhees

The reason for the long hiatus following the 2009 reboot has nothing to do with creative fatigue or lack of fan interest; it was a complex, multi-year legal battle over the rights to the franchise.

The dispute centered on the copyright termination rights under U.S. law, specifically between the original film's writer, Victor Miller, and its director/producer, Sean S. Cunningham.

  • Victor Miller's Claim: Miller, as the original screenwriter, filed a termination notice in 2016, arguing that he wrote the screenplay as an independent contractor and, therefore, had the right to reclaim the copyright to the original 1980 script.
  • Sean S. Cunningham's Counter-Claim: Cunningham’s side argued that Miller was an employee working on a "work-for-hire" basis, which would mean the copyright belonged to the production company, *The Horror Inc.*
  • The Outcome: In 2021, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in favor of Victor Miller. This means Miller now controls the rights to the characters and concepts established in the original 1980 film, including the title, Pamela Voorhees, and the young, human Jason Voorhees.
  • The Split Rights: Crucially, Cunningham’s *Horror Inc.* retains the rights to elements introduced *after* the first film, such as the adult, hockey-masked Jason Voorhees, the "Zombie Jason" concept, and the iconic score.

This split ownership meant that for years, neither party could produce a new film featuring the complete, iconic Jason without an agreement, effectively freezing the franchise until a resolution was found or a new creative path was forged.

The Jason Universe: A New Beginning in 2025

The years of legal limbo are finally over, and the franchise is roaring back to life with a major new initiative. The latest and most exciting news is the official announcement of the "Jason Universe," which includes a 13th feature film and a new video game, both targeting a 2025 release.

The new projects are being developed by *Horror Inc.*, led by producer Robbie Barsamian, and are set to launch a new, interconnected narrative universe for the character.

  • The 13th Film (2025): While details are scarce, the new film is confirmed to be in development. The studio is reportedly aiming for a release date of March 13, 2025, which falls on a Friday, to capitalize on the franchise's legacy.
  • The New Video Game (2025): A new video game is also slated for release, which will utilize the same continuity as the new film, further expanding the "Jason Universe."
  • The TV Series: In addition to the film and game, a prequel series titled *Crystal Lake* is in development for the Peacock streaming service. This series is being overseen by Bryan Fuller and is connected to the Victor Miller side of the rights, meaning it will focus on the characters and events established in the 1980 film, likely before Jason becomes the masked killer.

The convergence of all these projects—the new film/game from the Cunningham side and the *Crystal Lake* series from the Miller side—signals a massive, multi-platform revival of the franchise, giving fans more Jason Voorhees content than they have seen in over a decade.

Key Entities and Complexities of the Friday the 13th Timeline

To achieve true topical authority, it’s essential to understand the key shifts in the *Friday the 13th* timeline that make the film order unique:

  • The Killer Switch: The first film’s killer is Pamela Voorhees, played by Betsy Palmer. Jason is merely a catalyst. He takes over as the killer in *Part 2* and *Part III*.
  • The Human vs. Zombie Jason: In *Part 2*, *Part III*, and *The Final Chapter*, Jason is a human killer, albeit a highly resilient one. His transformation into the supernatural, unkillable zombie takes place in *Jason Lives* (Part VI).
  • The Tommy Jarvis Trilogy: The character of Tommy Jarvis appears in *The Final Chapter*, *A New Beginning*, and *Jason Lives*. He is the only character to have a direct, multi-film confrontation with Jason, moving from child survivor to institutionalized adult, and finally to the one who resurrects Jason.
  • The Copycat Killer: *A New Beginning* is a major continuity break. The killer is Roy Burns, a paramedic. This attempt to move the series beyond Jason was poorly received, leading to his quick resurrection in the next film.
  • The Telekinetic Showdown: *The New Blood* (Part VII) is notable for its *Carrie*-like protagonist, Tina Shepard, whose powers are responsible for freeing Jason from his underwater grave and then battling him.
  • The Future and the Crossover: *Jason X* is a massive time jump, while *Freddy vs. Jason* exists outside the main continuity, as a self-contained battle between two horror titans.

The *Friday the 13th* franchise, created by Sean S. Cunningham and Victor Miller, is a cornerstone of the slasher genre. With the 2025 "Jason Universe" on the horizon, fans can finally look forward to a new era of terror from the infamous hockey-masked killer of Camp Crystal Lake.

The Complete Friday the 13th Timeline: All 12 Films in Order & The Shocking 2025 'Jason Universe' Update
friday the 13th in order
friday the 13th in order

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