Franchise Overview and Ownership
The Friday the 13th franchise is a horror media series originating with the 1980 film Friday the 13th, produced by Paramount Pictures and later managed through various rights holders. The series centers on the fictional mass murderer Jason Voorhees and includes films, television, home media, and licensing. As of the latest public data, the core film library is controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery, with specific distribution and sub-licensing handled through subsidiaries including Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. The franchise has generated billions in global box office and home entertainment revenue across multiple decades Forbes.
New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros., has been the primary studio behind the major theatrical entries, including the 2009 reboot and subsequent home media releases. The original 1980 film was produced by Paramount Pictures and later transferred to the New Line library. Television adaptations include the 1987–1990 series and the 2009 reboot-related content. The franchise remains one of the highest-grossing horror series by cumulative domestic and international box office when adjusted for inflation and ancillary markets Box Office Mojo.
Box Office and Financial Performance
The first Friday the 13th film grossed approximately $39.8 million domestically on a budget of $550,000, making it one of the most profitable films of 1980. The franchise as a whole has earned over $465 million in global box office across all theatrical releases, with the 2009 reboot contributing roughly $92.7 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, the series ranks among the top-grossing horror franchises in North America The Numbers.
Home media sales, including DVD and Blu-ray, have added tens of millions in revenue, with the complete box set frequently charting on Nielsen VideoScan and Circana retail tracking. Streaming performance on platforms such as Max (formerly HBO Max) shows consistent viewership spikes around the release of new horror content and seasonal events. The franchise continues to generate licensing income through apparel, collectibles, and video games, supported by Warner Bros. Discovery's consumer products division SEC Filing.
Recent Developments and Future Outlook
In recent years, Warner Bros. Discovery has maintained the franchise catalog on Max and licensed select titles for television syndication and digital storefronts. The company has not greenlit a new theatrical film as of the latest public disclosures, but the IP remains active in merchandise, video games, and theme park attractions. The 2009 reboot is the most recent major entry, and the franchise is frequently cited in industry analyses of profitable horror libraries Forbes.
Valuation of the franchise is tied to the broader New Line and Warner Bros. library, which is part of Warner Bros. Discovery's reported assets. The company's annual financial reports include segment data on studio entertainment and global consumer products, where legacy horror franchises contribute to licensing and distribution revenue. No new theatrical release