Eighth Grade
Eighth Grade

Eighth Grade

2018Movie94 minEnglish

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.

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Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes99%
Metacritic89
Google Users88%
Director: Bo BurnhamGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

Kayla Day is in the last week of eighth grade, navigating the trials and tribulations of adolescence in suburban Long Island. While struggling to connect with peers and find her voice, she posts vlogs about topics like confidence and friendships, attempting to project an image of wisdom beyond her years. The film intimately captures her awkwardness, anxieties, and small victories as she moves towards high school.

Critical Reception

Eighth Grade was met with widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for Bo Burnham's direction and screenplay, Elsie Fisher's authentic performance, and its sensitive portrayal of modern teenage life. It was lauded for its relatability and its honest depiction of social media's influence on young people.

What Reviewers Say

  • An authentic and often painfully relatable depiction of modern adolescence.
  • Praised for its sharp writing and Elsie Fisher's remarkable performance.
  • Celebrated for its empathetic and nuanced look at social media and anxiety.

Google audience: Google users widely praised the film's authenticity and relatability, with many appreciating its honest portrayal of the challenges faced by young people today, particularly concerning social interactions and self-esteem. The film's humor and emotional depth resonated strongly with audiences.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer (Elsie Fisher). Named one of the top films of 2018 by numerous publications.

Fun Fact

Director Bo Burnham drew heavily on his own experiences with anxiety and social media when writing the script, aiming to create a film that felt true to the often overwhelming nature of growing up in the digital age.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Elsie Fisher turns in a strong performance here as the teenage “Kayla” coming to terms with all of those uncertainties we all feel as puberty beckons. Coupled with her own personal issues, she’s in her last year of what could loosely be ref...
beyondthecineramadome

beyondthecineram...

Full review: <a>https://www.tinakakadelis.com/beyond-the-cinerama-dome/2021/12/28/its-brutal-out-here-eighth-gradenbspreview<a> Internet comedian and humorous songwriter Bo Burnham in the role of writer and director of a movie about an e...
Gimly

Gimly

I can't elevate _Eighth Grade_ to the status that my peers have, it just wasn't all that to me. But it was still very good, and very real, that tangible sort of youth that comes with dedication to the format. _Final rating:★★★ - I liked ...