Friday the 13th
They were warned...They are doomed...And on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them.
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning.
Directed by Sean S. Cunningham · Horror · 95 min · 1980
Trailer
Director
Sean S. Cunningham
Writer
Victor Miller
Studio
Sean S. Cunningham Films / Georgetown Productions
Release
1980-05-09
Runtime
95 min
Genres
Horror
Full Plot
A group of camp counselors arrive at Camp Crystal Lake, unaware of its dark past. As they settle in for the night, a series of gruesome murders takes place, targeting the counselors one by one. The remaining survivors must band together to uncover the identity of the killer and escape the camp before it's too late.
Cast & Characters
Alice
Adrienne King
Mrs. Voorhees
Betsy Palmer
Jack
Kevin Bacon
Marcie
Jeannine Taylor
Bill
Harry Crosby
Brenda
Laurie Bartram
Ned Rubenstein
Mark Nelson
Annie Phillips
Robbi Morgan
Steve Christy
Peter Brouwer
The Truck Driver
Rex Everhart
Sgt. Tierney
Ronn Carroll
Crazy Ralph
Walt Gorney
Barry
Willie Adams
Claudette
Debra S. Hayes
Did You Know?
Critical Assessment
Friday the 13th holds 6.4/10 on TMDb (3481 votes). IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes/Metacritic scores will populate automatically via the site's daily refresh once available.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of October 2, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on TMDb's aggregated score (6.4/10 on TMDb (3481 votes)), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Friday the 13th good? What are critics saying?+
Friday the 13th holds 6.4/10 on TMDb (3481 votes). IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes/Metacritic scores will populate automatically via the site's daily refresh once available.
How long is Friday the 13th?+
Friday the 13th has a runtime of 95 min.
Who directed Friday the 13th?+
Friday the 13th was directed by Sean S. Cunningham.
Where can I watch Friday the 13th?+
Friday the 13th is available to stream, rent, or buy on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC, Peacock Premium Plus, JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Friday the 13th received largely unfavorable reviews upon its release, with many critics dismissing it as an exploitative horror film. However, some reviewers praised aspects such as the score, cinematography, and performances, particularly from Taylor, Bacon, Nelson, and Bartram. The film was often unfavorably compared to John Carpenter's Halloween, with many critics finding it lacking in plot, suspense, and originality.
Source: Wikipedia — Critical reception (CC BY-SA)The movie "Friday the 13th" received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its nostalgic charm and influence on the slasher genre, while others found it to be formulaic and not as groundbreaking as expected. Reviewers noted that it was released during a successful time for horror movies like "Halloween", which led some to compare it unfavorably. The film holds up relatively well today, with praise for its simplicity and Betsy Palmer's performance as Mrs. Johnson.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Clearly, the team behind “Friday the 13th” expected at least to make a reasonable profit out of it, but I seriously doubt that anyone involved in the making of this film even considered the possibility of it becoming the cult classic that it is today. Victor Miller, who wrote the…
tmdb17996075 · 8/10Some films benefit with time, maturing and holding a nostalgic charm. Others rot like a bad apple, like _Friday the 13th_. Perhaps I had to be alive in 1980 to actually appreciate this one, but it is really not as groundbreaking as some people like to think it is, rather another…
inaneswine · 4/10Certainly not the first slasher movie, but arguably the most influential. This original film stands alongside _Part V: A New Beginning_ as the only two movies in a 12 film long franchise where they play the killer as a mystery, I think that premise would wear thin had they tried…
Gimly · 7/10***The beginning of the most successful slasher franchise*** Released in May, 1980, "Friday the 13th" was produced in the wake of the success of 1978's "Halloween" and also shares elements of "Carrie" (1976) and "A Bay of Blood" (1971). The story revolves around a cursed summer v…
Wuchak · 8/10Seems only fitting to watch this today and still holds up really well and Betsy Palmer was really creepy. Have to think a newer generation of teens or those in their early 20s probably would find this mild compared with other horror movies, but I kind of like the simplicity of th…
JPV852 · 8/10
From the trailer's comments
Its Friday the 13th. Happy Birthday, Jason. Such a sweet boy.
@JCislife777 · 71 likes43 years later, the first Friday The 13th is still a masterpiece in cinema history.
@kidbonesonline · 43 likesThis movie never gets old. Happy Friday the 13th Jason
@nightslayer6951 · 36 likesDon LaFontaine - incredible voiceover talent!
@Stephen_Lafferty · 8 likesHappy Birthday Jason 🎉💀🗡
@ezequielperez2224 · 6 likesI am so excited, I'm going to see this in theaters tonight! It's the last of the original slashers I have yet to see in theaters and my favorite!
@theworking-hour · 11 likes45 years after its release and here we are re-watching this classic that I knew since childhood and that never left me scared but rather with agony due to the bloody scenes
@JoeKaiersProductions · 0 likesGood thing I have my Friday the 13th DVD Collection for nights like this👌
@bigzndahouse3800 · 6 likes
