Film Classification Guidelines

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit, co-regulatory body. They are funded through fees charged to those who submit films and video works for classification.

          

They classify:

• Films, trailers and advertisements on behalf of local authorities who license cinemas
• Video works under the Video Recordings Act 1984
• Video works which are distributed over the internet under a voluntary, self-regulatory service
• Commercial and internet content distributed via mobile networks under a voluntary, self-regulatory service

They follow extensive public consultation as well as other research, expert advice and their accumulated experience over many years. The Guidelines pay particular attention to changes in public taste, attitudes and concerns and changes in the law. They also take new evidence from research or expert sources into account. They are reviewed periodically and how they are applied is reviewed when necessary.


Guiding Principles are:

• To protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful or otherwise unsuitable media content
• To empower consumers, particularly parents and those with responsibility for children, to make informed viewing decisions 

U-Rating

• U = Universal
• A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over
• Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of
• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be infrequent and innocuous, or have a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children
•  Potentially dangerous or anti-social behaviour which young children may copy must be clearly disapproved of. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons
• Should have only infrequent use only of very mild bad language
• Should contain only occasional nudity, with no sexual context
• Should only have very mild sexual behaviour (e.g. kissing) and references to such behaviour
• Scary or potentially unsettling sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.
• Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic).
• Eg Monsters University, Despicable Me 1 and 2, The Lion King, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, The BFG, Alice In Wonderland 

PG- Rating

• PG= Parental Guidance
• For general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.
• It should not unsettle a child around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.
• Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of, or in an educational or historical context, or in a particularly dated work with no likely appeal to children. Discrimination by a character with whom children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.
• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.  
• No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy, if that behaviour is presented as safe or fun. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives. No focus on anti-social behaviour which young children are likely to copy.
• Mild bad language only. Aggressive or very frequent use of mild bad language may result in a work being passed at a higher category.
• There may be nudity with no sexual content.
• Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.
• Frightening sequences or situations where characters are in danger should not be prolonged or intense. However, this is more acceptable in fantasy settings.
• Violence will usually be mild. However there may be moderate violence, without detail, if justified by its content (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).  
• Eg Parent Trap, Home Alone, Hairspray, Leap Year, Ella Enchanted, Brave, Cars, Fantastic Mr. Fox

12A/12

• Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12.
• No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12  to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child.
• No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work
• Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
• Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or given instructional detail.
• No promotion of potentially dangerous behaviour which children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives. No endorsement of anti-social behaviour.
•  There may be moderate language. Strong language may be used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
• There may be nudity, but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet.
• Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate sex references are permitted, but frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.
• There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences. Although some scenes may be disturbing, the overall tone should not be. Horror sequences should not be frequent or sustained.
• There may be moderate violence but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context.
• Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and its depiction must be justified by context.
• Eg Meet the Parents, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Remember Me, One Day, The Holiday, The Proposal, The Woman In Black, Just Go With It 

15

• No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema.
•  No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video work.
• The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist,                                     homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.
• Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.
• There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
• There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational content. There may be nudity in a sexual content but usually without strong detail. 
• Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by content. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or simulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
• There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable. 
• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.
• There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.
• Eg The Hangover 1, 2 and 3, Bridesmaids, The Bling Ring, We're The Millers, Keith Lemon The Film, Ted, Paranormal Activity

18

• No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video work.
• Could show very strong violence. May be dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury, or scenes of strong sadistic or sexual violence. May contain very strong horror, gore or sustained threat.
• Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. 
• Has frequent use of strong language and/ or very strong language (no limit on the number of uses).
• It may show strong portrayals of sexual activity including nudity.
• It could contain scenes of sexual violence,strong horror and blood and gore.
• Could show real sex (in some circumstances) as long as it is not a sex work.
• May have discriminatory language and behaviour (may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language).
• Work could explore themes relating to discrimination.
• Eg My Best Friend's Girl, Bad Boys, Kill Bill, L.A. Confidential, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Sin City, Hangmen, Scary Movie

R18

• 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, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. R18 videos may not be supplied by mail order

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202014_2.pdf

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification