Slasher fans have an incredible post-Halloween excuse to celebrate, because the final Friday the 13th of the year arrives this week. Free ad-supported streamer Pluto TV is making it absurdly easy to binge the ultimate horror marathon by hosting the first eight classic entries of the iconic Friday the 13th franchise. Grab your favorite snacks, slip into your PJs, and stream the complete original slasher saga for free.
Here’s What to Watch:
Here’s the 13th (1980)
Director Sean S. Cunningham kicked off the legendary franchise with a blood-soaked summer camp nightmare. The narrative follows a group of counselors attempting to reopen the cursed Camp Crystal Lake after a tragic past drowning. The ensemble cast also includes Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, and a young Kevin Bacon.
However, despite popular pop-culture memory, adult Jason Voorhees does not commit the murders in this initial installment. Instead, his vengeful mother Pamela Voorhees, played by Betsy Palmer, systematically slaughters the counselors. Young Ari Lehman makes an iconic cameo as the tragic child version of Jason rising from the water, creating an unforgettable climax.
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Director Steve Miner takes the helm for the terrifying second chapter, set five years later. The story shifts to a nearby summer counselor training center, where locals foolishly ignore warnings about the Crystal Lake curse. The slasher also stars Amy Steel as the iconic final girl, Ginny, alongside John Furey.
Adult Jason Voorhees makes his official, ruthless debut as the killer carrying out his mother’s legacy. Actormother’ston Gillette was credited as Jason, while stuntman Steve Daskewisz performed the majority of the heavy, physically demanding killer scenes. Instead of his signature hockey mask, Jason ominously stalks his victims wearing a crude, single-eye-hole burlap sack over his head.
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Director Steve Miner returns to direct the third entry, bringing the brutal mayhem into immersive 3D. The narrative centers on a fresh group of teenagers spending a weekend at Higgins Haven, a scenic property located near Crystal Lake. Furthermore, the main cast includes Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, and Tracie Savage.
This installment marks a monumental pop-culture milestone for the entire horror genre. Stuntman Richard Brooker portrays Jason, donning the iconic white hockey mask for the very first time after stealing it from a prankster victim. Ultimately, Brooker brought an intimidating, hulking physical presence that permanently defined the killer’s silhouette in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Director Joseph Zito crafts what many fans consider the absolute pinnacle of the classic Paramount era. The story kicks off immediately following the previous massacre, with Jason reviving in a hospital morgue before returning home to slaughter a family and neighboring teenagers. The stacked cast includes Judie Aronson, Peter Barton, Crispin Glover, and a young Corey Feldman as Tommy Jarvis.
Stunt legend Ted White steps behind the hockey mask to deliver one of the franchise’s most terrifying performances. Additionally, legendary special effects makeup artist Tom Savini returns to deliver jaw-dropping practical kills. Consequently, Feldman’s young character delivers a legendary, brutal final blow that temporarily puts the killer in the ground.
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
Director Danny Steinmann takes over for the controversial fifth installment, pushing the narrative into dark psychological territory. Set years later, a severely traumatized, older Tommy Jarvis arrives at a secluded rural halfway house for troubled teens. The ensemble also includes John Shepherd as Tommy, Melanie Kinnaman, Shavar Ross, and veteran actor Richard Young.
When a violent serial killer begins slaying the residents using Jason’s signature methJason’se characters suspect a supernatural resurrection. However, stuntman Tom Morga primarily performed the killer duties under the mask, while actor Dick Wieand was ultimately revealed as the copycat killer, paramedic Roy Burns. Consequently, this whodunit spin remains one of the most uniquely debated entries in the series.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Director Tom McLoughlin triumphantly resurrects the franchise by blending Gothic horror atmosphere with brilliant self-referential humor. A desperate Tommy Jarvis travels to Jason’s grave to incinJason’sis remains, but an accidental lightning strike resurrects the killer into an immortal, unstoppable zombie. The film also stars Thom Mathews as Tommy, Jennifer Cooke, and David Kagen.
C.J. Graham steps into the hockey mask to deliver a towering, imposing performance as the newly undead monster. As a result, Jason wields extreme strength while marching through the newly renamed Camp Forest Green. McLoughlin delivers elaborate practical gags and sharp comedic timing, making this entry a beloved fan favorite.
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)
Director and veteran FX artist John Carl Buechler pitches the ultimate slasher showdown by matching Jason against telepathic powers. The story follows Tina Shepard, a troubled teenager possessing telekinetic abilities, who accidentally releases Jason from his underwater chains at the bottom of Crystal Lake. The feature also stars Lar Park Lincoln, Susan Jennifer Sullivan, Terry Kiser, and Kevin Blair.
This installment marks the legendary debut of stunt icon Kane Hodder, who became the definitive actor behind the hockey mask. Hodder brought unprecedented aggression, heavy chest-heaving breathing, and signature body language to the role. His epic battle against Lar Park Lincoln’s superpower-wLincoln’seroine delivers an absolute blast of practical-effects mayhem.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
Director Rob Hedden takes the hockey-masked killer out of the woods and onto the open seas for the eighth installment. A high school graduating class boards a cruise ship bound for New York City, unaware that an electric shock has revived Jason beneath the water. The feature also stars Jensen Daggett, Scott Reeves, Barbara Bingham, and Peter Mark Richman.
Kane Hodder returns to reprise his role as Jason, delivering brutal kills aboard the doomed vessel before the survivors wash ashore in Manhattan. While the killer eventually stalks through the iconic streets, alleyways, and subways of Times Square, Hodder’s imposing presence anchors the entire international voyage.
Ultimately, streaming all eight entries on Pluto TV delivers the ultimate retro slasher binge. Get ready for a weekend filled with hokey masks and machetes.
