<P> Frank Mancuso, Jr., a producer of the films, also developed the television show Friday the 13th: The Series after Paramount released Jason Lives . The television series was not connected to the franchise by any character or setting, but was created based on the idea of "bad luck and curses", which the film series symbolized . While the franchise was owned by Paramount, four films were adapted into novels, with Friday the 13th Part III adapted by two separate authors . When the franchise was sold to New Line Cinema, Cunningham returned as a producer to oversee two additional films, in addition to a crossover film with character Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street film series . Under New Line Cinema, thirteen novellas and various comic book series featuring Jason were published . </P> <P> Although the films were not popular with critics, Friday the 13th is considered one of the most successful media franchises in America--not only for the success of the films, but also because of the extensive merchandising and repeated references to the series in popular culture . The franchise's popularity has generated a fanbase who have created their own Friday the 13th films, fashioned replica Jason Voorhees costumes, and tattooed their bodies with Friday the 13th artwork . Jason's hockey mask has become one of the most recognizable images in horror and popular culture . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Film </Th> <Th> U.S. release date </Th> <Th> Director </Th> <Th> Writer (s) </Th> <Th> Story </Th> <Th> Producer (s) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th </Th> <Td> May 9, 1980 (1980 - 05 - 09) </Td> <Td> Sean S. Cunningham </Td> <Td> Victor Miller </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Sean S. Cunningham </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th Part 2 </Th> <Td> April 30, 1981 (1981 - 04 - 30) </Td> <Td> Steve Miner </Td> <Td> Ron Kurz </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Steve Miner </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th Part III </Th> <Td> August 13, 1982 (1982 - 08 - 13) </Td> <Td> Martin Kitrosser & Carol Watson </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Frank Mancuso Jr . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter </Th> <Td> April 13, 1984 (1984 - 04 - 13) </Td> <Td> Joseph Zito </Td> <Td> Barney Cohen </Td> <Td> Bruce Hidemi Sakow </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th: A New Beginning </Th> <Td> March 22, 1985 (1985 - 03 - 22) </Td> <Td> Danny Steinmann </Td> <Td> Martin Kitrosser, David Cohen & Danny Steinmann </Td> <Td> Martin Kitrosser & David Cohen </Td> <Td> Timothy Silver </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives </Th> <Td> August 1, 1986 (1986 - 08 - 01) </Td> <Td> Tom McLoughlin </Td> <Td> Tom McLoughlin </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Don Behrns </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood </Th> <Td> May 13, 1988 (1988 - 05 - 13) </Td> <Td> John Carl Buechler </Td> <Td> Manuel Fidello & Daryl Haney </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Iain Paterson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan </Th> <Td> July 28, 1989 (1989 - 07 - 28) </Td> <Td> Rob Hedden </Td> <Td> Rob Hedden </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Randy Cheveldave </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday </Th> <Td> August 13, 1993 (1993 - 08 - 13) </Td> <Td> Adam Marcus </Td> <Td> Jay Huguely & Dean Lorey </Td> <Td> Jay Huguely, Adam Marcus & Dean Lorey </Td> <Td> Sean S. Cunningham and Debbie Hayn - Cass </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Jason X </Th> <Td> April 26, 2002 (2002 - 04 - 26) </Td> <Td> James Isaac </Td> <Td> Todd Farmer </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Noel Cunningham, Sean S. Cunningham and James Isaac </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Freddy vs. Jason </Th> <Td> August 15, 2003 (2003 - 08 - 15) </Td> <Td> Ronny Yu </Td> <Td> Damian Shannon & Mark Swift </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Sean S. Cunningham </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Friday the 13th </Th> <Td> February 13, 2009 (2009 - 02 - 13) </Td> <Td> Marcus Nispel </Td> <Td> Mark Swift & Damian Shannon </Td> <Td> Mark Swift, Damian Shannon & Mark Wheaton </Td> <Td> Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Film </Th> <Th> U.S. release date </Th> <Th> Director </Th> <Th> Writer (s) </Th> <Th> Story </Th> <Th> Producer (s) </Th> </Tr>

When did the first friday 13th come out