While Jason Voorhees is the most famous character of the Friday the 13th franchise, the series boasts several memorable final girls that were able to go toe-to-toe with the hockey masked big bad and ultimately defeat him, be it in space or at Camp Crystal Lake. In honor of this month's Friday the 13th, here is a list of our five favorite final girls from the iconic 80s slasher series.
5: Megan Garris (Jennifer Cooke): Friday the 13th Pt. 6: Jason Lives
Though Jason Lives is technically the conclusion of the Tommy Jarvis trilogy, Tommy (Thom Mathews) would have died without the assistance of Megan (Jennifer Cooke), his love interest. Near the end of the film, Jason nearly drowns Tommy, but because of Megan's action, Tommy survives after she resituates him, all while protecting the kids at Camp Crystal during Jason's rampage.
Cooke gives a witty and snappy performance as Megan, daughter of Camp Crystal's Sherrif Garris (David Kagen). She's also one of the few characters who actually believes Tommy that yes, Jason is back, this time in zombie form after Tommy accidently resurrects him. It can't be understated just how important Megan's role is in this film. She has a sharp tongue, but more importantly, she's not afraid to spring into action during the most dire moments.
4. Trish Jaris (Kimberly Beck): Friday the 13th Pt. 4: The Final Chapter
Friday the 13th Pt. 4: The Final Chapter was initially meant to conclude the beloved 80s slasher franchise. However, it ended up serving as the beginning of the Tommy Jarvis trilogy. The film is a favorite among fans, and it includes a young Corey Feldman as Tommy. He's a monster kid who makes his own masks and eventually, assists his older sister, Trish (Kimberly Beck), in defeating Jason. Tommy shaves his head and pretends to be the young Jason who drowned. No, it doesn't really make sense, but it's a cool sequence regardless.
Yet, had Trish not been there, Tommy likely would have died. She's a strong final girl and protective older sister to Tommy. It's a shame Beck didn't reprise her role in the subsequent Tommy Jarvis-focused movies, but she makes a great final girl in one installment at least.
3. Tina Shepard (Lar Park Lincoln): Friday the 13th Pt. 7: The New Blood
If you ask me, Tina Shepard (Lar Park Lincoln) is really the one final girl who could truly hold her own against Jason. She possesses Carrie-like, telekinesis powers. Using her mind, she collapses a house on Jason, douses him with gasoline, lights him on fire, chokes him with an electrical wire, and launches a TV at his head. He simply can't defeat her.
The New Blood isn't exactly a fan favorite, but it's the first time the franchise really did something different in terms of its final girls, endowing Tina with supernatural powers. The movie also includes the first appearance of Kane Hodder. Unfortunately, Lincoln passed away this year. I'm especially grateful for her role as one of my favorite final girls.
2. Alice Hardy (Adrienne King): Friday the 13th
What else can be said about Adrienne King? She's a legend in the genre because she's the first final girl in the long-running series, starring as Alice Hardy in the 1980 film. Alice, though initially coming off as sweet and innocent, holds her own against the film's main villain. No, not Jason, but his vengeful mother, Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer). In fact, she decapitates the villain, using Pamela's own machete.
Unfortunately, the writers killed King's character off at the beginning of Friday the 13th Pt. 2, and really, for no good reason. Still, she's the first final girl in the series. For that, she earns one of the top spots on this list.
1. Ginny Field (Amy Steel): Friday the 13th Pt. 2
Most likely, some fans will gripe and moan that Adrienne King's Alice Hardy didn't land the top spot on this list. Though I appreciate that Alice is the series' first final girl, I do think Amy Steel's Ginny is a more refined final girl. She's tough, she's smart, and she defeats sack head Jason. Also, Steel, like all the actresses on this list, really turns in a fantastic performance. She's also cunning enough to pose as Jason's mother, slipping on her famous blue sweater, to trick the killer and gain the upper hand.
All of the Friday the 13th films included on this list are currently streaming on Paramount+. The original film is also streaming for free on Tubi.