Friday Flicks: ‘Skyscraper’, ‘Eighth Grade’, ‘Siberia’

Happy Friday the 13th, folks! Don’t go walking under any ladders or smashing those mirrors, or else you’ll be in for double the bad luck. Maybe just enjoy a Friday the 13th movie marathon instead? Far more enjoyable and no bad consequences (aside from the serious cringe you’ll most definitely experience when you watch some of the later instalments in the franchise). Elsewhere in the industry, as you’ll be well aware, yesterday the Emmy nominations were announced with some unsurprisingly predictable outcomes, including Westworld, Game of Thrones, and The Handmaid’s Tale dominating many of the categories. That said, there are some cheeky nods worth celebrating, including Issa Rae bagging her first nomination for her role in Insecure, Donald Glover in the running for Outstanding Comedy Series and Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Atlanta, and Netflix toppling HBO in the ranks for the first time ever. Long live the streamers! But enough about the TV landscape for now. It’s time to turn your attention to better things as we look at all the great indie cinema hitting the big screen this weekend. FD’s got you covered with our picks of the best movies to catch at the theater. Revisit your youth with Eighth Grade; join Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on another ridiculous adventure in Skyscraper; and get caught up in a bizarre romance / dodgy diamond deal in Siberia.

Eighth Grade (A24)

Bo Burnham’s debut feature follows a painfully relatable week in the life of 13-year-old Kayla Day, played by Elsie Fisher, as she navigates the final days of middle school with a camera in hand and a feed full of curated confidence. The 2018 limited and wide theatrical release by A24 introduced audiences to a sharp, low-budget snapshot of adolescence that still lands with precision. Critical scores remain sky-high, with a 99 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85 on Metacritic, while the film grossed $13.5 million domestically on a $2 million budget and ranked as one of the strongest indie performers of that summer.

Legacy and Critical Recognition

Year-end lists cemented the film’s place among the best of 2018, with both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute placing it on their top ten selections. Burnham picked up Writers Guild and Directors Guild honors for his script and direction, while the film’s blend of humor and discomfort earned it a spot in the permanent conversation about modern coming-of-age stories. Those accolades helped turn a modest release into an enduring reference point for how indie films can capture the texture of everyday teen life without exaggeration.

Cast Career Updates

Elsie Fisher has stayed in the game since the breakout turn, landing a recurring role in season five of The Bear slated for 2026. Additional credits include the upcoming features Tow and Sparks, plus voice work in the 2024 animated title Boys Go to Jupiter. The trajectory shows a young performer building range across television, indie features, and animation while carrying the same grounded presence that made the original performance feel lived-in rather than performed.

Availability and Home Viewing

Physical editions on DVD and Blu-ray arrived later in 2018 with behind-the-scenes material and commentary tracks. A24 continues to keep the title in active circulation through its catalog, with periodic repertory screenings and streaming availability that keeps the film accessible to new viewers long after the initial theatrical run closed.

Cultural Impact and Influence

The movie’s clear-eyed look at social media pressure and middle-school anxiety has kept it relevant in ongoing discussions about how teens navigate identity online. It frequently appears in roundups of essential coming-of-age titles and set a benchmark for per-screen averages that other modest releases still chase. The honesty of its approach continues to influence how later films and series frame the same awkward stretch of life without softening the edges.