Overview
A poignant and humorous look at the trials of adolescence in the digital age.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- empathetic
- reflective weekend
- teen movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's rare emotional authenticity, Elsie Fisher's naturalistic lead performance, and Bo Burnham's empathetic writing and direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kayla uses YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to construct an image of confidence while struggling with offline insecurity.
School interactions, peer encounters, and family moments linger on Kayla's embarrassment while preserving compassion for her.
Kayla's advice videos present certainty and poise that sharply contrast with her silence and self-loathing in daily life.
Kayla's relationships and self-understanding are mediated by digital platforms rather than only face-to-face school life.
Films like Eighth Grade, and why
Lady Bird
authentic adolescent awkwardness, social anxiety, and bittersweet coming-of-age realism
The Edge of Seventeen
intimate teenage self-discovery, sincere humor, and emotionally grounded family dynamics
Booksmart
awkward youth perspective, internet-era identity formation, and cringe comedy
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
empathetic adolescent alienation, understated humor, and naturalistic performances
Movie Details
- Director
- Bo Burnham
- Release Date
- 2018-01-19
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1719)
Cast
- Elsie Fisher
- Josh Hamilton
- Emily Robinson
- Jake Ryan
- Daniel Zolghadri
- Fred Hechinger
- Imani Lewis
- Luke Prael
- Catherine Oliviere
- Nora Mullins
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Eighth Grade about?
- An anxious eighth grader performs confidence online while trying to survive the humiliations and small breakthroughs of her final middle-school days.
- What is Eighth Grade like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Eighth Grade as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Eighth Grade violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Eighth Grade.
- What did critics think of Eighth Grade?
- Critics broadly praised the film's rare emotional authenticity, Elsie Fisher's naturalistic lead performance, and Bo Burnham's empathetic writing and direction.
- Which films are like Eighth Grade?
- Films with a similar feel include Lady Bird, The Edge of Seventeen, Booksmart, and The Diary of a Teenage Girl.
- How long is Eighth Grade?
- Eighth Grade runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Eighth Grade?
- In United States, Eighth Grade streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
