Crystal Lake, the Friday the 13th prequel series, premieres in the United States on Thursday, October 15, 2026, exclusively on Peacock — and all eight episodes arrive at once. To watch, you will need a Peacock subscription, which starts at $12.99 a month.
Peacock has not published an exact release time, but the streamer’s originals have generally unlocked at 12:00 a.m. ET (9:00 p.m. PT the night before), so plan on the full season being live in the early hours of October 15. Here is everything you need to watch, including where the show is not streaming in the US.
How to watch Crystal Lake in the US
In the United States, Crystal Lake is a Peacock Original and streams only on Peacock. If you have seen international headlines linking the show to HBO Max, that is because HBO Max holds it across much of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (excluding the UK and Ireland). Those rights do not apply to American viewers: in the US, Peacock is the only place to watch. All eight hour-long episodes go live on October 15.
How much Peacock costs
Peacock raised its prices in the late summer of 2026. Both tiers include Crystal Lake; the difference is ads and a few extra perks.
| Peacock plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Premium (with ads) | $12.99 | $129.99 |
| Premium Plus (ad-free) | $19.99 | $199.99 |
Premium streams with commercials, while Premium Plus removes most ads and adds downloads and, in many markets, a live feed of your local NBC station. A monthly plan is the simplest option if you just want to binge the series and cancel.
Release schedule: the whole season at once
There is no weekly rollout. Peacock is dropping the complete eight-episode first season on premiere day, October 15, so you can watch the entire story in one sitting. Each episode runs roughly an hour.
What Crystal Lake is about
The series is a prequel set in the small town of Crystal Lake, years before the events of the 1980 slasher that launched the franchise. It centers on Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini), a grieving single mother in the aftermath of her young son Jason’s drowning, and traces how the town’s tragedy hardens into the myth horror fans know. Brad Caleb Kane (It: Welcome to Derry) created and runs the show, which is produced by A24. The cast includes William Catlett, Devin Kessler, Cameron Scoggins, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom, with Callum Vinson as a young Jason.
Frequently asked
What platform is Crystal Lake on in the US?
Peacock, exclusively. It is a Peacock Original.
Is Crystal Lake on HBO Max?
Not in the United States. HBO Max carries it in parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; US viewers watch on Peacock.
When does Crystal Lake come out?
Thursday, October 15, 2026, with all eight episodes released the same day.
How much do I need to pay?
Peacock Premium is $12.99 a month and Premium Plus is $19.99 a month; annual plans are $129.99 and $199.99.
Is it released weekly?
No. The entire first season drops at once.
Who plays Pamela Voorhees?
Linda Cardellini stars as Pamela Voorhees.
