Parents' Guide to

8 Mile

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Eminem's edgy, graphic quasi-biopic has violence, sex.

Movie R 2002 110 minutes
8 Mile Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 34 parent reviews

FinBEAR
FinBEAR Parent
March 2, 2019
age 16+

Better than I thought it would be

Rap battles include raunchy language with sexual and drug references. Many variations of f**k are used in nearly every scene as well as the N-word (not in a racist way). Several scenes graphically show people having sex and mild violence throughout.
$$*BLACKANDYELLOW*$$
$$*BLACKANDYELLOW*$$ Adult
October 10, 2011
age 14+

Great Movie

This movie may have bad language and violence but most kids can get past all of this most kids listen to eminem already and also play call of duty but the movie has a good message its that you gotta search within you, you gotta find that inner strength and just pull that sh*t out of you and get that motivation to not give up and not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse
See all 34 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Loosely based on the real-life story of white rap superstar Eminem, this movie is very much in the tradition of other "poor kid with a dream" stories such as Saturday Night Fever and Rocky. The structure of these stories is simple: A talented character has to learn to take risks and believe in himself. He has some setbacks but ultimately triumphs.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (34 ):
Kids say (105 ):

Despite 8 MILE's top behind-the-scenes talent such as director Curtis Hanson and producer Brian Grazer, this movie's primary appeal will be to the fans Eminem already has.

For those who accept that rap is an art form, this movie will be easier to believe. This is not the genre-transcending triumph that it was intended to be, but it's far ahead of instantly outdated bombs like Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. Eminem has the ability to hold the screen, and if he is not exactly an actor, he is able to muster the few expressions required: tender when he looks at his sister (Chloe Greenfield), hopeful when he looks at Alex (Brittany Murphy), and sullen most of the rest of the time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what changed in Rabbit's life to give him the guts to perform. Why was his willingness to insult himself before anyone else could a show of strength that was more devastating to his opponent than an attack could be?

  • How are the African-American, poor white, and blue-collar cultures of Detroit conveyed in this movie? Do these depictions seem accurate to you? Why, or why not?

  • What are some other examples of movies in which characters who are far from perfect still emerge as positive role models, despite their flaws and indiscretions? What positive values does Eminem's character begin to put into practice as a way to rise above difficult surroundings and dire situations?

  • How is Eminem in the tradition of white musicians who become successful by appropriating the music developed by African-American performers?

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