Certificate ratings provide guidelines for classifying films based on their content. Films are rated U, PG, 12A, 15, or 18 depending on the extent of bad language, sexual content, violence, horror and drug usage. A murder mystery film would likely receive a PG, 12A or 15 rating depending on how graphically any violent scenes are depicted. The ratings aim to help determine what age groups can view different types of content.

1. Certificate Ratings

2. Guidelines of certificate ratings
• As of 1998 certificate ratings have been issued
out to films which allows people to watch only
certain films as today’s film become more
violent and have more sexual activity they
would become ‘disturbing’ to a younger
audience and would find it hard to take it in as
a person as they would think it was real.

4. U (Universal) and Bad language
• This certificate rating is suitable for all ages
although you cannot tell what would upset
particular child.
• Only mild bad language is allowed e.g. damn
or hell, but on the odd occasion bad language
like bloody or bugger might be used

5. Sexual activity
• Characters may be seen kissing or hugging and
there might be references to sexual behavior,
however it banned in a U film of over focus on
sexual behavior, language and innuendo

6. Violence and horror
• There may be brief fight scenes however any
signs of emotional stress is quickly resolved
and the outcome of the film is reassured.
• Bad characters in the film are bound to carry a
weapon in the film. The hero is unlikely to be
carrying any sort of weapon. Potential
dangerous and imitable behavior will not be
present.

7. Drug usage
• Normally there are no references to any illegal
drugs or drug misuse in these types of films
however

9. PG (Parental Guidance) and bad
language
• This certificate is general viewing but some
scenes would probably be unsuitable for
children
• There might be mild language e.g. S@#t ,son
of a b#tch, but the context and delivery are
always important e.g. language used
aggressively or to much bad language

10. Sexual activity
• References to sex are acceptable if the activity
talked about or shown is lacking in detail.
• If children are unlikely to understand the
reference it will be licensed as a PG.

11. Violence and horror
• There should be no detail of violence in a PG
while there might be some blood we would
not see how injury would be inflicted.
• As far as horror would go in a PG there would
probably only be some jump moments or
scary scenes, but realistic violence or horror
will not be prolonged.

12. Drug usage
• There may be passing references on illegal
drugs or drug misuse although there should
be no strong focus on the matter. In addition
to drug references may be permissible if there
is an educational message understood by
children over the age of eight

14. 12A(Accompanied/Advisory) and
Language
• Films with this certificate rating are
recommended for children aged 12 or over
however children under required age must be
accompanied by an adult
• The BBFC’s state there might be language like
F***, but it has to be infrequent. Important
and aggressive uses of strong language may
make it a 15.

15. Sexual activity and Drug Usage
• Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly
appear in film, movie and video game
however verbal sex references must not go
beyond what is would be suitable for young
teenagers and crude sex references are
unlikely to be accepted.
• There may be infrequent sight drug misuse in
these films, but portrayal glamourized.

16. Violence and horror
• Moderate violence is acceptable but should
not dwell on detail and should be no emphasis
on injury or blood, but occasionally gory
moments may be permitted unless they can
be justified in their context
• Physical and pyscological horror are passed in
a horror for 12A so long they are not
disturbing frequent sequences

18. 15 and Issues in 15
• This certificate shows that the film
recommendation is for people over the age of
15 or over, nobody under the age of 15 can
buy or rent this movie.
• Issues seen in a 15 are strong violence, strong
language e.g. f***, sexual activity, nudity and
strong verbal reference

19. Horror and Drug Usage
• A 15 will contain a strong threat or menace
although the strongest gory images are
unlikely to be acceptable. As long as the
menace is sadistic or sexualized
• Drug usage will be shown so long as it doesn’t
promote or encourage misuse.
• The misuse of easily accessible or highly
dangerous substances will rated in an 18

21. 18 and issues in 18
• This certificate rating certifies that only adults
can see this film, anyone under the age of 18
cannot see the film in cinema or buy and rent
it
• The issues found in an 18 are very strong
violence, frequent strong language e.g. f***,
strong sexual activity and violence and strong
horror, gore and blood

22. Drug Usage
• Drug usage is the just about the same as a 15,
they will show drug misuse in 18’s so long as it
doesn’t promote or encourage it.

23. Ratings that are bound to be put on
murder mystery film
• The following genre may classed as a PG so
long it doesn’t show any serious violent
scenes, injury and blood
• It may be shown as 12 as the movie could
have brief violent scene being used, but if the
use of meaningful violent it would probably be
classed it as 15, but very rarely an 18.