Eminem starred in the 1998 film 8 Mile as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith, a fictionalized Detroit rapper.
Directed by Curtis Hanson, the film follows an aspiring artist working through personal and economic obstacles while trying to establish himself in Detroit’s battle-rap scene. Although the story draws on aspects of Eminem’s background, Jimmy Smith is a fictional character.
The film’s soundtrack produced “Lose Yourself,” which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Eminem became the first hip-hop artist to win that Oscar, although he did not attend the ceremony.
8 Mile is often confused with Get Rich or Die Tryin’, a 2005 film loosely based on 50 Cent’s life. The two films both center on rappers, but 8 Mile is Eminem’s acting breakthrough and is set around Detroit battle rap.