You are here:

Eighth Grade

Name: Eighth Grade
Director: Bo Burnham
Released: 2018
Duration: 94 min

Representation Score

7.0/10

Good

2018

Director

Bo Burnham

Runtime

94 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Bo Burnham’s debut focuses on psychological depth and disrupts traditional coming-of-age stories through a postmodern lens of digital identity. The film excels in its authentic and nuanced portrayal of mental health issues, particularly social anxiety. It provides a realistic depiction of these conditions. However, the film’s impact is limited by its narrow focus on a homogeneous, white suburban environment, resulting in minimal representation of diverse racial and LGBTQ+ identities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Eighth Grade have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not focus on LGBTQ+ identities or narratives. It explores adolescent social dynamics without highlighting specific non-straight identities.

How does Eighth Grade portray gender?

Good

The story centers on a female protagonist's emotional journey and vulnerability. It presents Kayla as an active agent navigating intense social pressures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Eighth Grade?

Limited

The cast is predominantly white and middle-class, set in a suburban environment. The narrative lacks significant diversity in racial or ethnic backgrounds.

How does Eighth Grade represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film critiques digital identity and curated self-presentation. It portrays a stable, traditional family structure without challenging Western domestic norms.

Does Eighth Grade include disability representation?

Good

The narrative portrays social anxiety and neurodivergent traits with empathy, avoiding the use of these conditions as mere plot devices.

Present on Screen

Authentic and nuanced portrayal of social anxiety and neurodivergent traits.
Subverts traditional gender roles by emphasizing a female protagonist's emotional journey.
Explores the impact of digital media on modern identity formation.

Limited or Absent

Limited racial and ethnic diversity within the suburban setting.
Minimal representation of LGBTQ+ identities or challenges to straight-centered assumptions.
Traditional depiction of family and domestic stability.

Official Synopsis

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.

How are these scores produced? →