History Film / EightMile

* BigBad: Papa Doc.

* TooMuchInformation: Rabbit's mom tells him things he doesn't want ro know, such as that he boyfriend won't go down on her.

* AdultFear: Papa Doc goes for his gun with intent to shoot Rabbit and/or his friends on several occasions throughout the movie, [[spoiler: including holding his gun right up to Rabbit's head to make the threat implicit after he and the rest of the Free World viciously beat him up outside his mother's trailer, with his little sister watching on. If Wink hadn't stopped him, he might very well have gone through with it.]]

* CentralTheme: Firstly, that you can succeed as long as [[GuileHero you're smart about it]] and [[TheDeterminator you're willing to give it your all even in the face of overwhelming odds]]. Secondly, that class is just as much an issue as race[[note]]Jimmy might be white, but he's white ''trash'', and as poor as the black folk he lives with, which contrasts Pappa Doc being a wealthy black man who just pretends to be a cool tough gangster[[/note]].

One of the film's main claims to fame is that "Lose Yourself", a famous song of Eminem's that he recorded for the soundtrack, is the first hip-hop song to receive an Oscar for Best Original Song.

The film got a lot of fanfare, receiving positive reviews from critics (with the main note being [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct Eminem's impressive acting skills]]) and being a financial success. One of its main claims to fame is that "Lose Yourself" is the first hip hop song to receive an Oscar for Best Original Song. Beating out Music/{{U2}}'s "[[Film/GangsOfNewYork The Hands That Built America]]," no less. Indeed, quite a victory. It also has a whole ton of black Rapper cameos.

-->-- '''Opening words in "Lose Yourself"'''

* AutobiographicalRole: This movie basically tells Eminem's life story... [[ForWantOfANail if he never got a record deal]]. ''WebVideo/HonestTrailers'' even calls it ''Eminem: The Movie''!

* TheNineties: The film is set in 1995. Moreover, Rap artists such as Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Biggie Smalls, and several others are heard playing throughout the film.

* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: [[spoiler: During the final rap battle, Alex can be seen far off in the room applauding and cheering for Jimmy.]]

* DirtyCoward: Wink and the rest of the Free World crew, who gang up to jump Jimmy rather than fight him 1-on-1 each, especially Papa Doc, who even pulls out a gun whenever a physical altercation breaks loose.

* TokenMinority: Jimmy himself, being basically the only white in an area full of black guys, and ''definitely'' the only white ''rapper''. Cheddar serves as this among his friends, being the only other white guy around.

* {{Cuckold}}: Jimmy Smith (Music/{{Eminem}}) walks in on his LoveInterest (portrayed by the late Creator/BrittanyMurphy), having sex with Wink, one of his friends. After Jimmy beats him up, Wink makes a FaceHeelTurn and joins the Leaders of the Free World, who later go on to beat up Jimmy. During the rap battle at the finale, the fact that he was cuckolded is used to attempt to humiliate Jimmy. Jimmy comes out on top, anyway.

-->'''Jimmy''': [[spoiler: [[WorldOfCardboardSpeech I'm a piece of fucking white trash, I say it proudly.]] But I don't wanna win this battle; I'm outie. Here, tell these people something they don't know about me.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Jimmy's initial reaction when he realized Lily was watching when he was fighting with their mom's boyfriend. It's definetly one of Jimmy's more heartwarming characterists.

* YouWouldMakeAGreatModel: Wink's MO seems to be a non-sexual version of this, as he uses the fact he has some unspecified role in a recording studio/radio station to get people to give him attention and respect. Future calls him out on it, but Jimmy buys it for some time and the Leaders of the Free World seem to let him hang out with them despite him being a nobody. It graduates to a typical version of this with Alex, as he tells her he can get her a photographer for her modelling, and next we see is the two having sex, in what's clearly a case of this.

* TheNineties: The film is set in 1995.

* LoserProtagonist: Jimmy starts the film still living at home in a trailer with his mother, has a dead-end job at a plant, has no girlfriend and is humiliating after choking during a rap battle.

* YourCheatingHeart: Alex.

''8 Mile'' is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film, directed by Creator/CurtisHanson and starring Music/{{Eminem}}, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/BrittanyMurphy, and Mekhi Phifer.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Jimmy's initial reaction when he realized Lily was watching when he was fighting with their mom's boyfriend.

** A more heartwarming example when Jimmy sees his fight with Greg was witnessed by a frightened Lily.

** A more heartwarming example when Jimmy sees his fight with Greg was wtnessed by a frightened Lily. He immediately from angry to worried.