View source for Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan



{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
| image          = Friday the 13th Part VIII - Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) theatrical poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Rob Hedden]]
| producer       = Randolph Cheveldave
| writer         = Rob Hedden
| based_on       = {{basedon|[[List of Friday the 13th characters|Characters]]|[[Victor Miller (writer)|Victor Miller]]}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Jensen Daggett]]
* [[Scott Reeves]]
* Barbara Bingham
* [[Peter Mark Richman]]
* [[Martin Cummins]]
* [[Gordon Currie (actor)|Gordon Currie]]
* [[Alex Diakun]]
* V.C. Dupree
* [[Saffron Henderson]]
* [[Kelly Hu]]
* Sharlene Martin
* [[Warren Munson]]
* [[Kane Hodder]]
}}
| music          = [[Fred Mollin]]
| cinematography = Bryan England
| editing        = Steve Mirkovich
| studio         = Horror, Inc.<ref name="afi">{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58089-FRIDAY-THE13THPARTVIII--JASONTAKESMANHATTAN|title=Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210127191043/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetailsPrintView/58089|url-status=live}}</ref>
| distributor    = [[Paramount Pictures]]<ref name="afi"/>
| released       = {{Film date|1989|7|28}}
| runtime        = 100 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $5.1–5.5 million<ref name=native/><ref name=thomas/>
| gross          = $14.3 million<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0097388/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=2023-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326005802/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0097388/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''''Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan''''' is a 1989 American [[slasher film]] written and directed by [[Rob Hedden]]. The eighth installment in the [[Friday the 13th (franchise)|''Friday the 13th'' franchise]] and a sequel to ''[[Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood]]'' (1988), it stars [[Jensen Daggett]], [[Scott Reeves]], [[Peter Mark Richman]], and [[Kane Hodder]] reprising his role as [[Jason Voorhees]] from the previous film. Set one year after the events of ''The New Blood'', the film follows Jason as he stalks a group of teenagers on a boat to [[New York City]]. It was the final film in the series to be distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]] in the United States until 2009, with the subsequent ''Friday the 13th'' installments being distributed by [[New Line Cinema]].

Filming took place primarily in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, with additional photography in New York City's [[Times Square]] and in [[Los Angeles]]. At the time of its production, ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' was the most expensive film in the series, with a budget of over $5 million. It received substantial attention for its initial marketing campaign, featuring Jason Voorhees slashing through the "[[I Love New York]]" logo with a knife, which was later retracted after the [[Tourism in New York City|New York City tourism]] committee filed a complaint against Paramount.

Released on July 28, 1989, ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' grossed $14.3 million at the domestic box office, making it the poorest-performing film in the ''Friday the 13th'' series to date. The film received mostly negative reviews by critics and fans for its plot and humor, as well as a failure to live up to its premise. The next installment in the series, ''[[Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday]]'', was released in 1993.

==Plot==
While aboard a [[houseboat]] on Crystal Lake, teenager Jim tells his girlfriend Suzi the legend of [[Jason Voorhees]], before playing a prank on her with a [[Goaltender mask|hockey mask]], similar to Jason's old mask, and a prop knife. The boat's anchor damages some underwater cables that shock Jason's body, who was dragged down there by the spirit of Tina Shepard's father,{{efn|As depicted in ''[[Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood]]'' (1988)}} and revives him. He sneaks on board, takes the mask, and kills Jim with a [[speargun]] before impaling Suzi.

The next morning, the [[Steamship|SS]] ''Lazarus'' is ready to set sail for [[New York City]] with a graduating senior class from Lakeview High School, chaperoned by biology teacher Dr. Charles McCulloch and English teacher Colleen Van Deusen. Colleen brings Charles's niece Rennie Wickham along for the trip despite her [[aquaphobia]], much to his chagrin. Jason sneaks on board and kills rock star-wannabe J.J. with her guitar. That night, a young boxer who lost his match to champion Julius is killed by Jason in the ship's [[sauna]]. Rennie, searching for her pet [[Border Collie]] Toby, discovers prom queen Tamara Mason and her friend Eva doing drugs. Charles nearly catches them moments later, and Tamara pushes Rennie overboard, believing she told on them. She then uses video student Wayne Webber to record Charles in a compromising situation with her but rejects Wayne's advances afterward. Jason kills Tamara with a shard of a broken mirror after she showers.

