Weirdly, some of us enjoy the anticipation of a Friday the 13th. If the paranormal and superstitious excite you, you’re likely one of these people too. Maybe the day itself isn’t enough to get your spooky fix and need some added scares on top! To celebrate this harrowing day, we wanted to bring you some of the best Friday 13th movies to get your scare fix.
So with that being said, in this article, we will present you with some of the best Friday the 13th movies and the reasons behind their success!
10 Of The Best Friday 13th Movies
Let’s get into it! These are the best horror movies to watch on Friday the 13th.
10. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare On Elm Street is of course a classic horror movie. Freddie has visited many nightmares and not just of those in the films. What better film to watch on this day than a horror that has defined so much of the modern genre?
This supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven is the first of the iconic series. What’s more terrifying than a real-life slasher? A slasher that murders you in your dreams! We follow the journey of 4 teenagers who are hunted down by Freddie when they sleep whilst living in the town of Springwood.
This film saw huge success and really did terrify people at the time. This was also Johnny Depp’s first film debut making it all the more special!
With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 94% and a few awards under its belt, this film saw immediate commercial success beyond what most horrors see. As horror lovers, we all know they don’t necessarily have a huge commercial success and critical response every time. A Nightmare On Elm Street is certainly not one of them!
9. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
We thought we better fit a more lighthearted film into the mix for those of you who can’t deal with the other jump scares so much.
Now the Haunted Mansion might not have seen the best critical response but is still a much-loved film by many. We follow Jim Evers played by Eddie Murphey and his family as they take a detour from their vacation to visit a potential real-estate business opportunity.
We go on a wild journey with the family as they unravel the secrets of the mansion, and there are many! Despite being a comedy, the scene in the crypt below the mausoleum can actually be quite scary. The Singing Busts will always stick out in our minds!
8. Candyman (1992)
Candyman is another renowned film with such an iconic film cover. The bee with the eye is one of the most recognisable horror film posters in history!
After a grad student takes an interest in folklore, she ends up summoning the horror that is Candyman; a murderer with a hook for a hand. The backstory of Candyman is actually quite deep being the son of an enslaved man who was murdered for forming a relationship with a white woman. No wonder he’s got some anger issues!
This film actually sparked quite the racial debate. At first, some thought casting a black man as a murderous ghost would be perceived as racist. However, with most iconic villains in horror films being white, it was about time for someone else to take the spotlight!
The film saw a generally positive response with a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 76%. The film also received a few awards such as the Saturn Awards and Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress.
7. A Quiet Place (2018)
The most recent film on our list and one of the most talked-about horrors in recent times. A Quiet Place was a huge success with its blind monsters and characters played by Emily Blunt and John Krasinski as parents who try to survive in this silent post-apocalyptic world with their children.
There’s no shortage of scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat, for those who have watched this film, the nail get’s us every time.
The family live out their life but in complete silence. Humanity has been all but wiped out by blind monsters who use sound to locate their prey.
This film was a huge success and still is today. It nearly has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score on this list with 96% and an IMDb rating of 7.5/10. Unlike many horrors, it retains an intriguing plot and issues such as parenthood, not taking the horror aspect out of proportion. It was nominated and won numerous awards including the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Sci/HorrorMovie and The American Film Institute Award for Top 10 Films Of The Year.
6. Black Christmas (1974)
Black Christmas takes the spot of the oldest film on our list and one you may well have not watched. With a 7.2/10 IMDb rating, it’s one that got a generally positive critical response. It’s not only significant for being successful though, as it is one of the defining slasher films.
Being the very first slasher film, we have many much-loved horrors to thank because of this classic. Another first, it never revealed the identity of the killer, a huge risk at the time, but now something we’re used to.
The film is centred around a group of sorority sisters who start to receive anonymous phone calls followed by a series of murders. As they start to realise they have a serial killer on their hands, they try to figure out who the culprit is.
The film also managed to receive some awards for Best Sound Editing in a Feature and Best Performance by a Leading Actress from the Canadian Film Awards.
