Despite its title, eighth graders probably won't be able to see Eighth Grade in theaters. Bo Burnham's incisive, incredible film about coming of age in the digital age was saddled with an R-rating thanks to a few errant curse words that the MPAA is unreasonably strict about. But it's a film that eighth graders should see. And A24 agrees. This week, the studio will be hosting free screenings across the country that won't enforce the movie's R-rating to encourage all ages to see this pivotal and powerful movie.
Every so often, a fantastic movie that features a few too many "fucks" will come around to remind us how backwards the MPAA can be when it comes to depicting curse words and frank sexual discussions onscreen. And that's where Eighth Grade fell into hot water with the all-powerful ratings board, whose R-rating for the film unreasonably bars 13-year-olds from seeing a resonant movie about themselves. Because unlike what its rating suggests, Eighth Grade is not a raunchy comedy that exaggerates the antics of middle schoolers today — on the contrary, it's as raw and real as it gets. Parents across the country could benefit (though admittedly suffer a bit through the film's more cringeworthy moments) from taking their kids to see Eighth Grade and kickstart important conversations about body image, identity, and sexual consent. But nope, the MPAA has got to be a remnant of Puritanical times.
Thankfully, A24 gets it. For one day only, the indie studio is holding Eighth Grade free screenings across the country that won't enforce the R-rating, to encourage kids — and maybe even their parents — to see this important movie.
These first-come, first-serve screenings will take place on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 in each state, the studio announced. To RSVP for the event, you can email info@A24films.com or contact your local theaters. You can find more information here.
Here is the full list of theaters holding these free Eighth Grade screenings.