Rennie sees visions of a young Jason in different forms throughout the ship. Jason kills Admiral Robertson and his first mate Jim. Rennie's boyfriend and Captain Robertson's son, Sean, discover them and tell the others before calling for an emergency. Eva finds Tamara's body and flees. Jason chases Eva into the disco room, where he strangles her to death on the dance floor. The students agree to search for Jason while Charles decides that the deckhand is responsible. However, the deckhand is found with a [[Axe|fire axe]] in his back. Jason tosses student Miles Wolfe into the [[Transmitter|radio transmitter]] tower to his death, and Julius is knocked overboard. In the hold of the ship, Wayne comes upon J.J.'s body and is thrown into an electrical box by Jason. Wayne's corpse catches fire and causes the ship to take on water. With the other students that were left in the disco room seemingly dead, Charles, Colleen, Rennie, and Sean escape aboard a [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|life raft]] and discover that Toby and Julius are still alive. The five then row away as the ''Lazarus'' sinks.

They row to New York City, where Jason stalks them through the streets. Rennie is kidnapped by Homes and Jojo, a pair of drug addicts, and the group splits up to find help. Julius fights Jason on a rooftop but becomes exhausted after Jason does not go down after a series of punches, and then gets decapitated by a single punch from Jason. Rennie escapes from Jason when he kills the [[Punk subculture|punks]] that kidnapped her. She runs into Sean, and they reunite with the teachers and the [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] before Jason kills the officer who is helping them. Rennie crashes a police car after a vision of Jason distracts her. Colleen is incinerated in the car when it explodes, and it is revealed that Charles is responsible for Rennie's fear of water, having pushed her into the lake as a child. They leave him behind, and Jason drowns him in a barrel of [[toxic waste]].

Jason chases Rennie and Sean into the [[New York City Subway|subway]], where Sean incapacitates Jason by pushing him onto the [[third rail]]. When Jason revives, he chases them through [[Times Square]] to a [[diner]] and then into the sewers, where they encounter a worker. He warns them that the sewers will be flooded with toxic waste at midnight. Jason appears and kills the worker before knocking Sean unconscious. Rennie throws a vat of toxic waste into Jason's face, causing his skin to melt away. She and Sean climb a ladder as Jason staggers after them. The sewers flood, and Jason is reminded of his childhood drowning and vomits water. The wastewater overcomes Jason, washing his body away. When the water recedes, Rennie once again sees her vision of Jason as an unconscious child for the final time, finally conquering her longtime fear. Sean and Rennie return to the street, reuniting with Rennie's dog Toby in Times Square.

==Cast==
{{main|List of Friday the 13th characters}}
<!-- Cast and order per opening tombstone credits, roles per closing credits scroll -->
{{Cast listing|
* [[Jensen Daggett]] as Rennie Wickham
* [[Scott Reeves]] as Sean Robertson
* Barbara Bingham as Colleen Van Deusen
* [[Peter Mark Richman]] as Charles McCulloch
* [[Martin Cummins]] as Wayne Webber
* [[Gordon Currie (actor)|Gordon Currie]] as Miles Wolfe
* V.C. Dupree as Julius Gaw
* [[Kelly Hu]] as Eva Watanabe
* [[Saffron Henderson]] as J.J. Jarrett
* Sharlene Martin as Tamara Mason
* [[Alex Diakun]] as The Deck Hand
* [[Warren Munson]] as Admiral Robertson
* [[Kane Hodder]] as [[Jason Voorhees]]

