Top 10 Jason Voorhees Kills in Friday the 13th

#10: Wheelchair Death – Mark’s Downhill Demise

Movie: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

It’s one of the earliest and still most shocking moments in the franchise. Mark, a likable and upbeat character confined to a wheelchair after an accident, becomes the target of Jason’s wrath in Part 2. As he sits outside enjoying a quiet night, expecting a romantic encounter, Jason suddenly appears and slams a machete into his face. The force sends Mark flying backward—still in his wheelchair—down a seemingly endless staircase in the rain, a haunting visual that remains etched in slasher history.

What makes this kill stand out isn’t just the brutality—it’s the sheer audacity. Killing a disabled character so suddenly and mercilessly was unheard of at the time, and Jason’s complete lack of hesitation sends a clear message: no one is off-limits. It also set a precedent for Jason’s kills being more than just stabbings—they became visual spectacles, blending shock with sick cinematic choreography.

The darkly ironic part of this scene is its setup. Mark is optimistic, hopeful, even flirtatious just moments before his death. That sudden transition from warmth to terror gives the kill a heavier emotional weight. It’s a moment that lingers with viewers long after the movie ends.

Technically, the scene is masterfully executed. The practical effects, the thunderstorm ambiance, the slow roll of the wheelchair into the abyss—it all works to turn a single machete strike into one of the most memorable kills of the early franchise. The decision to show the wheelchair tumbling for such an extended shot added a bizarre, almost surreal quality to the death, making it feel like something out of a nightmare.

While not the bloodiest or most elaborate kill, Mark’s wheelchair demise earns its place for its shock factor, creativity, and emotional punch. It was early evidence that Jason Voorhees wasn’t just another slasher—he was a remorseless force of nature, and nobody, no matter how sympathetic, was safe.

#9: Sleeping Bag Slam

Movie: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

If there’s one Jason Voorhees kill that perfectly captures his brute strength and no-nonsense savagery, it’s the infamous sleeping bag scene from The New Blood. A camper named Judy decides to sleep outdoors, zipped snugly into her sleeping bag. Unfortunately for her, Jason is on the prowl. Without a word, he grabs the entire bag—with Judy inside—and in one swift, sickening motion, smashes it against a tree trunk, killing her instantly.

What makes this kill so iconic is its raw simplicity. No elaborate setup, no theatrical buildup—just Jason using his overwhelming physical power to turn a cozy sleeping bag into a blunt instrument of death. It’s quick, violent, and brutally efficient. The thud of the bag hitting the tree, followed by silence, makes it one of the most unforgettable—and oddly horrifying—moments in the series.

Interestingly, the original version of the scene had Jason slam the sleeping bag against the tree multiple times. But due to MPAA censorship, the filmmakers were forced to cut it down to a single hit. Ironically, this edit made the kill even more powerful. The one-and-done approach gave it a shocking finality and left a stronger impact on the audience.

The sleeping bag kill has become a fan favorite and is often cited as one of the greatest Jason moments of all time. It even returned in Jason X as a hilarious nod to the original—this time in a holographic simulation where Jason smashes two girls in sleeping bags against each other.

This kill embodies what makes Jason so terrifying. He doesn’t need elaborate traps or psychological manipulation. He simply overpowers his victims with animalistic brutality. The fact that he can turn something as harmless as a sleeping bag into a murder weapon shows just how unstoppable and creative he can be when it comes to carnage.

#8: Face Shatter – Liquid Nitrogen Kill

Movie: Jason X (2001)

In a franchise filled with machetes, axes, and impalements, Jason X delivered something new: sci-fi horror with a futuristic twist. While the film itself is often viewed as one of the more over-the-top entries in the series, it gave us one of the most inventive kills in Friday the 13th history—Jason’s liquid nitrogen face smash.

In this scene, Jason, now upgraded into the cyber-enhanced “Uber Jason,” awakens aboard a spaceship in the distant future. He grabs a female scientist, dunks her head into a sink filled with liquid nitrogen, and then, with clinical calmness, smashes her frozen face against the countertop, shattering it like glass. It’s gruesome, creative, and darkly hilarious.

