How Many People Die On-Screen in Every Friday the 13th Movie? I Did the Math

Despite the memorable “Ki…ki…ki…Ma…ma…ma” and the enduring image of Jason’s mask, what truly keeps the Friday the 13th series alive for 12 sequels is its creative kill scenes. In fact, we usually witness these kills in the movies themselves. For this ranking, we will evaluate the films based on the number of these on-screen killings. It’s important to note that any instance where a character is stabbed below the screen and only their facial reaction is shown counts, but deaths like those on the boat in Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan or the countless individuals on Space Station Solaris in Jason X, who we don’t directly encounter and presumably drown or die off-screen, are not considered.

In the initial movie, it’s Ned who enters a cabin after seeing Mrs. Voorhees momentarily, but his death isn’t definitive because we only find his dead body later on. The actual demise isn’t depicted on screen.

12) Friday the 13th (1980) — 6

In Sean S. Cunningham’s influential “Friday the 13th”, approximately half of the 10 deaths are depicted on-screen. The first death occurs off-camera, where Barry is stabbed, and we understand what happens without seeing the actual stabbing, making his death counted. Conversely, Claudette’s death remains unseen as the last we see of her is her screaming; the scene abruptly cuts to credits after a brief flash of light.

Following them, we catch up with Annie for a spell, who ultimately meets her end after a prolonged chase, her throat being slit. Subsequently, we spend some moments with the surviving counselors at Camp Crystal Lake, only to find Ned’s fate unfolded off-screen, his corpse serving as a source of tension as Jack and Marcie share an intimate moment in bed. Jack subsequently receives an arrow through his throat while smoking a joint, then Mrs. Voorhees hunts down Marcie, using an axe against her. Brenda also meets her end off-screen, either by knife or arrow (considering she was last seen alive in the archery range). Her body is later found thrown through a window. Steve Christy is stabbed in the stomach off-camera and Bill is killed off-screen and pinned to a door with multiple arrows, creating one of the film’s more effective scares. However, unlike the others, Mrs. Voorhees doesn’t meet her demise off-screen; instead, Alice beheads her with a machete.

11) Friday the 13th Part 2 — 8

In much the same way as the initial movie, Friday the 13th Part 2 features a total of ten deaths. However, from this point forward, the body count would increase significantly. What sets this film apart is that it showcases more on-screen violence than its predecessor. Among the casualties were Terry, whose agonized screams are heard and later discovered in Jason’s shack, and Paul, who vanishes without a trace in one of the sequel’s most questionable plot developments.

In this horror story, Alice becomes the first victim. Jason seeks retribution for his mother’s demise by driving an ice pick into her temple. Another returning character, “Crazy” Ralph, meets a gruesome end by being strangled with razor wire. Deputy Winslow receives a fatal blow to the back of the head from a hammer claw. Scott’s throat is slit while he hangs upside down due to a rope trap. Mark suffers a machete wound to the face and tumbles down a staircase in his wheelchair. Jeff and Sandra are impaled with a spear while they lie in bed together. Vicky is stabbed, though the act occurs just off-camera as Jason advances towards her with a knife, capturing one of the franchise’s more memorable scenes.

10) Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter — 11

1984’s standout horror film, “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” is beloved by many for a number of reasons, and rightfully so. Not only does it claim the title of being the only installment to eliminate a total of 14 characters (13 if you don’t count Jason), but it does so in a way that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

From the thirteen characters, ten are depicted on-screen. This includes Jason’s death, although he does return later. The deaths that occur off-screen involve one of the British twins (whose death is hinted at through a shadow), Terri (who is heard screaming and only seen as a shadow), Mrs. Jarvis (who screams but isn’t shown again), and Rob (who is hacked apart in a dark basement, his terrified cries of “He’s killing me!” echoing). The most notable on-screen deaths include Coroner Axel (who has his throat slit with a hacksaw and his head twisted), Sam (impaled by a machete beneath a raft), and Jimmy (Crispin Glover) who receives a corkscrew to the hand and a hatchet to the face.

9) Friday the 13th Part III — 11

In “Friday the 13th Part III,” eleven out of the twelve depicted killings occur on-screen. The one exception, a biker named Fox’s gruesome demise by a pitchfork to the throat, is so skillfully executed that it seems as if it had actually taken place.

In a more natural and easier-to-understand way: Part III is undeniably the most violent installment in the series, despite not having the highest kill count. The graphic scenes, such as Jason killing a pregnant woman, and moments like Vera’s speargun to the eye and Rick’s gruesome demise, make it stand out for its harshness, even if the outdated 3-D technology gives it a slightly cheaper appearance.

8) Friday the 13th (2009) — 15

In the 2009 version of “Friday the 13th,” every single killing is shown to the viewers, even the one featuring Mrs. Voorhees in the initial flashback sequence. The team behind Platinum Dunes seemed to understand what fans desired and fulfilled it effectively.

To clarify, while the kills themselves are satisfactory, we’re not evaluating them based on originality. However, there are some standout moments worth mentioning. For instance, Amanda’s scene where she’s trapped in a sleeping bag, reminiscent of “The New Blood,” is quite effective. Similarly, Richie receives a bear trap to the foot and a machete blow to the head, which are impactful. Lastly, Bree meets her end by being impaled on deer antlers.

7) Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood — 16

In a nod to the Friday the 13th series, if any episode was mercilessly edited by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), it would be Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. The killings are portrayed, but due to their fleeting nature, they occur so swiftly that viewers barely get a glimpse of the action unfolding.

Despite some scenes fading from memory, there are a few that remain indelible, and one that stands out as truly legendary. The legendary scene, you might say, is the “sleeping bag murder” (which, in the original cut, shows Jason forcefully hitting the zipped-up Judy into a tree once, rendering her essentially lifeless). Fortunately, these gruesome scenes can be viewed in their entirety online. Unfortunately, the video quality isn’t always top-notch.

6) Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives — 16

In the film “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives”, there are a total of 18 killings, though only 16 are shown on-screen. Despite this high count, the movie’s lighter tone makes it seem less violent compared to the original film. The original film has fewer kills (more than half) and yet feels significantly more gruesome and brutal in its presentation.

Another factor contributing to the seemingly reduced death toll in this film is the use of multi-kills, such as the double kill and triple kill. For instance, Stan, Larry, and Katie (a trio of businesspeople on a work retreat) are decapitated with a single stroke of Jason’s machete, while Steven and Annette (a couple enjoying a night picnic, which apparently is common) are both impaled as they attempt to ride their retro-style moped.

5) Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan — 16

16 out of the 19 deaths depicted in “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan” occur on-screen. Some argue that there should be credit given for the death of Colleen Van Deusen, as her demise takes place in a car explosion, even though it’s not explicitly shown on screen.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase that thrilling scene like this: In the heart-stopping sequences, it’s me who witnesses J.J. receiving an unexpected guitar smash to the face, Jason (not the infamous one with the mask) enduring a brutal sauna rock strike to the abdomen, and Eva finding herself in a nerve-wracking disco dance, only to meet her untimely end by a chilling chokehold. However, the climax that left me speechless was when Julius experienced the gruesome fate of having his head forcefully detached, causing it to tumble down into a nearby dumpster.

4) Friday the 13th: A New Beginning — 17

In the movie “Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning,” there are 21 deaths if you include the two gravediggers who perish during the opening dream sequence. However, none of these deaths are caused by Jason himself. Instead, this film takes place in a mental health facility where, surprisingly, axes seem to be readily accessible.

In this grisly film, only the deaths of Dr. Letter (struck by a railroad spike to the head), George (his throat was slit), Anita (also her throat was slit), and Duke (whose throat was also slit) are not shown; their bodies were found later on. The most notable on-screen killings include Billy, who meets his end with an axe to the head, Tina, whose eyes are gruesomely gouged out with garden shears (though we don’t actually see the shears enter her eyes, a mercy given this dark and gritty movie), and Eddie, who is brutally killed by having his head squeezed against a tree with a belt.

3) Jason X — 18

In the movie, not all deaths were considered when determining the final tally. If on-screen deaths had been the only ones counted, Jason X would have lost to other films. For example, Pvt. Valcez’s impalement on a swinging claw hook and Lou’s dismemberment were both off-screen. Additionally, one of the film’s main characters, Professor Lowe, met his end with only a scream, but it was not shown on screen.

The movie still features 18 violent deaths, with standout moments like Dr. Aloysius Wimmer being speared and Pvt. Klune impaled on a drill that widens as he falls. Notably, Adrienne’s death scene, involving liquid nitrogen and a brutal counterattack, ranks high among the franchise’s most memorable demises, second only to Jack’s in the original film.

2) Freddy vs. Jason — 18

In the horror movie “Freddy vs. Jason”, there’s a significant number of deaths, particularly among teen characters. Most of these fatalities are inflicted by Jason, with only a few exceptions. Notably, the death of Blake’s father is the only one that doesn’t occur on screen.

From the 18 survivors, it is only Mark Davis that Freddy sets ablaze and mutilates his face. The rest, which amount to seventeen individuals, are primarily ordinary characters who end up relatively unscathed, with Jason making up most of them.

1) Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday — 20

Though not as financially lucrative as the top-earning installments in the “Friday the 13th” series, “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” boasts an impressive body count. This tally, however, leaves room for individual interpretation, primarily concerning the timing of the deaths rather than the methods used.

In this narrative, I’ll walk you through the deaths. First, Coroner Phil, who later turns out to be possessed, melts away. Next, Coroner Eric meets his end through a probe stabbed into his head. We then witness two deaths off-screen involving Agents Grieco and Murphy. Alexis suffers a gruesome death by a straight razor, another off-screen killing. Debby is impaled with what seems to be the base of a stop sign, while her lover, Luke, meets his end off-camera. Edna’s head is crushed by a car door, Deputy Josh also succumbs to possession. Diana Kimble receives a back wound from a knife, and Robert Campbell, a real jerk, becomes possessed as well.

Subsequently, Jason, disguised as Robert, embarks on a violent rampage at the police station, fatally shooting officers Ryan, Mark, and Brian in full view. This brutal act is followed by the tragic incident at the diner, where six individuals lose their lives, all depicted vividly on-screen. The story then unfolds to Officer Randy, who becomes the final character possessed. Sherriff Landis meets his demise after being mistaken for a possessed individual and impaled by one of the protagonists. Creighton Duke succumbs to a fatal bear hug. Lastly, Jason is pulled into Hell. In total, there are 20 victims, including both Jason and the possessed characters.

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2025-07-08 22:42