}}

In addition, Amber Pawlick and Timothy Burr Mirkovich appear as young Rennie and young Jason, respectively, and [[Todd Caldecott]] and Tiffany Paulsen appear in the film's open as Jim Miller and Suzi Donaldson. Sam Sarkar and [[Michael Benyaer]] appears as gang members Homes and Jojo. Fred Henderson appears as Chief Petty Officer Jim Carlson, David Jacox appears as a boxer, Roger Barnes appears as an Irish [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] offier and David Longworth appears as a sanitation engineer. [[Ken Kirzinger]], who would go on to portray Jason Voorhees in ''[[Freddy vs. Jason]]'', appears uncredited in this film as the Times Square diner cook who confronts Jason. Kirzinger served as a stunt coordinator for this film, and doubles as Jason Voorhees in two short stunts.{{sfn|Bracke|2006|p=238}}

==Production==
===Development===
After the disappointing box-office gross of ''[[Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood]]'' (1988),<ref name=gq/> director [[John Carl Buechler]] began developing a follow-up which reprised the character of [[Tina Shepard]] again facing off against [[Jason Voorhees]] after her release from an insane asylum.<ref name=gq/> Meanwhile, [[Lar Park Lincoln]], who had portrayed Tina Shepard, co-wrote (with her husband Michael Lincoln) an alternative screenplay which had Tina working as a psychologist for troubled girls. Lincoln's co-star in ''The New Blood'', [[Kevin Spirtas]], also wrote a screenplay which recast the events of ''The New Blood'' into a long dream, with his character Nick Rogers as the killer.<ref name=gq/> Paramount, however, opted to assign the project of a follow-up to writer-director [[Rob Hedden]],<ref name=gq/> marking his debut feature.<ref name=thomas>{{cite news|work=[[The News Journal]]|title=Locale changes, but Jason is still the killer teens love|author=Thomas, Bob|location=Wilmington, Delaware|publisher=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910296/the_news_journal/|via=Newspapers.com|page=D4|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818150604/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910296/the_news_journal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A former employee of [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]], Hedden strove to devise a screenplay in which the antagonist, [[Jason Voorhees]], would travel outside of the setting of Camp Crystal Lake, the primary location of the previous seven films.<ref name=thomas/> "The biggest thing we could do with Jason is to get him out of that stupid lake where he's been hanging out," Hedden said.<ref name=thomas/> One of Hedden's original ideas was to set the film solely aboard a cruise ship with Jason hiding in the lower levels, described by Hedden as "a little bit of ''[[Das Boot]]'' and a little bit of ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'', with a claustrophobic feeling storm at sea and that sort of stuff."<ref name=thomas/> The alternate concept was to place Voorhees in a large city, such as [[New York City|New York]]. Hedden commented: "Everything about New York was going to be completely exploited and milked. There was going to be a tremendous scene on the [[Brooklyn Bridge]]. A boxing match in [[Madison Square Garden]]. Jason would go through department stores. He'd go through [[Times Square]]. He'd go into a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] play. He'd even crawl onto the top of the [[Statue of Liberty]] and dive off."<ref name=gq/>

Ultimately, after receiving approval from [[Paramount Pictures]] of both concepts, Hedden decided to combine them, with the first act of the film occurring aboard a ship, and the second on the streets of [[Manhattan]].<ref name=thomas/><ref name=native/> This decision was mainly due to budgetary restrictions from Paramount, as filming exclusively in New York City cost more than the studio was willing to spend.<ref name=gq/> In addition to the shift in setting, Hedden stated he wanted to examine the character of Jason Voorhees as a child, which appears in the film in the form of [[hallucination]]s experienced by Rennie Wickham, the heroine.<ref name=thomas/> To conceal the fact that it was a ''Friday the 13th'' film, the initial working script circulated under the [[working title]] ''Ashes to Ashes''.<ref name=clm/>

