Back in October of 2024 (what feels like a century ago now), audiences had their first look at a 4K of Friday the 13th Part 2 in the Paramount Scares Vol. 2 box set, so we will dive deeper into this release and if there were any changes between the two editions. When it comes to horror fans, slip enthusiasts, and completists, it’s possible this 45th anniversary edition will tickle some fancies and make them scream in horror, but, as a whole, the Friday the 13th Part 2 4K singular edition is asking a lot out of consumers to potentially double or triple dip.

If you’ve never seen any of the Friday the 13th franchise, you’re probably not clamoring to buy its second installment, but, if you have seen them and are a fan, you know what you’re getting into. The second installment essentially picks up where the initial franchise starter ended — it starts in the first movie’s final girl’s apartment, Alice (Adrienne King) waking up from essentially a realistic nightmare. She wants to know where Jason is, and the doctors inform her that they found no child or alternative body in the Crystal Lake and thus the fear of Jason Vorhees lives on as he takes the mantle of killing over from his mother seeking revenge on his behalf. As horror tropes go, 2 years have passed, Camp Crystal Lake has reopened, and everything seems *normal*, but things are far from normal and the killings are on the rise again as a new mysterious killer is lurking to get more victims. As the stories go, it’s a rehash similarly enough to the first movie but different enough to engage audiences wanting to look for some enticing kills. While the story isn’t refreshingly new, it packs enough to entice audiences to join Jason before he goes to Manhattan, Hell, or space.

While we briefly talked about this transfer in the Paramount Scares Vol. 2 review, we will be breaking this down further. As far as the transfer goes, it’s the exact same disk. There is no difference between this version and the version on the Paramount Scares Vol. 2 disk. The only difference is a slipcover. They both come with one, but the slip on this individual release (first time it gets a singular release on 4K) dons the 45th anniversary banner and features the original poster art. Same audio track, same transfer with Dolby Vision and HDR10, and same features; there is *nothing* new within the transfer. While there has been a *great* Friday box set put out by Shout! Studios since 2020, and now that the original, the remake, and Jason X and Goes to Hell are on 4K, if you’ve bit the bullet on all of these releases already, you’re going to get Friday Part 2 regardless and the different slipcover to boot. But, if you’ve been selective and only singularly dipping or not purchasing the rather unnecessary upgrades if you own the box set already, then this isn’t for you. This is solely for the people who are upgrading Friday the 13th to 4K, don’t have the Shout box set of the franchise on Blu-ray, and didn’t buy Paramount Scares.

The best advantage to Paramount is when they release catalogue titles, they’re not trying to gouge their consumer, they usually are priced relatively fairly and not trying to price out their fanbase. This really is a purchase if you like uniformity of slipcovers, don’t own it in 4K already, and are a die-hard 4K-or-bust type person. While the picture is cleaner than the Blu-ray, it is only *marginally* cleaner, and for a film like Friday the 13th Part 2, it looks better almost with extra grain and dirt and feeling old. There 4K is almost a disadvantage, but that’s a personal opinion. 4K is a better format but the cleanliness of the picture is a step down for the film it’s representing in creating that ‘80s feel audiences have come to love.

Friday the 13th Part 2 Special Features:

• “Inside Crystal Lake Memories”
• “Friday’s Legacy: Horror Conventions”
• “Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part II”
• “Jason Forever”
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray and digital February 3^rd, 2026.

For more information, head to the official Paramount Pictures Friday the 13^th Part 2 webpage.

Categories: Home Release, Recommendation

Tags: 4K UHD, Adrienne King, Amy Steel, Betsy Palmer, drama, Friday the 13th, Friday the 13th Part 2, Georgetown Productions Inc., home release, home video, horror, John Furey, Kirsten Baker, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Scares, Ron Kurz, Steve Miner, streaming, Stuart Charno, thriller, Victor Miller, Warrington Gillette