2. Friday the 13th (1980)
Friday the 13th introduced audiences to Camp Crystal Lake and set the teen-slasher formula with suspenseful kills and isolated settings. The story focuses on counselors hunted by Pamela Voorhees, avenging her son Jason’s drowning. While Pamela is the initial killer, Jason eventually becomes the franchise’s iconic figure.
The film’s combination of inventive kills, teen characters, and suspenseful pacing helped define 1980s slasher cinema. Its massive success led to a long-running franchise, merchandise, and crossovers. Jason Voorhees remains one of horror’s most recognizable villains, and the original film’s influence continues to shape the structure and style of countless teen-centered slasher films.
