8 Mile

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8 Mile

R

Released Nov 8, 2002

1h 50m

Drama

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

211 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The people of Detroit know 8 Mile as the city limit, a border, a boundary. It is also a psychological dividing line that separates Jimmy Smith Jr. (Eminem) from where and who he wants to be. A provocative fictional examination of a critical week in Jimmy's life.

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Critics Consensus

Even though the story is overly familiar, there's enough here for an engaging ride.

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Barbara Ellen

The Times (UK)

While not exactly wow, Eminem is solid and credible in a role which could so easily have screeched like chalk across a wet blackboard.

Jan 2, 2018

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

It's easy to like Jimmy Smith as well as to admire him, because Mr. Mathers lets us in, with no sign of calculation, on the kindness, even tenderness, that Jimmy conceals from most of the people around him.

Apr 7, 2014

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David Denby

The New Yorker

In the tradition of Rocky and Fever, the movie is a shrewdly engineered piece of proletarian pop -- a story of triumph -- but, like Eminem's enraged lyrics, 8 Mile has its own kind of vile candor.

Apr 7, 2014

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Sean Fallon

Film Inquiry

Overall, 8 Mile is a very entertaining movie. Its lead performance is still strong away from Eminem’s initial massive fame.

May 6, 2023

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a low-key, character-study-like premise thats employed to persistently watchable (and periodically electrifying) effect...

Rated: 3/4

Feb 18, 2022

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Flashes of genuine rebellion appear in 8 Mile, but they are few and far between. The film's conclusion is thoroughly conformist and predictable.

Feb 16, 2021

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Sammy S.

Classic, true story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Beatrice P

Suspicious that the audience rating I'm seeing here has something to do with politics because I remember a different rating prior to 2017 when Eminem took a very strong political stance. Anyway, always loved this movie and a lot of that is because you feel like it connects with the person and the music even though it's only loosely autobiographical. It's a comfortable underdog story and it's better because you know the main character lived a very similar life story. I might find it a bit less engaging if not for that connection but it would still be enjoyable - I like the stories where the little guy triumphs.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/25

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Ryan M

Pretty empty up until the end battle. Could have been a YouTube video.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

Full Review

Eric J.

I am bias to this movie because music is everything to me. This is definitely one for the culture of Hip-Hop. Turn up the TV and blast the final battle scene then repeat. Definitely on my repeat offender list.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

Full Review

Kenneth B.

It felt real you can really get in to character. Eminem killed it!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

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Darren P

Great movie best Eminem acting was really great watched it so many times through the years

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

Full Review

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Curtis Hanson

Director

Eminem

Jimmy Smith, Jr.

Kim Basinger

Stephanie

Brittany Murphy

Alex

Mekhi Phifer

Future

Evan Jones

Cheddar Bob

8 Mile: Official Clip - Greg's Outta Here

2:17

8 Mile: Official Clip - Cheddar Pulls a Gun

2:29

8 Mile: Official Clip - The Lunch Truck

2:58

8 Mile: Official Clip - Wink's Big Deal

2:42

8 Mile: Official Clip - Rabbit Battles Lyckety-Splyt

1:42

8 Mile: Official Clip - We're Being Evicted

2:33

8 Mile: Official Clip - Rabbit Battles Papa Doc

2:58

8 Mile: Official Clip - Rabbit Battles Lil' Tic

3:01

8 Mile: Official Clip - Rabbit is Betrayed

1:38

8 Mile: Official Clip - You're Gonna Be Great

2:50

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Synopsis

The people of Detroit know 8 Mile as the city limit, a border, a boundary. It is also a psychological dividing line that separates Jimmy Smith Jr. (Eminem) from where and who he wants to be. A provocative fictional examination of a critical week in Jimmy's life.

Director: Curtis Hanson
Producer: Brian Grazer, Curtis Hanson, Jimmy Iovine
Screenwriter: Scott Silver
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Imagine Entertainment
Rating: R (Sexuality|Drug Use|Some Violence|Strong Language)
Genre: Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $116.7M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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