Film Classifications

Classification U

- A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this lower end of the category range.

- At U, infrequent use of very mild bad language (e.g. ‘damn’ and ‘hell’) is allowed, but no more.

- Characters may be seen kissing or cuddling and there may be references to sexual behaviour. However, there will be no overt focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo.

- Violence will generally be very mild. A U film may include brief fight scenes or moments where characters are placed in danger. However, moments of emotional stress or threat will be quickly resolved and the outcome will be reassuring.

Classification PG

- A PG film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.

- Some films are given a PG certificate but have not been made with a young audience in mind.

- A PG film will not contain any theme which is inappropriate for a child. PG works can explore challenging issues such as bullying, bereavement or racism.

- There may be mild bad language (such as ‘shit’ or ‘son of a bitch’) in a PG film- Sex references are unlikely unless they are undetailed and infrequent- Violence will usually be mild. There should be no detail of violence in a PG work, so

while there might be some blood, we would not see how the injury was inflicted in strong detail

12A &12 classification

- The 12A requires an adult to accompany any child under 12 seeing a 12A film at the cinema. This is enforced by cinema staff and a cinema may lose its license if adult accompaniment is not enforced for children under 12 admitted to a 12A film. Accompanied viewing cannot be enforced in the home, so the 12 certificate remains for DVD/Blu-ray, rather than the 12A. The 12 is also a simpler system for retailers. It means they cannot sell or rent the item unless the customer is over the age of 12.

- The BBFC's Guidelines state that strong language (e.g. 'f***') may be passed at 12 or 12A, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency and any special contextual justification.

- Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12A or 12. Verbal sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers.

- At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be justified by their context

15 classification

- No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated video.- strong violence, frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***’), portrayals of sexual activity,strong verbal references to sex, sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbalreferences to sexual violence,discriminatory language or behaviour and drug taking may been seen in a 15 film.- There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language, and the work could

explore themes relating to this. However, at 15 the work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

- At 15 sexual activity can be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. Some sex scenes can be quite long at this category.

- At 15 violence may be strong. It should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury, however, and the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

- At 15 drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse

18 classification

- Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy / rent an 18 rated video.

- very strong violence, frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and / or very strong language (e.g. ‘c***’) strong portrayals of sexual activity, scenes of sexual violence

strong horror, strong blood and gore, real sex (in some circumstances), discriminatory language and behaviour.- There is no limit on the number of uses of strong (e.g. 'f***') or even very strong

language (e.g. ‘c***’) which can be passed at 18.- There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language at 18, and the

work could explore themes relating to discrimination.- There can be strong and detailed portrayals of sex at 18, including full nudity.

There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.- at 18 violence can be strong and be portrayed with strong detail. There may even

be dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury, or scenes of strong sadistic or sexual violence.

R18 classification

- The R18 category is a special and legally-restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.

- Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas.- R18 titles are filtered out from the main public search as they can have

explicit and/or offensive titles.