===Casting===
Actress [[Jensen Daggett]] was cast as the lead of Rennie Wickham, beating out [[Elizabeth Berkley]], [[Dedee Pfeiffer]] and [[Pamela Anderson]] for the role.<ref name=gq/> [[Lisa Wilcox]] was offered a role in the film but turned it down.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[Fangoria]] | issue=86 | date=September 1989 | title=Coming of Age on Elm Street | author=Marc Shapiro | pages=28–31 | issn=0164-2111 | url=http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/coming-of-age-on-elm-street/ | access-date=February 9, 2020 | archive-date=September 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911011123/http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/coming-of-age-on-elm-street/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Scott Reeves was cast in the role of Sean Robertson at the last minute, after the producers felt the previously cast actor had no sexual chemistry with Daggett.<ref name=gq/> The film marked the feature debut of actress [[Kelly Hu]].<ref>{{cite web|work=Halloween Daily News|url=http://halloweendailynews.com/2015/06/kelly-hu-interview/|title=[Interview] Kelly Hu Remembers 'Friday The 13th Part VIII'|author=Artz, Matt|date=June 4, 2015|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180818232513/http://halloweendailynews.com/2015/06/kelly-hu-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Peter Mark Richman]] was cast in the film as Charles McCulloch, the students' teacher and Rennie's uncle.{{sfn|Harper|2004|pages=97–98}}

===Filming===
The film was shot in April 1989 at seven locations in the United States, though the primary filming locations were in [[British Columbia]], Canada,<ref name=native>{{cite news|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|title=O.C. Native Takes a Stab at Directing Slasher Film|pages=1, 9|author=Vanderknyff, Rick|date=August 1, 1989|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910580/the_los_angeles_times/|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818150712/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910580/the_los_angeles_times/|url-status=live}}</ref> particularly [[Vancouver]].<ref name=clm/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58089|title=Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan|publisher=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|accessdate=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004070054/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/58089|url-status=live}}</ref> The alleyway scenes were shot in Vancouver. After filming wrapped in [[Los Angeles]], the rest of the film was shot on location in New York City, including Times Square.<ref name=thomas/> The Times Square sequences were shot while pedestrian onlookers observed the scenes, and attracted numerous ''[[Friday the 13th (franchise)|Friday the 13th]]'' fans.<ref name=thomas/> Kane Hodder, who portrayed Jason, recalled pointing at one fan in-between takes, after which she fainted.<ref name=thomas/> According to Hedden, the cost of production in New York City was not feasible given the film's budget, which is why large portions of it were shot elsewhere.<ref name=clm/> The budget for the film was estimated at $5 million (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|5000000|1988|r=-2}}}} in {{inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}).{{efn|One source states the budget as $5.5 million,<ref name=thomas/> while another states $5.1 million.<ref name=native/>}} At the time, it was the most expensive film produced in the series.<ref name=native/>

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name         = Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
| type         = Soundtrack
| artist       = [[Fred Mollin]]
| cover        = 
| alt          = 
| released     = March 27, 2021 (La-La Land)
| recorded     = 1989
| venue        = 
| studio       = 
| genre        = [[Film score]]
| length       = {{duration|h=1|m=7|s=5}}
| label        = La-La Land
| producer     = 
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = 
| next_year    = 
}}

The film's musical score was composed by [[Fred Mollin]], who worked with longtime ''Friday the 13th'' series composer [[Harry Manfredini]] on the previous installment.{{sfn|Harper|2004|p=98}} ''Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan'' was the first film in the series not to feature Manfredini credited on the score.{{sfn|Harper|2004|p=98}} On September 27, 2005, BSX records released a limited edition CD of Fred Mollin's ''Friday the 13th Part VII'' and ''VIII'' scores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buysoundtrax.stores.yahoo.net/frid13par7an.html|title=Friday the 13th Part 7 and 8 - Original Score By Fred Mollin|publisher=BuySoundtrax.com|access-date=January 15, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017122632/http://buysoundtrax.stores.yahoo.net/frid13par7an.html|archive-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref>

The song "The Darkest Side of the Night" performed by [[Stan Meissner|Metropolis]] plays over the opening and ending credits to the film. Rob Hedden specifically wanted them to write a song reminiscent of [[Robert Plant]].{{Sfn|Bracke|2006|p=211}} The song would not see an official release until the year 1999 on the album ''[[The Power of the Night]]''.

