Eighth graders react to the relatability of Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

I don't know about you, but my eighth grade experience was a complete nightmare. I was quite sick for the vast majority of my Junior High and High School years, which made me a prime target for those who were quick to judge a book by its frail cover. As I got older, things got better, though the memory of that tumultuous year will always sting just a little bit. I suppose that's part of the reason why I have a keen interest in seeing Bo Burnham's EIGHTH GRADE, a film about an introverted teenage girl who does her best to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school. After all, seeing a film set on familiar ground always makes for an interesting and introspective watch, does it not?

Today, the good people FBE have shared the latest installment belonging to their "Teens React" video series. For the series, FBE shares a host of entertainment media, nostalgic toys and music, among other things, with Gen-Z-ers in the interest of filming their knee-jerk reactions. For their latest experiment, FBE has shared the trailer and film for Bo Burnham's EIGHTH GRADE with the group, which had garnered some pretty eye-opening reactions. Throughout the video, one teen applauded the trailer by saying "they actually understand what it's like." Several members of the group also recognized the film's ability to represent the awkward/cringe-inducing nature of being a pre-teen trying to fit into a world larger than themselves. The teens also recognized the movie's R-rating, saying that the language used in the film is more true to their experience, and that changing the dialogue for a PG-13 rating would have sacrificed authenticity.

You can watch the video for yourself below:

Directed and written by Bo Burnham, EIGHTH GRADE stars Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, and Emily Robinson, among others. The film is playing in select theaters now, and from what I've heard, it's sure to bring on the feels.