The British Film Board of Classification controls and decides on the age rating on films before they are released. This ensures the highest level of protection and empowerment in order to protect children from unsuitable or stressing contents in films. The ratings allow people to receive information they may need to know about a film before they view it. The BBFC look at matters within films such as discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous behaviour, sex, nudity, language, and violence when making decisions on what the rating for a film should be.
There are 5 ratings overall:
1.
This U symbol stands for Universal, meaning that it's suitable for all audiences aged 4 and over (they give films for audiences under 4 special BBFC insight stating they are ‘particularly suitable for pre-school children’).
The only bad language allowed to be used within a U rated film will be mild words such as 'damn' and 'hell', which is used infrequently and violence will also be very mild. The only sexual behaviour permitted to be shown would be kissing and hugging.
2.
The only bad language allowed to be used within a U rated film will be mild words such as 'damn' and 'hell', which is used infrequently and violence will also be very mild. The only sexual behaviour permitted to be shown would be kissing and hugging.
2.
PG stands for Parental Guidance, which means that any age from 8 to 11 can watch it, however if they are under the age of 8, it's recommended that they must have a parent or adult present with them whilst they watch it. These films are mainly suitable for general viewing however, it's down to the parents to consider whether it's suitable for their children or not as there may be scenes of fairly mild violence however, it's unlikely that there will be sexual references, drug references. There may however be mild swear words used such as "crap" or innuendos.
3.
Films classified 12A contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. It's not recommended that someone 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. A 12 rated film means that anyone above the age of 12 can watch that film unaccompanied by an adult.
12 rated films may include:
> Brief sexual behaviour
> Strong language
> Moderate violence
> Brief nudity
> Moderate physical and psychological threats in horror/thriller films
> Some dangerous behaviour
> Infrequent sight of drugs
4.
This rating simply means that no-one under the age of 15 is allowed to watch a 15 rated film in the cinema. This is because a 15 rated film can contain the following:
> 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 verbal references to sexual violence
> Discriminatory language or behaviour
> Drug taking
Sexual activity can be portrayed in a 15, but usually it's without strong detail.
Strong violence can also be shown however, the shots must not dwell too long on injury and gory images are likely to be unacceptable.
5.
An 18 rated film means that it is for adults to watch in cinemas only. No 18 rated film is at all suitable for children to watch. Issues shown in 18 films are similar to those shown in 15's however they are more detailed and dwelled upon, such as:
> Real sex (in some circumstances)
> Strong horror, blood and gore
> Very strong language and violence
At 18 drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse.
References to: www.bbfc.co.uk
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