Friday the 13th, Part 2

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Friday the 13th, Part 2

R

Released May 1, 1981

1h 27m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

36%

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50 Reviews

48%

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

While Friday the 13th Part 2 doesn’t do much to add anything new to the story, it does give us Jason, and to be honest, that’s enough for me.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 18, 2025

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

It's missing the more mysterious qualities of the original, but it still manages to feel dangerous in ways that the series didn't always deliver on.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2025

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M.V. Moorhead

Phoenix Magazine

The poster reads “THE BODY COUNT CONTINUES” and that’s pretty much all there is to the movie – attractive young people getting skewered. The anti-sexual subtext is obvious, and ugly.

Jun 16, 2025

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Yash B

"Friday the 13th Part 2" has some of the goods I would expect from an '80s slasher movie. The movie has some memorable kills and gives us Jason as a killer for the first time in cinema history. That being said, this movie doesn't really stand out for me. The characters are really flat, so the moments of peril just didn't make me feel scared or tense. Overall, I am still curious to see some of the other entries in this franchise, but it is not as memorable as some of the other classic slasher franchises, despite some moments being solid.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

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Rafael S

Underrated movie, unfortunately the ending ruined it a bit

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

Full Review

Craig W.

The first time you see Jason!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/24/25

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Oaklee D

The introduction of horror icon Jason Vorhees, this film is pure 80's slasher cheese.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Dylan P

Good Worth A Watch Sometimes

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

Urho P

Not as good as first, but still good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

Full Review

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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?

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

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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!

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Movieclips: Jason's Best Kills

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Friday the 13th, Part 2: Trailer 1

2:11

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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)

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