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Eighth Grade
2018 94 min United States of America R 18+
★7.8
Comedy, Drama
Director: Bo Burnham
Trailers
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Description
Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school — the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year — before she begins high school.
Budget:
$2M
US Gross:
$13.54M
Worldwide:
$13.54M
Starring
Elsie Fisher
Actor
Josh Hamilton
Actor
Emily Robinson
Actor
Awards
Sundance Film Festival 2018
— Grand Jury Prize (Drama)
Golden Globe 2019
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Eighth Grade is widely praised for its raw, unflinching, and authentic portrayal of the modern middle school experience. While some viewers find its intense focus on teenage social anxiety and awkwardness difficult or occasionally slow, the film is largely regarded as a sincere and emotionally resonant coming-of-age debut.
| Acting | Elsie Fisher's performance is a raw and empathetic anchor that perfectly captures the vulnerability and contradictions of early adolescence. | |
| Direction | Bo Burnham's direction avoids typical teen-film clichés, opting for a naturalistic, documentary-like style that prioritizes honesty over melodrama. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as an authentic exploration of digital-age adolescence, balancing the pain of social media scrutiny with the complexities of parent-child dynamics. | |
| Emotion | The film’s atmosphere of 'second-hand embarrassment' and social anxiety is deeply immersive, though viewers disagree on whether the relentless discomfort makes for a compelling watch or an exhausting experience. | |
| Pacing | Opinions are divided on the pacing; some find the slow-burn, everyday realism essential to the story's authenticity, while others feel the film lacks a strong narrative anchor and can feel dull. |