This kill stands out because it perfectly represents Jason’s adaptability. Even when surrounded by futuristic technology and far removed from Crystal Lake, he’s still Jason. He doesn’t care where he is or what tools he’s given—he’ll find a way to kill you. The use of science against science in this moment adds a bizarre layer of irony and creativity that few slasher kills can match.

The effects are stunning. The frozen face, the shatter effect, and the casual nature of the execution all come together to make this scene disturbingly memorable. It’s also one of the few moments in Jason X that was universally praised by fans and critics alike for its originality and impact.

While Jason X leaned into the absurdity of the franchise, this kill reminded everyone that even in space, Jason Voorhees is a relentless executioner. The liquid nitrogen smash is more than just a novelty—it’s a cold, calculated display of Jason’s unfeeling brutality taken to its literal extreme.

#7: Harpoon to the Eye

Movie: Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982)

Part 3 of the franchise gave Jason his now-iconic hockey mask, but it also gave us one of his most precise and shocking kills. In a tense moment on the dock, Jason steps out and, without hesitation, fires a harpoon gun at Vera, striking her directly in the eye. She gasps, staggers, and falls into the water, lifeless. It’s a moment of deadly efficiency and gruesome visual impact.

The harpoon kill is notable not just for its brutality, but for its cinematic execution. It was shot in 3D, with the harpoon flying straight toward the audience—a gimmick that, at the time, added a unique layer of tension. But even without the 3D effects, the scene remains powerful. Jason’s cold stare as he calmly aims and fires shows a surprising amount of calculated malice.

This kill also represents a shift in Jason’s persona. No longer just a shambling brute, he begins to display a hunter’s precision. He isn’t just reacting anymore—he’s actively stalking and choosing his methods based on opportunity and efficiency. The harpoon gun was there, so he used it. And he nailed the shot.

The use of a projectile weapon, especially one as unconventional as a harpoon, adds variety to Jason’s arsenal. It showed that he wasn’t confined to machetes or axes—anything could become a weapon in his hands. Vera’s death is fast, direct, and horrifyingly effective, making it one of the franchise’s most memorable and stylish kills.

#6: The Bed Fold – Crushed in Half

Movie: Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

In a film filled with surreal dreamscapes and brutal slasher action, Freddy vs. Jason gave fans one of Jason Voorhees’ most brutal kills—Mark’s older brother Trey being folded in half while lying in bed. After a quick post-coital scene, Trey is stabbed multiple times in the back by Jason, who then lifts the bed and folds it in on itself, snapping the victim’s spine in a grotesque V-shape.

This kill is unforgettable for its sheer physicality. Jason doesn’t just stab Trey—he ensures the body is mangled in the most shocking way possible. It’s savage, over-the-top, and weirdly satisfying in its execution. The sound of bones cracking and the finality of the body folding makes the audience wince, which is exactly what a Jason kill should do.

The moment also helps set the tone for Jason’s presence in the film. While Freddy plays psychological games, Jason brings the blunt-force trauma. It’s a reminder that Jason’s kills aren’t just violent—they’re destructive. His victims aren’t just murdered; they’re wrecked.

Visually, the bed fold scene is one of the most memorable shots in the entire movie. The stark white of the room, the blood, the unnatural position of the body—it all combines to deliver one of the most visceral images in slasher history.

This kill perfectly encapsulates the Jason Voorhees brand: unrelenting, creative, and delivered with a monstrous sense of finality. He’s not just ending lives—he’s making a statement. And folding someone like a lawn chair? That’s a statement no horror fan ever forgets.

#5: Axe to the Face – Final Girl Fake-Out

Movie: Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982)

In one of the most iconic sequences in Friday the 13th Part 3, Jason delivers a brutal axe blow directly to the head of one of his victims, Ali, during a false climax that catches the audience off guard. Just when viewers think the chaos is over and the Final Girl, Chris, is safe, Jason bursts back onto the scene. His rampage resumes with blood-splattering fury as he attacks Ali with a vengeance, burying an axe into his skull in one clean, savage motion.

