Friday the 13th, be it from any month, stands synonymous with misfortune in the Western culture. The superstition has prevailed throughout the old times and is believed to be the harbinger of bad luck. 

It is supported by biblical beliefs that unlucky Fridays were the days when Adam and Eve devoured the forbidden fruit, Noah's ark drifted in the Great Flood, and Cain murdered his brother, Abel. 

In Norse Mythology, the number 13 is bad luck, for it says Loki crashed a festivity in Valhalla, joining the gods as the thirteenth deity. After his deception, the blind god Hodr killed his brother and god of light, joy, and goodness, Balder. 

Now, the day and number put together, Friday the 13th stands as a dreadful, unfortunate day. Having said that, the belief is just a superstition. 

However, the superstition is profusely hyped by Friday the 13th horror movies that put their audience at the edge of their seat. Here are five hand-picked Friday the 13th films rated best on Rotten Tomatoes.

'Friday the 13th'

Created by Sean S. Cunningham, 1980s Friday the 13th is a classic slasher, a trailblazer to the Friday the 13th franchise. 

The movie follows a hockey-masked killer, Jason Voorhees, and his journey as he slashes, shoots, and stabs a group of teenage counselors at Crystal Lake. Ari Lehman played the ruthless villain in the motion picture. 

With its gore that promises to give its audience heebie-jeebies, the film would definitely make a good watch. 

Friday the 13th has a 60% audience score and 64% Tomatometer with 55 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. 

'Friday the 13th Part 2'

After the success of the first film, Steve Miner directed Friday the 13th Part 2. 

The movie's premise reflects the plotline of its previous installment as a group of teenage would-be counselors are haunted by Voorhees on Camp Crystal Lake once again. 

Though considered one of the top movies as per Rotten Tomatoes, it failed to impress its critics and fans alike. It only has a 28% Tomatometer rating and a slightly better appraisal of a 48% audience score. 

'Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives'

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives is the sixth installment in the franchise.

With its one-and-a-half-hour format, the movie brought the gruesome villain Voorhees back to life. The lead character Tommy Jarvis, played by Thom Mathews, had killed the antagonist in its last part. 

Because of the trauma, he visits Voorhees' grave to cremate the body, but an electrical accident resurrects the dead, making the audience's blood run cold. 

While the premise follows a similar plotline, the movie still deserves a watch for its insider humor and intense bloodshed.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned 48% Tomatometer and a 52% audience score. It has 27 total reviews.

'Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood'

It's no wonder that the Friday the 13th movies are expertise at waking Voorhees and letting it free for a killing spree. 1988's Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood follows a similar plotline. 

This time, a lead female character Tina Shepard (played by Lar Park Lincoln), mistakenly uses her telekinetic powers to wake the antagonist from its slumber. As a result, the premise follows her journey to put an end to the carnage. 

The movie has a 33% rating on Tomatometer and a 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.  

'Freddy vs. Jason'

Regarded as one of the best movies under the Friday the 13th umbrella, Freddy vs. Jason is a masterpiece in its own right. 

The film sees history's most notorious villain, Voorhees, clashing against another infamous serial killer, Freddy Krueger. Kreuger, who attacks his victims in their dreams, loses his power after the townspeople stop fearing him.

In the light of his defeat, Kreuger resurrects Voorhees, but things go out of hand after the mask-wearing psychopath kills Kreuger's intended prey.

The movie hit theatres in 2003 and amassed $116.6 million at the box office. But the Rotten Tomatoes ratings are contesting its success. It has a 41% Tomatometer rating and a 50% audience score.