Friday the 13th Part III

Friday the 13th Part III
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Steve Miner
Produced by	Frank Mancuso, Jr.
Written by	Martin Kitrosser Carol Watson Petru Popescu (uncredited)
Based on	Characters by Victor Miller Ron Kurz
Starring	Dana Kimmell Paul Kratka Richard Brooker
Music by	Harry Manfredini Michael Zager
Cinematography	Gerald Feil
Edited by	George Hively
Production company	Jason Inc.
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	August 13, 1982 (1982-08-13)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2.3 million
Box office	$36.7 million (US)

Friday the 13th Part III is a 1982 American 3D slasher film directed by Steve Miner and the third installment in the Friday the 13th film series. Originally released in 3-D, it is the first film to feature antagonist Jason Voorhees wearing his signature hockey mask, which has become a trademark of both the character and franchise, as well an icon in American cinema and horror films in general. As a direct sequel to Friday the 13th (1980) and Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), the film follows a group of co-eds on vacation at a house on Crystal Lake, where Jason Voorhees has taken refuge.

Originally, the film was supposed to focus on Ginny Field, who checked herself into a mental institution after her traumatic battle with Jason Voorhees in the previous film. The film would have been similar to Halloween II, with Jason Voorhees tracking down Ginny in the mental hospital similar to how Michael Myers stalked Laurie Strode in the sequel. This concept was abandoned when Amy Steel declined to reprise her role.

When first released, the film was intended to end the series as a trilogy. However unlike its sequel Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984) and the later film, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), Friday the 13th Part III did not include a moniker in its title to indicate it as such.