The song "Broken Dream" which J.J. Jarrett ([[Saffron Henderson]]) jams along to on her electric guitar was written by Mollin and [[Stan Meissner]] and features [[Terri Crawford]] on vocals. The instrumental "J.J's Blues" was written by Meissner. The two songs remain popular among fans and when a fan inquired to Meissner about whether they can be released he responded that no complete versions of the songs were ever recorded as they were never intended for release outside the film.<ref>{{cite web|work=Friday the 13th Franchise|title=Jason's Jukebox: Track #1 - J.J.'s Blues/Broken Dream|author=Sica, Jeff|access-date=August 15, 2018|url=http://www.fridaythe13thfranchise.com/2014/01/jasons-jukebox-track-1-jjs-bluesbroken.html|date=January 27, 2014|archive-date=July 6, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180706165844/http://www.fridaythe13thfranchise.com/2014/01/jasons-jukebox-track-1-jjs-bluesbroken.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, fans noted that a longer instrumental version of the track plays during the club scene in "Dark Knight", the first episode of ''[[Forever Knight]]'' in 1992. Meissner's claim was ultimately proven false as in 2021, La-La Land Records included the full track on their release of the ''Friday the 13th Part VIII'' soundtrack which included a previously unheard chorus and lead guitar parts.<ref>{{cite web|work=La-La Land Records|title=Friday the 13th Part VIII - Jason Takes Manhattan: Limited Edition|url= https://lalalandrecords.com/friday-the-13th-part-viii-jason-takes-manhattan-limited-edition/}}</ref>

==Marketing==
In promotion for the film, Paramount Pictures began an advertising campaign featuring Jason slashing through the "[[I Love New York]]" logo, which was featured on the original movie poster. Though the poster was distributed, it was later replaced after Vincent Tese of the [[New York (state)|New York]] state economic development committee filed a complaint against Paramount Pictures for unauthorized use of the "I Love New York" logo.<ref name=clm>{{cite AV media|title=Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th|date=2013|author=Farrands, Daniel|publisher=Image Entertainment|medium=Documentary}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[New York Daily News]]|title=Jason takes New Yorkers|page=42|date=July 30, 1989|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22925558/daily_news/}}</ref> Paramount issued a replacement poster, which featured an image of Jason looming over the New York City skyline.<ref name=clm/>

In the months leading up to the film's release, its title was alternately known as ''Friday the 13th Part VIII: Terror in Times Square''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Esposito|first=John|date=1989|title=Friday the 13th Part VIII|url=https://archive.org/details/Slaughterhouse_005_1989/page/n31/mode/2up|magazine=Slaughterhouse Magazine|publisher=HCS Associates|volume=1|issue=5|page=33|access-date=January 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cauthorn|first=Robert S.|date=July 28, 1989|title=Summer Movies: The End Is Near|newspaper=[[Arizona Daily Star]]|location=Tucson, Arizona|page=12F}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan'' was released on July 28, 1989, in the United States. The film entered the [[box office]] at number 5 for the weekend with earnings of $6.2 million.<ref name=native/><ref>{{cite web|title=Friday the 13th Part VIII (1989)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=friday13th8.htm|work=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2020-04-28|archive-date=2018-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701054940/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=friday13th8.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The film faced strong competition at the time of its release from high-profile genre fare such as ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child]]'', ''[[Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers]]'' and ''[[Fright Night Part 2]]'',<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=1989 Yearly Box Office Results|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1989&p=.htm|work=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2020-04-28|archive-date=2008-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216052455/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1989&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and was considered one of the biggest disappointments at the summer box office.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|publisher=Associated Press|title=Hollywood's tops and flops|page=D3|date=September 8, 1989|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22924832/the_press_democrat/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ultimately, it would go on to gross a total of $14.3 million at the U.S. box office, making it the poorest-performing film in the franchise and ranking at number 70 on the list of the year's Top 100 earners.<ref name="auto"/>

