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
We fulfil these roles by providing age
classifications and publishing advice
(known as BBFCinsight) for individual films
and videos. We do this without infringing
the right of adults to choose what they view
provided that it remains within the law and is
not potentially harmful. We seek to ensure that
films and videos reach the widest audience that
is appropriate for their theme and treatment.
Media effects research and expert opinion
on issues of suitability and harm can be
inconclusive or contradictory. In such cases we
must rely on our own experience and expertise
to make a judgement as to the suitability of
a work for classification at a particular age
category, taking into consideration whether the
availability of the material, to the age group
concerned, is clearly unacceptable to broad
public opinion. Our extensive research into
public opinion guides us as we seek to ensure
that classification decisions generally reflect
public sensibilities and expectations as these
In relation to harm, we will consider
whether the material, either on its own, or in
combination with other content of a similar
nature, may cause any harm at the category
concerned. This includes not just any harm
that may result from the behaviour of potential
viewers, but also any moral harm that may
be caused by, for example, desensitising a
potential viewer to the effects of violence,
degrading a potential viewer’s sense of
empathy, encouraging a dehumanised view
of others, suppressing pro-social attitudes,
encouraging anti-social attitudes, reinforcing
unhealthy fantasies, or eroding a sense of
moral responsibility. Especially with regard
to children, harm may also include retarding
social and moral development, distorting
a viewer’s sense of right and wrong, and
limiting their capacity for compassion.
We will not classify material which is in
conflict with the criminal law, or has been
created through the commission of a criminal offence.
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
- 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
- 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
The photos used are sourced from google images
The infortmation is sourced from bbfc.co.uk
