Film certificates and how they are decided and why they exist.

1. Films and certificates
Focusing on the age ratings and
certificates of movies and how and why
these are given, with examples.
By Salma Hussain.

2. How is the certificate of a film decided
Film certificates are decided by The British Board Of Film
Classification. Certificates are used to protect children from any
harmful content that may be in movies and not appropriate for their
age. All films in the UK need a rating by law.
The levels of these factors are used to decide on the certificate of a
film:
•Sex
•Nudity
•Violence
•Discrimination
•Language
•Drugs
•Behaviour

3. Case study: Woman in Black
• Sex/nudity – 0/10
• Violence and gore - 6/10
• Profanity - 3/10
• Alcohol/drugs/smoking – 3/10
• Frightening/intense scenes – 10/10
• Overall = 22/50
• The horror movie, woman in black age certificate is 12, which is suitable
for those of the age 12 and older. There were many disagreements of this
certificate given arguing it should be rated a 12A or 15. Some of these
factors, such as frightening/intense scenes are rated 10/10 which is one of
the reasons as to why this movie was said to be rated at a higher age,
however as a horror movie, this is needed. But, there are no images of
sex/nudity and very little bad language.

4. Research
• Who decides what film certificate is given?
The British Board of Film Classification.
• How do they decide?
Levels of sex, nudity, violence, discrimination,
language, drugs and behaviour.

5. Research
• How do institutions go about getting their films
classified?
Films need to follow the British Board of Film
Classification rules as if they break any of these,
this is against the law.
Films have their target audience set and orientate
the factors around their movie.
-E.G – Wanting your target audience to be 12 year
olds, follow the factors of films being a 12. So
they will have to be careful and mostly have
subtle use of the factors.

6. Research
• What does each film certificate mean?
•Over 4 years
•No factors of sex, violence and nudity as this creates a negative impact.
•Parental guidance, general viewing
•No extreme factors, most without violence and sex
•12A – needs to be accompanied by an adult
•Mild violence, threat, sex
•Usually discrete and fast
•Suitable for those of age 15 and older
•Moderate/strong presence of factors, quite a lot of swearing
•Don’t dwell on detail
•Very strong presence of all factors
•All factors are accepted, not allowed pornography or breaking of the law
•Strictly restricted 18 and older only
•Only available at licensed cinemas

7. The Conjuring
Total explicit content estimation:
22/50
Even though this film has the
same explicit content as Woman
in Black which is rated a 12, The
Conjuring is rated a 15 due to the
increased level of factors of
profanity and sex/nudity, which
is not accepted for 12 year olds.