Friday the 13th

19801 hour 35 minsREnglish

HorroRated pick

HorroRated verdict

Legendary

1980sSlasherSummer CampPractical FXRevenge

Directed by: Sean S. Cunningham
Written by: Victor Miller
Produced by: Sean S. Cunningham, Alvin Geiler, Steve Miner

Collections

Slashers Practical FX Cult Classics Revenge

Why it’s HorroRated

Friday the 13th didn't invent the slasher but it helped define what the genre would look like for the next decade. Made for almost nothing and shot in New Jersey, it grossed $60 million and launched one of the biggest franchises in horror history. The killer reveal still lands. The ending still surprises.

Synopsis

The warnings about Crystal Lake get dismissed as local superstition by everyone who hears them. A new set of counselors sets up for summer and the killing starts. The killer in this one is not who you expect, which gives the film an ending that still surprises even when you know it's coming.