===Critical response===
On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan'' holds an approval rating of 11% based on 27 reviews and an average rating of 3.3/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Jason terrorizes a ship and nearly sinks the franchise in a clunky sequel that feels like self-parody without the charm."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/friday_the_13th_part_8_jason_takes_manhattan |title=Friday the 13th Part VIII - Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-date=August 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831064544/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/friday_the_13th_part_8_jason_takes_manhattan |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 14 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/friday-the-13th-part-viii-jason-takes-manhattan |title=Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=November 2, 2019 |archive-date=October 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006035146/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/friday-the-13th-part-viii-jason-takes-manhattan |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Friday the 13th" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref>

Chris Willman of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' commended the film's "funny ad campaign", but deemed the film "a real dunghill" that missed the satirical potential of having Jason's evil being dwarfed by real life evils. He called the script "as witless and willfully imbecilic as any of the preceding seven".<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|last=Willman|first=Chris|title='Friday the 13th': A Side Trip to Manhattan|page=4|date=July 31, 1989|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22924872/the_los_angeles_times/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The ''[[New York Daily News]]'' criticized the film for "grossly underutilizing its promising premise" but said that it "should please ''Friday'' fanatics and shapes up as a marginally watchable fright item for the genre's more demanding fans."<ref>{{cite news|work=[[New York Daily News]]|title=He'll take Manhattan|page=18|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22925066/daily_news/|date=July 28, 1989}}</ref> Desmond Ryan of the ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'' wrote: "Common sense should tell you to skip this film" and called the characters very stupid.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|location=Asbury Park, New Jersey|title=Leave Jason to Manhattan|date=August 1, 1989|page=16|last=Ryan|first=Desmond|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910161/asbury_park_press/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''{{'}}s Gary Thompson called the film "gory and conventional" but praised the "change of scenery and occasional dashes of humor", which make it a better than average entry in the series.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Philadelphia Daily News]]|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|title=Jason Slices the Big Apple|last=Thompson|first=Gary|date=July 31, 1989|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910282/philadelphia_daily_news/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Malcolm Johnson of the ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' deemed the film a "snoozer" and criticized its humor. Although he said younger fans who sneak in to the theater may enjoy the humor, he felt non-fans would find it a "clumsy reworking of the formula".<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|location=Hartford, Connecticut|title='Jason Takes Manhattan' A Real Snoozer|date=July 29, 1989|page=B2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910542/hartford_courant/|via=Newspapers.com|last=Johnson|first=Malcolm L.}}</ref> Mike Dembs of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' awarded the film a zero-star rating and called it "the worst of the bunch", and a disappointment even for fans.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Detroit Free Press]]|location=Detroit, Michigan|last=Dembs|first=Mike|page=2C|title=Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan|series=Film Scoreboard|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910548/detroit_free_press/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-date=2024-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831063815/https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/22910548/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Atlanta Constitution]]''{{'}}s Eleanor Ringel wrote that the film "isn't in the least bit scary and is only intermittently gory. It is, however, often quite funny, intentionally or not."<ref name=ringel>{{cite news|work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]]|location=Atlanta, Georgia|last=Ringel|first=Eleanor|date=August 1, 1989|title=Jason's Bite of the Big Apple Could Have Been a Lot Juicier|page=E3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910676/the_atlanta_constitution/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831063847/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/22910676/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also criticized the film because a significant portion of it took place aboard a boat as opposed to in Manhattan,<ref name=ringel/> a sentiment echoed by Betsy Sherman of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', who wrote that the film "should have been called ''Jason Takes a Cruise''".<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|title='Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason is in a Rut|last=Sherman|first=Betsy|page=7|date=July 29, 1989|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22910716/the_boston_globe/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831063845/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/22910716/|url-status=live}}</ref> Film critic [[Leonard Maltin]] awarded the film two out of four stars, and called it the best in the series. Maltin complimented the film's imaginative direction, but criticized the film's runtime.{{Sfn|Maltin|2013|p=499}}