5. The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
Why indulge in one horror story when you can watch them all packed into one instead?!
How do we even approach The Cabin In The Woods? It’s a hot mess but also saw huge critical success. With one of the biggest twists in any horror film, it’s certainly one of the best Friday the 13th movies to watch.
We follow a group of friends as they go on a holiday to a secluded cabin in the woods. They discover certain objects in the house which then cause the appearance of a series of spook beings to appear. Oblivious to them, these appearances are not so coincidental.
The film racked up numerous nominations and awards for its alternative take on the genre. Winning the Saturn Award for Best Horror/Thriller Film and Bram Stroker Awards for Screenplay.
4. Get Out (2017)
Get Out is one of the best horror films of recent times with its very alternative storyline. Directed by Jordan Peele, you know you’re always in for a treat.
The protagonist, Chris Washington played by Daniel Kaluuya, is visiting his girlfriend’s family home for the first time. Throughout his stay, multiple odd events make Chris question whether all is as it seems with the family. Suspecting there is an issue with him being black, but oh boy, we didn’t see any of this coming. In case you haven’t seen this film, we won’t spoil the amazing plot list!
With an IMDb score of 7.7/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%, this is the highest-rated film on our list. It was also the 10th most profitable film of 2017 which is rare for horror. This list of awards and nominations this film received is extensive including winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay!
3. The Burning (1981)
The Burning is actually based on an urban legend. Cropsey is rumoured to be a homicidal madman who escaped from a mental asylum and murders children with his hook for a hand. Director Tony Maylam took this legend and turned it into The Burning.
Instead of a madman with a hook for a hand, Cropsey takes the form of a summer camp caretaker who received severe burns after a prank that went wrong. He seeks revenge by letting loose on a nearby summer camp.
Despite being a cult classic now, The Burning was not a success upon release like many other slasher films. Critics have revisited the film and have now changed their opinions to a more positive one. It currently holds a score of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes which isn’t too bad for a horror.
2. Halloween (1978)
Now if you haven’t seen the original Halloween we’re guessing you’re not a big horror fan. This is another film that has become a legend within horror and inspired many of the genres films today.
The antagonist of this being the one and only Michael Myers. After being murdered at the age of just six years old, Myers is locked away to escape 15 years later and return to his hometown to stalk a babysitter and her friends.
This film had to make it onto this list bringing us one of the most iconic characters in horror history! The film then went on to become a franchise with over 11 films, giving us an extensive narrative of Myers’ life.
The film received a few awards including the Saturn Award for Best DVD/Blue-Ray collection in both 2014 and 2015 showing the franchise’s relevance today, 43 years after the initial release.
1. Friday The 13th (1908)
So, what is the best Friday the 13th movie? Friday The 13th of course!
Now the original might not have seen a huge critical response, but it is certainly better than the modern retakes. Still, like Haloween, this film gave us another iconic horror character, Jason Voorhees.
Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, the plot follows a group of teenage camp counsellors who get murdered mysteriously one by one. The murdered being Jason of course, or is he? He becomes his evil self after being drowned in a nearby lake as a young boy; you can’t deny most of these antagonists do have tragic backstories!
The film’s intent was to make you jump out of your seat, which it succeeds in doing. Undoubtedly it has become one of the most famous and watched horrors out of any films within the gene.
Despite its legendary status, it didn’t receive many positive reviews. Mostly, it was criticised for using unnecessary violence and gore. Maybe not to the critics, but that’s exactly what some of us horror loves are looking for!
That Was Our Review Of The Best Friday 13th Movies
That was our list of the best scary movies for Friday the 13th! We hope you’re ready for a spooky evening celebrating this fearful day. Make sure to catch some of the classics as well as the modern successes.
Horror is not for everyone, but those of us that love it, really love it. We strive for that film that makes us as scared as non-horror lovers watching the genre. No jump-scare is a jump-scare too many! Whether you’re a slasher fan or more into psychological thrillers, this list has got you covered.
Which Friday the 13th movie is the best in your opinion? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to share this article across your socials and give us a tag at @musicgateway!
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