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We were blown away by it at Sundance and if you’d asked us then, Eighth Grade was about to become beloved by eighth graders nationwide, especially for Elsie Fisher's stunningly vulnerable performance as a social-media-addicted shy girl. But then, the scolds at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave it an R rating for "language and some sexual material"—nothing an eighth grader hasn't actively sought out.
Correctly, the film's writer-director, Bo Burnham, called that rating "sort of stupid" on Twitter and announced that, on Wednesday August 8 only, at theaters in all 50 states—including Brooklyn's Alamo Drafthouse—Eighth Grade will screen for free for audiences of all ages. That's right: Age restrictions will not be enforced. So if you're the kind of eighth grader who's too scared to sneak into R-rated movies, now's your chance (but maybe be a bit bolder in general?). And if you're a parent, know that Eighth Grade is incredibly sympathetic and nourishing. You'll be proud that your kid went to see it.
Naturally, watchdog groups like the Parents Television Council are up in arms about this, demanding that the MPAA come down hard on the scheme. But distributor A24 is standing firm, yet another reason why we love them (along with this other movie, our favorite of the year so far). Tickets are first-come, first-served, available one hour before showtime at the theaters only, so get there early. Here's a full list of participating theaters.