This kill is particularly effective due to its setup. After surviving an earlier encounter, Ali heroically reappears in a last-ditch effort to save Chris. It’s a classic horror trope: the injured ally returning for one final stand. But Jason immediately subverts that hope by dispatching Ali almost instantly, extinguishing any illusion that help is coming. The speed and intensity of the kill reinforce Jason’s unstoppable nature. In his world, there are no dramatic rescues—only bloody endings.

Visually, the axe-to-the-head scene is unforgettable. Jason, still masked in his freshly acquired hockey gear, slams the blade home with unrelenting force. The moment is filmed with just the right amount of build-up—enough to let you hope, and then enough to make you regret hoping. The blood, the cracking sound, and the sudden end all culminate in a scene that’s jarring in the best way.

This kill also helps establish the mythology of Jason’s strength and cruelty. He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t gloat—he just executes. The image of Ali collapsing as blood pours from his wound has become one of the defining visuals of the film. It’s the moment viewers realize: this isn’t a man you can reason with or outsmart. You can only run—and pray you’re not next.

The axe-to-the-face kill is classic Jason: precise, shocking, and delivered with grim finality. It’s a highlight in a film packed with memorable deaths, and it helped solidify the third installment as one of the most brutal entries in the franchise.

#4: Head Punch – Decapitation by Uppercut

Movie: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)

When Jason Voorhees takes his slaughter spree to New York City in Part VIII, the result is a mix of urban slasher mayhem and unexpected dark comedy. Nowhere is that blend more perfectly realized than in the rooftop boxing scene where Jason literally punches a man’s head clean off. The victim, Julius, is a determined and brave high school boxer who tries to fight Jason one-on-one atop a building. After exhausting himself with a flurry of punches, Julius stumbles back, only to receive a single, devastating uppercut from Jason—so powerful that it knocks his head off his shoulders and sends it flying into a dumpster below.

This kill is both absurd and awesome. It’s Jason at his most superhuman—displaying a level of strength that borders on the supernatural. And yet, because of the film’s campy tone, it works. The moment plays like a twisted punchline to an underdog story that ends in spectacular failure. You want to root for Julius—he’s one of the only characters to actually confront Jason head-on—but his death serves as a brutal reminder that fists are no match for this unstoppable killer.

The decapitation itself is hilariously over-the-top. The practical effects, the thump of the head landing in the trash, and Jason’s stoic reaction all make it one of the most memorable and bizarrely satisfying kills in the series. It’s violent, yes, but it also carries a twisted sense of style that fans have come to love.

This kill stands out because it showcases Jason’s ability to deliver not just horror, but spectacle. It’s a death that borders on parody but still manages to shock and entertain. It’s been referenced in memes, highlight reels, and fan tributes for decades—and for good reason.

Jason punching a man’s head off with one swing isn’t just a kill. It’s a moment of slasher movie legend—one that blends horror, humor, and pure adrenaline into a single unforgettable sequence.

#3: Shish Kebob Impalement – Double Skewer

Movie: Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

One of the most shocking and controversial kills in Jason Voorhees’ early rampage comes in Part 2, where a young couple—Jeff and Sandra—are skewered together mid-coitus. As they lay in bed, embracing in post-coital bliss, Jason silently enters the room, raises a massive spear, and plunges it through both of them in one deadly thrust. The camera lingers just long enough for the horror to sink in, making it one of the most infamous moments in the series.

This kill encapsulates several of the genre’s trademarks: teens having sex, a looming killer, and brutal punishment. It plays directly into the morality-based horror trope of “sex equals death,” but ups the ante with its cruel efficiency. The sheer audacity of killing two characters with one weapon, in one synchronized move, is part of what makes this scene so infamous.

