8MM
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) | Release Date: February 26, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
21
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
6
Negative:
10
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
San Francisco ExaminerCraig Marine
This is not a movie for the squeamish, by any means. But for those who like their thrillers dark and their heroes a bit more complicated and flawed than the average shoot-without-a-blink type so prevalent in today's movies, 8MM fills the bill. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
It is a real film. Not a slick exploitation exercise with all the trappings of depravity but none of the consequences. Read full review
63
USA TodayMike Clark
The two m's in 8MM could stand for "messy melodrama." [26 February 1999, Life, p.5E]
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The result, while not entirely devoid of entertainment value, doesn't work as a whole. Read full review
60
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
I can't say I warmed to the results, but I was solidly held for the film's two hours. Read full review
42
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The whole movie turns into a violent, pointless, torture-or-be-tortured chase. Read full review
40
SlateDavid Edelstein
The moral contortions of 8MM seem especially bogus, a sadomasochistic peep show booth pretending to be a confessional. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The superficially cheery “Boogie Nights” is infinitely scarier. Read full review
40
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Schumacher almost invariably breathes more life into his material than he has here. It's a lot easier to tick off the forced, farfetched touches in Eight Millimeter than to count the ones that ring true. Read full review
40
Film ThreatRon Wells
The biggest thing wrong with this mess is its whole attitude. The film tries to condemn all these shocking things, but if you're not shocked, just wait a couple of minutes and they'll try again. Read full review
30
VarietyDerek Elley
A movie that keeps jumping the gate and finally unravels all over the floor. Read full review
25
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
A private eye enters a horrific world of degrading sex and bottom-feeding pornographers. Read full review
10
Washington PostDesson Thomson
In the uncertain zone between dumb and truly twisted lies 8MM, a movie that will baffle and disgust you in one disconcerting experience. Read full review
10
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
Wallows in its own muck. Read full review
0
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
Voyeuristically wallows in the sadistic violence it professes to deplore. What hypocrisy! Read full review
0
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
Almost as degrading as any unmarked video you can buy in the back alleys of Manila, and, in its pseudo-significance and arty pretension, it's a lot less honest. I'm heartily sorry I had to poison an entire evening with it. Read full review
0
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Those foolhardy enough to place themselves at the mercy of 8MM can expect the following emotions: disgust and revulsion, then anger, followed by a profound and disheartening sadness. There are some films whose existence makes the world a worse place to live, and this is one of them. Read full review
0
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
That 8MM fails miserably as a psychological thriller is forgivable. The fact that it is nearly as creepy, sleazy, and manipulative as the pornographic films it so cluelessly and hypocritically condemns is not. Read full review
0
Washington PostStephen Hunter
It's sickeningly violent! Read full review
0
Village VoiceDennis Lim
A nasty piece of work, and it's nasty in a particularly ostentatious and sophomoric way. Read full review
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