Eighth Grade

Name: Eighth Grade
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 13, 2018
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Catherine Oliviere, Daniel Zolghadri, Deborah Unger, Elsie Fisher, Emily Robinson

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 49 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 304 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 304 Ratings

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Eighth Grade

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: July 13, 2018 | R

Starring: Catherine Oliviere, Daniel Zolghadri, Deborah Unger, Elsie Fisher, Emily Robinson, Frank Deal, Fred Hechinger, Gerald W. Jones, Greg Crowe, Imani Lewis, Jake Ryan, Josh Hamilton, Josh Hamilton, Luke Prael, Marguerite Stimpson, Missy Yager, Natalie Carter, Nora Mullins

Movie Facts:

Winner of Best Film and Best Actress (Elsie Fisher) at the Seattle International Film Festival.

Summary: 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.

Director: Bo Burnham

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Ann Hornaday

Jul 20, 2018

Thanks to Burnham’s exuberant, alert writing and Fisher’s masterful command of vulnerability, anxiety, resilience and steadfast self-belief, Kayla emerges as an icon of her own — just by being herself. Read full review

100

Justin Chang

Jul 12, 2018

Fisher neither wilts under the camera’s scrutiny nor succumbs to the temptation to stare it down. She gives precise form and delicate feeling to emotions and experiences that, despite the specificity of the circumstances, most everyone will recognize. Read full review

IndieWire Kate Erbland

At every turn, Fisher is honest and open, relatable to the point that you feel as if you’re actually watching her own life play out. Read full review

Niles Schwartz

Jul 12, 2018

Throughout, we're invited to chuckle at the ironies of Kayla's hobbies and activities, but underlying such scenes is a strain of eeriness, as if the film were offering up a post-human spin on Pretty in Pink. Read full review

The Playlist Jordan Ruimy

Fisher must be given immense credit for making it all work as her performance is pitch-perfect in every respect. Sometimes, it feels like you’re not even watching an actress perform but an actual person. The way Burnham shot some of the scenes makee it feel like non-fiction rather than fiction. Read full review

Mike Scott

Aug 2, 2018

A sweet, thoughtfully composed story, and a darn fine film, to boot. Read full review

Richard Brody

Jul 11, 2018

Burnham’s eye for detail and nuance is keen, and several scenes...have a tightly scripted tension, but he smothers the story in sentiment, stereotypes, and good intentions. Despite Fisher’s calm and vivid performance, Kayla remains merely a collection of traits. Read full review

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User Reviews

fitzy226

Jul 23, 2018

At times it feels like a sharply observed teenage comedy of manners, at other times it feels like a horror movie. Completely riveted by this film from beginning to end. Elsie Fisher deserves an Academy nod. Wonderful.

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

imanzbrjd

Jan 2, 2019

It was really well written and acted and really good in showing puberty, anxiety, and all that middle school problems. I felt so connected with the main character cause i pretty much exprienced all that problems. All that anxiety and timid moods. And i can say i'm still having some of thoseIt was really well written and acted and really good in showing puberty, anxiety, and all that middle school problems. I felt so connected with the main character cause i pretty much exprienced all that problems. All that anxiety and timid moods. And i can say i'm still having some of those problems. I can say i'm a social outcast :)) And you know what? Unlike Kayla, sometimes it feels good. So this is a movie that i think most of you people will feel connected. Btw, the dad was amazing. I wish I had a dad like that. I love my own dad but man that guy was something else.
So,this movie is hilarious. One of the best movies of 2018 with no doubt. Just watch it dammit. Just watch it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GrantD243

Aug 3, 2018

Eighth Grade is about a girl named Kayla who is at the end of her time in middle school and is getting ready to start high school. This isn't the story of some kid who has it all figured out or is extremely popular, though. In fact, this is the story that many people will find very relatableEighth Grade is about a girl named Kayla who is at the end of her time in middle school and is getting ready to start high school. This isn't the story of some kid who has it all figured out or is extremely popular, though. In fact, this is the story that many people will find very relatable regardless of what generation you grew up in. If you had an awkward experience in eighth grade or if you weren't the most popular kid, you'll relate to this one. Sure, it'll probably speak more to current students or those that have gone through middle school during the 21st Century (as I have), but while technology has changed immensely over time kids only change so much. This film does touch the idea that technology has become a huge influence over the lives of kids these days quite a bit, and it portrays it in a very realistic way. I went through middle school before social media took over (Myspace and Facebook were just starting to gain traction), but cell phones were the hot ticket and many of the notes that this film hits on regarding social media were still very relatable to me. But the real story of this film is Kayla trying to become more confident in herself, trying to make more friends, and trying to work through how awkward the world seems to her at this time in her life. This film pulls no punches. It doesn't sugar coat anything and it doesn't make middle school seem better than it is like a lot of films and television shows do. It goes where you think it wouldn't dare go, and that makes it just that much better. There are some scenes in here that will make some people incredibly uncomfortable, but that's kind of the point. Eighth grade is an uncomfortable time, and it only makes sense for a film covering it to be uncomfortable at times. Elsie Fisher does a tremendous job as Kayla, and I have to assume that there's some of her in her portrayal as well because I believe she just finished eighth grade not that long ago, and Josh Hamilton (Kayla's dad) is solid as always. Yes, this film is R rated even though it is about a girl in the eighth grade. However, I wouldn't discourage parents from taking their kids to see this if they're of the appropriate age (around seventh grade or older). It's primarily rated R because of language, but there are some subjects that parents may flinch at when they're brought up in a film that their kid is watching. But, they're subjects that kids are going to encounter at school anyway, and maybe it'll even provide an opportunity for discussion after the showing ends. Everything about Eighth Grade is solid, but it's how the story will relate to people that really makes this a very worthwhile watch.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

justwibi

Oct 6, 2018

what a honest film from Bo Burnham for the condition of kids in this moder day. Played by "Agnes" from Despicable Me. LOL

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LegendaryLass

Dec 14, 2018

It bounces between fun, terrifying, hillarious and horrifying... much like eighth grade itself does. Kayla is a perfect vessel for the audience through the wonderful nightmare of middle school and Fisher is a revelation.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Izago

Nov 13, 2018

Um om filme que conta a historia do inicio da adolescencia no final de seu nono ano, trilha sonora muito bem colocada, atuação boa,um bom filme.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnCorleone

Oct 17, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie was just not good and was a complete waste of time. How many times do we have to watch the same plot in every high school movie. It's always the same thing with a nervous girl trying to get friends and being introduced to sex. There was a lot of time wasting with the slow talking/pauses and this movie easily could've been 30 minutes. There was nothing special about this movie and I can't believe I watched it. This movie just stole 1.5 hours of my life that I'll never get back. I don't understand what makes people think this is a good movie because its not. After watching it I couldn't believe an hour and a half went by because it felt like 30 minutes (as mentioned before). There is nothing tense about this movie it's all cringe and just bad.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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