SummaryA boatful of graduating high school students headed to Manhattan inadvertently bring Jason Voorhees along for the cruise.
Directed By:Rob Hedden
Written By:Rob Hedden, Victor Miller
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
Metascore
Overwhelming Dislike
14
User score
Generally Favorable
6.5
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Overwhelming Dislike
0% Positive
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
20% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
80% Negative
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
60
Jensen Daggett is a standout as the troubled young girl on whom Jason is fixated. V.C. Dupree has vibrant energy in his boxing scenes, Sharlene Martin has a fine time with the bitch role, and Martin Cummins is funny as a video freak who compulsively films the proceedings.
25
To crystallize its fundamental flaw, here's a movie about Manhattan that takes 75 minutes just to get to Manhattan - followed by another 15 that could just as easily have been shot (and possibly were) in some East Topeka alley. [31 July 1989, p.4D]
User score
Generally Favorable
50% Positive
64 Ratings
64 Ratings
24% Mixed
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
26% Negative
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
Dec 6, 2025
10
This is the most underrated movie of all time this is the strongest Jason the goat kills were amazing just deferent movie amazingfinal girl everything was amazing
Jun 17, 2025
10
Só dou 10 porque Jason finalmente fez turismo em Nova York — pena que só por 5 minutos! O barco cheio de adolescentes gritando é o verdadeiro espetáculo. Clássico cult que merece reconhecimento!
25
It seems that as long as Jason can keep his costs down-by hiring unknown young actors, desperate for any kind of a break, and hiring directors (Rob Hedden this time) straight out of television or film school-he`ll be with us forever. Conveniently devoid of any personality (a variety of anonymous stunt men have filled the role over the years), he`s as infinitely reproducible as one of Warhol`s soup cans, though considerably less expressive. [31 July 1989, p.C3]
20
During all of this tediously staged action, the virginal female heroine, Rennie Wickham (Jensen Daggett), suffers hallucinations about the young Jason. Not surprisingly, these scenes — which feel as if they belong in another movie — are among the most effective in the film, a welcome distraction from the mundane mechanics of the rest of this predictable effort.
10
Also zero, which is the amount of inspiration and achievement in this continuing saga of the little boy who drowned in Crystal Lake 30 years, seven films and approximately 286 teenagers ago (30-7-286)
0
Putting this hackneyed villain in The Big Apple is a tantalizing concept, but Hedden rarely takes advantage of it. He deserves credit for a few shocks and some laughs from a gloom- and-doom deck swabber, but this is highly derivative stuff. And like many slash directors, he replaces suspense with short chases and violence. If audience response is a meter, Jason VIII is a dud. Save a few shrieks, the crowd fell victim to boredom. [31 July 1989, p.C5]
0
I'll maim, chop, slash, and I'll kill, Just as I please.
Dec 13, 2020
10
i dont know why nobody likes this movie. I think it is great. it has a good plot finally it gets jason away from crystal lake i think the movie is excellent and is my favorite of the f13 series besides part 7 i think they saved the best f13th films for last besides jason x i dont know why this movie is so underrated i mean it finally has some decent acting jason looks good (the best in part 7) the plot is pretty good besides critics rated f13th part8 jason takes manhatten one of the best of the series besides part 1. the f13th series started to look good and be good after part 5 which was ok. Ill even except this movie even with the ending which wasnt understandble but still didnt make the movie bad. I dont know why diehard jason fans dont like this film. I'm a Diehard jason fan and i love this movie. Overall the second best in the series in my opinon. Friday the 13th part 7 The New Blood And Friday the 13th part 8 Jason takes manhatten are the best in the series both are excellent **** to me. See part 7 and part 8 i strongly recommend them there not a waste.
Oct 17, 2024
5
This film has a very misleading title because Jason is in Manhattan for less than 40 minutes of the entire movie. I think this film had a good cast, and the kills were not the greatest out of all the movies but they weren't bad at all. The film itself was actually entertaining despite everything bad about it. I do think this movie gets hated to much but I can see where people are coming from on their dislikes about the movie.
Oct 31, 2025
3
Greetings from Lithuania.
"Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan" (1989) finally hit that bottom of the barrel, when watching it for 1 h 37 min felt a drag beyond believe. Kudos to creators that they at least tried to shake up the formula regarding the location. Other then that, this film is a complete failure. Everything in it is terrible, so i won't even name it individually. And how in the world does it possible to sail from a lake in the middle of forest into Atlantic ocean? after that you think that the only frontier left to be in space. Oh, wait...Overall, Part 8 of this tired at that point franchise was a terrible movie. At least i liked some city scenes, but other then that, it's a bad film.
Aug 1, 2025
3
The eighth Friday the 13th sees the return of Kane Hodder as Jason and a high body count featuring many creative kills, but the film’s unbearably ridiculous plot, bothersome characters and the odd addition of constant Child Jason hallucinations make the film rather painful to watch.
Production Company:
- Paramount Pictures
- Horror
- Sean S. Cunningham Films
Release Date:Jul 28, 1989
Duration:1 h 40 m
Rating:R
Tagline:I LOVE NY [heart symbol in the shape of a bloodied ice hockey mask denotes love]
Awards
Satellite Awards
• 1 Nomination
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Nomination
