Here's How Kids Can Watch ‘Eighth Grade’ Wednesday For Free

WISCONSIN — Eighth grade is hard. It’s even harder when you have to live it every day on social media. That’s one of the reasons director Bo Burnham decided to make a film about it, aptly titled “Eighth Grade.” But one small thing that could hurt the movie — it’s rated R, so eighth graders technically won’t be be able to see it unless accompanied by an adult.

Fortunately, the folks at the film studio A24 came up with a sneaky solution to get around that rule. For one night only — Wednesday — kids nationwide can go see the movie for free. But the deal is good only at one theater.

How to Go:

In southeastern Wisconsin, kids can watch the film at the North Shore Cinema, 11700 North Port Washington Road in Mequon, WI 53092 starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Tickets will be available for pick up starting one hour before showtime on Wednesday, August 8. Upon arrival at the theater please proceed to guest services to pick up your ticket. Tickets are limited and based on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets are not guaranteed. If you have any questions, you can reach out to info@a24films.Com.

Burnham lamented to Variety that he didn’t want the film to be rated R.

“I just wanted to portray the way kids’ lives are. It didn’t feel like our responsibility to portray the reality that we felt was appropriate for kids,” he told the trade magazine, adding that he would love if kids lived in a PG-13 world.

The film, which opened nationwide Friday, follows Kayla (Elsie Fisher) as she goes through eighth grade and navigates challenges including puberty, cliques and anxiety, and deals with the complexities of living it all on on social media.

Critics seem to love the film, which has earned a 98 percent fresh rating on the review aggregating service Rotten Tomatoes. The New Yorker said the movie offers “acute observations” on how social media has negatively impacted teens and Newsday called it “achingly honest.”

You can watch a trailer of the film below.

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Patch national reporter Dan Hampton contributed to this article.

Photo credit: Screenshot YouTube