Friday the 13th
The mask everyone knows only appears in the third film.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
The thing almost everyone misremembers
It is one of pop culture's most famous mistakes – and it explains why the merchandise looks the way it does.
In the first film, from 1980, the killer is not Jason. It is his mother, taking revenge for the death of her son.
Jason becomes the killer from the second film onwards.
And the hockey mask – the most recognisable symbol in the whole genre – only appears in the third. In the first two it does not exist at all.
The mask – and why you need not ask anything
From the moment it appeared, the white hockey mask has never changed – for more than forty years.
It is a self-contained symbol: no face needed, no film title needed, you do not even need to have seen one. And because it has no versions, there is nothing to get wrong.
The new series – and what it actually is
After seventeen years of silence, the franchise returns.
In October 2026 a television series premieres – the first meaningful return since 2009. The franchise sat still for all those years because of a legal dispute over the rights, settled in 2024.
But mind what it is: it is not a new film with the masked Jason. It is a prequel – the first in the franchise's history.
It follows the mother, before the events of the first film. That is, the woman who was the actual killer in 1980.
For a gift that means something simple: anyone expecting masked Jason merchandise will find it – but it comes from the films, not from the new series.
Why October matters this year
Three things fall within a single month:
2026 has three Friday the 13ths – something that has not happened in over a decade. One of them is still ahead of us.
In practice: if you are thinking about a costume or a gift for this period, September is the time – not the last week of October, when everyone is looking.
What to choose
- Masks & costumes: the strongest line – especially towards October.
- Figures & Funko POP: Jason in various versions from the films.
- Apparel: with the mask or the camp logo – adult sizes.
- Posters: the 1980s film posters are superb on a wall.
- Mugs & keyrings: smaller gifts for horror fans.
- Halloween decorations: for the house and the party.
The safest choice: the mask. It has never changed, there is no version to pick, and it is recognised even by someone who has never seen a film.
Age: strictly for adults. It is a horror franchise with heavy violence – not a category for a child's gift.
Same audience: Scream, Chucky and Five Nights at Freddy's.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jason the killer in the first film?
- No – and it is the franchise's most famous mistake. In the first film, from 1980, the killer is his mother. Jason takes over from the second – and the hockey mask only appears in the third.
- Are there different versions of the mask?
- No. From the moment it appeared, it never changed. It is a self-contained symbol – you need not ask anything before buying.
- What is the new series?
- It premieres in October 2026 and is the first meaningful return after seventeen years. But mind this: it is a prequel and follows Jason's mother, before the first film – not the masked Jason.
- Why does October matter this year?
- Because three things fall within a month: the series premiere in mid-October, Halloween at the end, and a Friday the 13th in November. 2026 has three – one is still ahead. If you are thinking about a costume, September is the time.
- Is it suitable for children?
- No – strictly for adults. It is a horror franchise with heavy violence.
