Jason Voorhees first appears during a nightmare of the main character in the original Friday the 13th film, he becomes the main antagonist to the series in its sequels. In this film, Jason is also portrayed in the memories of his mother, Mrs. Voorhees. She seeks revenge for her son’s drowning, which she blames on the irresponsible camp counselors who were too busy having sex. She stalks and murders the teenagers preparing to re-open Crystal Lake. She is determined to ensure the camp does not reopen.
It’s not until Friday the 13th Part 2 that he is revealed to be alive, an adult Jason exacts revenge on Alice for decapitating his mother in the original film. Jason returns to Crystal Lake, living as a hermit and guarding it from all intruders. Five years later a group of teenagers arrive to set up a new camp, only to murdered by Jason one by one, who wears a sack over his head to hide his face.
In the 3rd film he was able to wear the hockey mask for the first time. From there, history was made.
It was made clear during the events of part 4 that Jason Voorhees would be permanently dead. This is combined with the fact that in part 5, he was replaced by a copycat killer.
Once he got resurrected in the 6th film, the character became far more powerful. Almost becoming a force of nature where he could only be stopped by supernatural means.
The American horror franchise continues with a series of twelve slasher films. Jason is featured in all the films, either the killer or the motivation for the killings. The original film was released on May 9, 1980, and grossed over $468 million at the box-office worldwide. It was the highest grossing film horror franchise in the world until Halloween in 2018 was released, putting Halloween in the top spot.
From his immense strength to his seemingly unstoppable durability, it is no secret that he is almost invincible. Not only that but he has one of the highest kill counts out of any horror villain.
Jason also fought other horror icons in Freddy vs Jason. Which I don’t know about you, but I’m waiting for Freddy vs Jason two!
Overview of Movies
Friday the 13th (1980)
- Plot: A group of counselors at Camp Crystal Lake are terrorized by an unseen killer. The film introduces the iconic character Jason Voorhees as a child who drowned in the lake due to neglectful counselors.
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
- Plot: Set five years after the first film, a new group of counselors arrives at a training center near Camp Crystal Lake. They are stalked and killed by a mysterious killer, who is revealed to be an adult Jason Voorhees.
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
- Plot: Jason Voorhees returns, now with his iconic hockey mask, as he terrorizes a group of friends who are vacationing at a remote cabin near Crystal Lake.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
- Plot: Jason is believed to be dead, but he returns to kill again, targeting a group of teenagers staying in a nearby house. This installment introduces Tommy Jarvis, a recurring character in the series.
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
- Plot: After the events of the previous film, Tommy Jarvis is now a teenager in a halfway house. A new killer dons the hockey mask and begins a new spree of murders.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
- Plot: Tommy Jarvis inadvertently revives Jason Voorhees, who then resumes his killing spree. This film leans more towards black comedy, with Tommy attempting to stop Jason once and for all.
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
- Plot: A teenager with telekinetic powers accidentally awakens Jason Voorhees from his watery grave. She must use her abilities to try to stop the relentless killer.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
- Plot: Jason boards a cruise ship bound for Manhattan and continues his murderous rampage there. The film primarily takes place in the city.
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
- Plot: Jason’s spirit possesses others, leading to a series of killings. The film delves into the supernatural aspect of Jason Voorhees and introduces the idea of a curse.
Jason X (2001)
- Plot: In the distant future, Jason is cryogenically frozen and accidentally thawed out on a spaceship. He resumes his killing spree in space, leading to a sci-fi horror setting.
Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
- Plot: The film brings together two iconic horror characters, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger, as they battle each other in both the dream world and the real world.
Friday the 13th (2009)
- Plot: This is a reboot of the franchise, retelling the story of Jason Voorhees and a group of friends who encounter him at Crystal Lake. It combines elements from the earlier films.
What’s your favorite Jason movie?