Censorship played a major role in this scene’s legacy. Originally filmed with much more graphic detail, the MPAA forced major cuts, leading to a tamer version being released theatrically. Still, even in its edited form, the suggestion of what happens is horrifying enough. The image of Jason impaling both victims and nailing them to the bed is burned into the minds of fans for its raw, transgressive energy.

What also makes this kill stand out is the silence. There’s no dramatic music sting or scream—just the quiet horror of two lives ended in an instant. It’s clinical and cold, which makes it even more disturbing. Jason isn’t gloating—he’s just doing what he does best.

This double impalement remains one of Jason’s most controversial and talked-about kills. It’s the kind of moment that defines a slasher icon: brutal, unapologetic, and impossible to forget.

#2: Machete Down the Face – Split Skull Finale

Movie: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter was originally marketed as the definitive end for Jason Voorhees, and it gave fans one of the most satisfying and brutal kills in the franchise—only this time, Jason was on the receiving end. But before his supposed demise, Jason left a trail of destruction, none more graphic or unforgettable than the machete-through-the-face kill that ended the life of one of the film’s victims in spectacularly gruesome fashion.

The kill occurs as Jason stalks the cabin late in the film. In one horrifying moment, he attacks a fleeing teen and drives a machete downward into his head, cleaving straight through the skull. The scene is masterfully executed with practical effects that push the envelope for 1980s slasher gore. As the blade slowly slices through the face, the victim’s body slides down the length of the machete, all captured in unflinching, stomach-churning detail.

This kill works on multiple levels. First, the sheer graphic violence—achieved with remarkable prosthetic work and animatronics—sets a new bar for gore in the genre. Second, it represents a turning point in Jason’s kills: no longer just hacking or stabbing, but truly butchering his victims in ways designed to horrify and shock. The slow motion of the body’s collapse, coupled with the eerie silence around the moment, creates a death scene that’s far more unsettling than a quick kill.

It’s also an iconic example of the franchise’s reliance on sheer physical horror. Jason doesn’t rely on elaborate setups—he simply overwhelms his victims with monstrous power and an almost surgical level of cruelty. The machete down the face isn’t just about killing—it’s about dominating, both the character and the audience’s expectations.

Decades later, this kill is still brought up in discussions about the best practical effects in slasher films. It’s a bloody, brutal centerpiece in a film filled with carnage and easily one of the most technically impressive kills in Jason’s long, bloody career. It’s no surprise that The Final Chapter is often considered one of the best films in the franchise—and this kill is a big reason why.

#1: Speargun to the Groin – Ultimate Shower Surprise

Movie: Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)

While technically not Jason Voorhees in the traditional sense—since Part V features a copycat killer—this entry still delivered one of the most jaw-dropping kills in the entire series, and fans still associate it with the Jason mythos. In this notoriously bold scene, a character named Billy is in an outhouse, preparing for a romantic encounter, when he’s suddenly ambushed. A spear is driven upward through the bottom of the stall, impaling him through the groin and chest. The camera holds long enough for viewers to absorb every painful second, from the shocked expression to the gurgling demise.

What elevates this kill to #1 status is its unrelenting cruelty. It’s not just painful—it’s personal. Impalement kills are a Jason staple, but this one takes it to an excruciating new level. The groin attack is both metaphorically and literally castrating, driving home the franchise’s unspoken rule that sexuality is often punished in the most violent ways possible.

The setting adds to the impact. A confined, dirty, claustrophobic outhouse is already a vulnerable space—no one expects to die there. And yet, the violation of that small sanctuary adds a layer of discomfort that few kills can match. It’s unexpected, vicious, and deeply uncomfortable to watch, which is exactly what makes it so effective.

Despite the controversy surrounding Part V and its departure from Jason as the actual killer, this death remains burned into fans’ memories. The shocking nature of the kill, combined with the scene’s grotesque intimacy, leaves a lasting impression that defines the grim tone of the film.

It’s Jason—real or not—at his most barbaric. There’s no elegance or creativity here, just unfiltered carnage delivered in the most humiliating way possible. And in the realm of Friday the 13th kills, that kind of gut-punch brutality earns it the crown.