MovieLab
Common Metadata

BBFC

Version 1

URI: http://www.movielabs.com/md/ratings/GB/BBFC/1
Last verified: 2013-09-28

Organization:

  • Name: British Board of Film Classification
  • Type of Organization: other
  • Contact information not available
  • Web Site: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

Scope:

This rating system has been adopted in the following regions:

UNITED KINGDOM

This rating system is applicable to the following types of distribution media:

  • Film
  • DVD
  • Game
when viewed in the following environments:
  • Home
  • Theater
  • Broadcast
  • Retail
  • App
  • other


Ratings:

XML formatted file

U : Universal

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 4
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): N.A.
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): N.A.

Attributes

HAC Usage: Y
HAC Ordinal: 1

Definition

U : Universal

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.

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Theme While problematic themes may be present, their treatment must be sensitive and appropriate for young children.
Behaviour No potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons.
Horror Scary sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.
Nudity Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.
Discrimination No discriminatory language or behaviour unless clearly disapproved of.
Language Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.
Violence Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or menace only.
Drugs No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.
Sex Mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references only (for example, to ‘making love’).

Explanation

Not provided

PG : Parental Guidance

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 8
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): N.A.
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): N.A.

Attributes

HAC Usage: Y
HAC Ordinal: 3

Definition

PG : Parental Guidance

Film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older.

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Theme Where more serious issues are featured (for example, domestic violence) nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour.
Behaviour No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons.
Horror Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.
Nudity Natural nudity, with no sexual context.
Discrimination Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.
Language Mild bad language only.
Violence Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its context (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).
Drugs References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.
Sex Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.

Explanation

Parents should consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive children. Some films are given a PG certificate but have not been made with a young audience in mind. However, the certificate means that any issues in the work are appropriate for the majority of this age group and nothing should upset a child of eight or over.

12A : Accompanied under 12

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 12
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): N.A.
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): 12

Attributes

HAC Usage: N
HAC Ordinal: 6

Scope

This rating is applicable to the following types of distribution media:
  • Film
when viewed in the following environments:
  • Theater

Definition

12A : Accompanied under 12

Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied by an adult (eg someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them.

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Explanation

Not provided

12 : 12 and Older

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 12
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): N.A.
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): 12

Attributes

HAC Usage: Y
HAC Ordinal: 6

Scope

This rating is applicable all types of distribution media when viewed in the following environments:
  • Home
  • Broadcast
  • Retail
  • App
  • other

Definition

12 : 12 and Older

Suitable for 12 years and over

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Explanation

The 12 certificate is just for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays. 12A is for films at the cinema only.

15 : 15 and Older

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 15
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): 15
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): 15

Attributes

HAC Usage: Y
HAC Ordinal: 9

Definition

15 : 15 and Older

15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age. No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Explanation

Not provided

18 : 18 and Older

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 18
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): 18
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): 18

Attributes

HAC Usage: Y
HAC Ordinal: 80

Definition

18 : 18 and Older

No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for children.

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Explanation

No theme is prohibited at 18. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible some themes tackled at 18 may be offensive even to some adult viewers. 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. An 18 film or DVD might also contain depictions of real sex if it is justified by context, as long as the film or DVD is not a sex work. Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed 18. Those containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the R18 category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at R18 is also unacceptable in a sex work at 18.

R18 : RESTRICTED 18 and Older

Age Restrictions

Min Recommend Age: 18
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): 18
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): 18

Attributes

HAC Usage: Y
HAC Ordinal: 90

Definition

R18 : RESTRICTED 18 and Older

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.

Reasons and Content Descriptors

Explanation

Not provided

Reasons and Content Descriptors:

U: No discriminatory language or behaviour unless clearly disapproved of.

Not provided

PG: Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.

Not provided

U: No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.

Not provided

PG: References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.

Not provided

U: Scary sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.

Not provided

PG: Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.

Not provided

U: No potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons.

Not provided

PG: No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons.

Not provided

U: Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.

Not provided

PG: Mild bad language only.

Not provided

U: Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Not provided

PG: Natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Not provided

Sex

U: Mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references only (for example, to ‘making love’).

Not provided

PG: Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.

Not provided

U: While problematic themes may be present, their treatment must be sensitive and appropriate for young children.

Not provided

PG: Where more serious issues are featured (for example, domestic violence) nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour.

Not provided

U: Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or menace only.

Not provided

PG: Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its context (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).

Not provided

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