Friday the 13th, Part 2

Play trailer

2:11

Friday the 13th, Part 2

R

Released May 1, 1981

1h 27m

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The second entry in the long-running horror series focuses on a group of teenage would-be counselors converging on Camp Crystal Lake for training under the tutelage of head counselor Paul (John Furey). Inevitably, Paul relates the story of Jason Voorhees (Warrington Gillette), a boy who ostensibly drowned at the camp and whose mother murdered a group of counselors in revenge. No one takes the tale seriously until a very much alive Jason begins gruesomely eliminating people.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Friday the 13th Part 2 sets the template for the franchise to follow with more teen victims, more gruesome set pieces, and fewer reasons to keep following along.

Read Critics Reviews

John Corry

New York Times

The plot is an excuse for joining together horrors, all of the sado-masochist kind, and the acting is rudimentary at best. It probably will make a fortune.

Feb 9, 2019

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Director Steve Miner and writer Ron Kurz introduce more potential victims than they have time or invention to knock off.

Feb 9, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Producer-director Steve Miner doesn't move in and out of scenes with the flair of original producer-director Sean Cunningham nor is he able to create the same nauseatingly realistic murder situations.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Friday the 13th Part 2 is a perfectly simple slasher that, thanks to Steve Miner's outstanding direction, achieves something most other entries don't: it's actually scary.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2023

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Easily one of (if not THE) best Friday the 13th film, Part 2 introduces iconic Final Girl Ginny, features mean kills (RIP Mark) and has one of the best chases in slasher history. Plus: those jump scares and Manfredini's go-for-broke score!

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 13, 2023

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

It may be tacky, cheaply made and unoriginal but the basic formula, established in the first film by Sean Cunningham, is fool- proof.

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Logan R

One of the best in the series. I still find this one the scariest. Good final girl in Ginny. When she arrives home from the bar that scene still gives me the creeps

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/25

Full Review

Alexander S

Friday the 13th: Part 2 is where the fun finally begins for Jason Voorhees. The franchise starts to expend the horror fun factor with all the scares, dumb teenagers having gruesome kills. Nothing to expect an astonishing story. It’s a decent treat for horror fans. Grading: B-

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/25

Full Review

João V

Esse filme é legal. Esse filme consegue estabelecer a ameaça do Jason, e o filme é bem executado. Pena que as mortes tiveram censura

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a great slasher. It has the perfect slashery vibes. Ki ki ki ma ma ma, gotta love it. The kills are great. They are creative and varied throughout the movie. The tension holds the entire time. It is shot and edited perectly to create that feeling of dread, aided by the score and Jason's theme. It paces well. We learn more about Jason, but without some boring flashbacks or monologues. This is pre- mask and he does not look as intimidating with the bag. Amy Steel is amazing as the Final Girl, Ginny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

Full Review

Tyler B

Jason is the main antagonist for the first time in this sequel. Later in the series he gets better at what he does.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/25

Full Review

Audience Member

despite the pros of this sequel being swifter and slightly more interesting with jason as an atagonist, this second verse can feel just like the first. either way it's a solid middle-in-the-road sequel whatsoever.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Steve Miner

Director

Amy Steel

Ginny Field

John Furey

Paul Holt

Adrienne King

Alice

Kirsten Baker

Terri

Stuart Charno

Ted

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Jason's Out There

2:13

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Vicky, Is That You?

1:55

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Mommie Dearest

2:09

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Sex and Death

1:32

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Hiding Under the Bed

2:00

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - A Surprise for Vicky

1:40

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Left Hanging

1:37

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Mystery Cabin

2:13

Friday the 13th Part 2: Official Clip - Look Out, Alice!

2:06

View more videos

Student Bodies

33%

52%

Student Bodies

Watchlist

Friday the 13th

67%

60%

Friday the 13th

Watchlist

Friday the 13th Part 3

11%

42%

Friday the 13th Part 3

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Friday the 13th Part 3

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

22%

52%

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

Watchlist

Friday the 13th -- A New Beginning

17%

26%

Friday the 13th -- A New Beginning

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Friday the 13th -- A New Beginning

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Every Friday the 13th Movie

The Killer Body Count Guide

Critical Consensus: "Halls" Spreads Little Cheer; "Déjà Vu" Intrigues; "The Fountain" Overflows; "Pick" Is Mixed

Movieclips: Jason's Best Kills

45:09

Friday the 13th, Part 2: Trailer 1

2:11

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The second entry in the long-running horror series focuses on a group of teenage would-be counselors converging on Camp Crystal Lake for training under the tutelage of head counselor Paul (John Furey). Inevitably, Paul relates the story of Jason Voorhees (Warrington Gillette), a boy who ostensibly drowned at the camp and whose mother murdered a group of counselors in revenge. No one takes the tale seriously until a very much alive Jason begins gruesomely eliminating people.

Director: Steve Miner
Producer: Steve Miner
Screenwriter: Ron Kurz
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Runtime: 1h 27m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now