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8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger. The film is an account of a young white rapper named Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) growing up in a poor area of 1995 Detroit, Michigan as he struggles for respect among his (mostly African-American) peers. Contrary to popular belief, the film does not detail Eminem's life growing up in Detroit, but instead, the average life of a rapper in Detroit, as stated by Eminem in interviews about the film. Despite this, the film... MORE

8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger. The film is an account of a young white rapper named Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) growing up in a poor area of 1995 Detroit, Michigan as he struggles for respect among his (mostly African-American) peers. Contrary to popular belief, the film does not detail Eminem's life growing up in Detroit, but instead, the average life of a rapper in Detroit, as stated by Eminem in interviews about the film. Despite this, the film is considered to be semi-autobiographical. The film was a critical and financial success. Eminem won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself". The film begins with protagonist Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith, Jr. (Eminem) at a local rap battle emceed by Smith's friend David "Future" Porter (Mekhi Phifer). A nervous Rabbit chokes at the mic and exits the competition. Jimmy, a young and unhappy blue collar worker, is struggling with different aspects of his life. He has moved back north of 8 Mile to the rundown trailer home in Warren of his alcoholic mother Stephanie (Kim Basinger), his LESS