[[Adam Marcus (director)|Adam Marcus]], who directed the sequel ''[[Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday]]'', said the franchise's premise had become untenable after a hundred teenagers had died at Camp Crystal Lake. He felt sending Jason out in search of new victims in New York City was a good idea, but result was a film that insulted the audience by putting Jason on a boat for most of the film's runtime.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] | volume=23 | issue=6 | title=Friday the 13th IX: Jason Goes To Hell | pages=44–45 | first=Chuck|last=Crisafulli | date=April 1993}}</ref> On his [[Audio commentary|commentary track]] for the film in the box set, director Rob Hedden acknowledges the faults and agrees that more of the film should have been set in Manhattan, citing budgetary and schedule problems.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan|publisher=Paramount Home Video|last=Hedden|first=Rob|medium=DVD audio commentary}}</ref>

===Legacy===
In 2007, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' labeled ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' the eighth-worst sequel ever made.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1169126_19,00.html|title=The worst movie sequels ever|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=October 15, 2016|last=Nashawaty|first=Chris|date=December 22, 2007|archive-date=December 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223140542/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1169126_19,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{relevance inline|date=April 2023|reason=Who really cares about the "eighth worst" sequel?}} In 2018, Scott Meslow of ''[[GQ]]'' wrote that the film was among the "most stylish" in the ''Friday the 13th'' series and said that it was "actually a pretty good" sequel despite the misleading title. He also liked the idea of setting the film on a boat, which he thought made the film more claustrophobic. When Jason arrives in Manhattan, he was amused by Jason being dismissed by New Yorkers as "just another weirdo walking the streets".<ref name=gq>{{cite web|work=[[GQ]]|url=https://www.gq.com/story/jason-takes-manhattan-was-friday-the-13ths-great-missed-opportunity|title=Jason Takes Manhattan Was Friday the 13th's Great Missed Opportunity|author=Meslow, Scott|date=April 13, 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730221128/https://www.gq.com/story/jason-takes-manhattan-was-friday-the-13ths-great-missed-opportunity|archive-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref> Paramount Pictures producer [[Chad Villella]] said the creative team behind ''[[Scream VI]]'' (2023), including directors [[Matt Bettinelli-Olpin]] and [[Tyler Gillett]], studied ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' before starting shooting the sixth ''[[Scream (franchise)|Scream]]'' installment, which also takes place in New York City. The ''Scream'' filmmakers wanted to achieve the atmosphere of feeling alone even when surrounded by millions of people, despite the protagonists no longer being present at Woodsboro.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url=https://ew.com/movies/scream-vi-filmmakers-studied-jason-takes-manhattan/|title=''Scream VI'' filmmakers studied ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' before making NYC-set slasher sequel|last=Collis|first=Clark|date=March 8, 2023|access-date=March 9, 2023|archive-date=March 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309035418/https://ew.com/movies/scream-vi-filmmakers-studied-jason-takes-manhattan/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Home media==
[[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount Home Video]] initially released the film on [[VHS]] on February 15, 1990. The company re-released the film on VHS on September 28, 1994. A standard [[DVD]] without bonus materials was released by Paramount on September 3, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/4528/friday-the-13th-part-viii-jason-takes-manhattan/|work=[[DVD Talk]]|title=Friday The 13th Part VIII - Jason Takes Manhattan|access-date=August 18, 2018|date=September 5, 2002|author=Tyner, Adam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104124147/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/4528/friday-the-13th-part-viii-jason-takes-manhattan/|archive-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> In October 2004, a box set, ''Crystal Lake to Manhattan'', was released, featuring ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' alongside the previous seven ''Friday the 13th'' films.<ref name=lake>{{cite web|work=DVD Talk|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/12689/friday-the-13th-from-crystal-lake-to-manhattan/|date=October 11, 2004|access-date=August 18, 2018|title=Friday the 13th: From Crystal Lake to Manhattan|author=Jane, Ian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213205158/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/12689/friday-the-13th-from-crystal-lake-to-manhattan/|archive-date=February 13, 2009}}</ref> This release featured an audio commentary with writer-director Hedden.<ref name=lake/> A standalone "deluxe edition" DVD was subsequently released in September 2009, featuring Hedden's commentary, a making-of documentary, a gag reel, and deleted sequences.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[ComingSoon.net]]|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/713878-friday-the-13th-part-7-8-deluxe-dvd-art-details|title=Friday the 13th Part 7 & 8 Deluxe DVD Art & Details|author=Turek, Ryan|date=June 18, 2009|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129021936/https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/713878-friday-the-13th-part-7-8-deluxe-dvd-art-details|url-status=live}}</ref>

Paramount issued a double-feature [[Blu-ray]] on September 8, 2015, featuring the film paired with its predecessor, ''Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood''.<ref>{{cite web|work=Blu-ray.com|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Friday-the-13th-Part-VII-The-New-Blood-and-Friday-the-13th-Part-VIII-Jason-Takes-Manhattan-Blu-ray/136994/|title=Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood / Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan Blu-ray|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212151813/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Friday-the-13th-Part-VII-The-New-Blood-and-Friday-the-13th-Part-VIII-Jason-Takes-Manhattan-Blu-ray/136994/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Jason Takes Manhattan'' was subsequently included in two separate Blu-ray sets: First in 2013's ''Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection'', which included every film in the series, along with the [[Friday the 13th (2009 film)|2009 remake]]; and again in 2018 in ''The Ultimate Collection'', which included the first eight Paramount-owned films only.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/home-video/3472385/new-friday-13th-blu-ray-collection-coming-next-year-full-details/|title=New 'Friday the 13th' Blu-ray Collection Coming Next Year; Full Details|author=Squires, John|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701132008/http://bloody-disgusting.com/home-video/3472385/new-friday-13th-blu-ray-collection-coming-next-year-full-details/|archive-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
*{{Cite book|last=Bracke|first=Peter|title=Crystal Lake Memories|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|year=2006|location=United Kingdom|isbn=1-84576-343-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Harper|first=Jim|year=2004|title=Legacy of Blood: A Comprehensive Guide to Slasher Movies|publisher=Critical Vision|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1-900-48639-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Maltin|first=Leonard|author-link=Leonard Maltin|title=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide: 2014 Edition : the Modern Era|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9CmmmwEACAAJ|year=2013|publisher=Plume Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-14-218055-6}}

==External links==

* {{IMDb title|0097388}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|friday_the_13th_part_8_jason_takes_manhattan}}
* {{mojo title|friday13th8}}
* [http://www.campcrystallake.com/thefilms/part8.htm Film page at the ''Camp Crystal Lake'' web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118170313/http://www.campcrystallake.com/thefilms/part8.htm |date=2013-11-18 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170414013031/http://fridaythe13thfilms.com/films/friday8.html Film page at Fridaythe13thfilms.com]

{{Friday the 13th}}
{{Rob Hedden}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friday The 13th Part Viii: Jason Takes Manhattan}}
[[Category:1989 American films]]
[[Category:1989 English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s slasher films|Friday Part 8]]
[[Category:1989 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1989 films]]
[[Category:1989 horror films]]
[[Category:1989 in American cinema]]
[[Category:Advertising and marketing controversies in film]]
[[Category:American sequel films]]
[[Category:American slasher films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rob Hedden]]
[[Category:Films scored by Fred Mollin]]
[[Category:Films set in 1998]]
[[Category:Films set in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films set on ships]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in New York City]]
[[Category:Films shot in Vancouver]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Rob Hedden]]
[[Category:Friday the 13th (franchise) films|8]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Supernatural slasher films]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan|access_date=2026-03-03}}