This document summarizes the different age rating symbols used in the UK for films. It explains that a U rating means films are suitable for all ages 4 and over, while PG means parental guidance is advised for children under 8. A 12A rating means children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and 12 and 15 ratings mean no one younger than the stated age can view the film unaccompanied. An 18 rating and R18 rating restrict films to adults only, with R18 films only allowed in licensed venues due to explicit content.

1. AGE GROUPS
I will be talking about the age
groups of within the filming
company.

2. • What does U mean?
• The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years
and over. However, it is without a solution to predict what might upset a particular
child, especially at this lower end of the category range
• A U film may include brief fight scenes or moments where characters are placed in danger.
However, moments of emotional stress or threat will be quickly resolved and the outcome will
be supportive.
• There may be brief scary scenes and moments where the characters are placed in danger. As
with violence, however, these scenes will be balanced by reassuring elements, such as comic
interludes or music.
• ‘Baddie’ characters may carry or use weapons, but there will be no emphasis on these. Child or
‘hero’ characters are unlikely to use any kind of weapon outside, for example, historical settings.
• Potentially dangerous or imitable behaviour, particularly those which come across as safe or
fun, will not be present.
Universal

3. • What does PG mean?
• PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a 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. Parents should consider whether the content might upset
younger or more sensitive children.
• There should be no detail of violence in a PG work, so while there might be some blood, we
would not see how the injury was inflicted in strong detail. Violence is generally more
acceptable in a historical or fantasy setting, because of the distancing that this provides. It
isn’t uncommon for PG films to feature ‘roller-coaster’ action or set pieces, where the
emphasis is clearly on the adventure or journey of the main characters rather than the
detail of violence or fighting.
• As far as horror goes, we allow some 'jump' moments and scary scenes, but sequences
showing significant or realistic violence, horror or threat must not be prolonged.
Parental Guidance

4. • What does the 12A symbol mean?
• 12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film unaccompanied. The A stands for
'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied
by an adult (e.g. someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them.
• At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no
emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be
justified by their context (for example brief sight of bloody injury in a medical drama).
• Action sequences and weapons may be present at 12 or 12A, and there may be long fight scenes
or similar. Weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds should not be glamorised in
12A and 12 works.
• Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly
indicated at 12A. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.
12 or over

5. • What does the 12 symbol mean?
• 12 means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film unaccompanied. The A stands for
'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied
by an adult (e.g. someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them.
• At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no
emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be
justified by their context (for example brief sight of bloody injury in a medical drama).
• Action sequences and weapons may be present at 12 or 12A, and there may be long fight scenes
or similar. Weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds should not be glamorised in
12A and 12 works.
• Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly
indicated at 12A. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.
12 and over

6. 15 and over
• What does the 15 symbol mean?
• No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a ‘15’ rated DVD. 15
rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age.
• Yes, at 15 violence may be strong. It should not dwell on the infliction of pain or
injury, however, and the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.
• Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.
• Easily accessible weapons may not be glamorised.
• There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence (for example descriptions of
rape or sexual assault in a courtroom scene or in victim testimony) but any portrayal of
sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

7. • What does the 18 symbol mean?
• Films rated 18 are for adults. 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.
• 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.
• Very strong, crude and explicit sex references are permitted at 18.
• 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.
• There is no limit on the number of uses of strong (eg 'f***') or even very strong language (eg
‘c***’) which can be passed at 18. Uses could be aggressive, directed, frequent or accompanied
by strong violence.
18 and over

8. RESTRICTED
18
• What does R18 mean?
• 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.
• R18 works are sex works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation and which
are only allowed to be shown in specially licensed cinemas, or sold in licensed sex shops.
They can only be seen by or sold to adults.

9. zWorld war
The genre signifiers
are saying it is action
and horror because
people will know the z
in the title means
zombies and that is
how people will know
this is a zombie film.
The other sighs that
people will know this
is a action + disaster
movie is that the
building are on fire
The image is showing
this people are going
to fight something you
can tell that the men
on the helicopter are
holding weapons and
multiple helicopters in
the background.
This film is located in
multiple countries
people will know this
because of the title.
The secondary image allows the
audience to identify the
disturbance of the Equilibrium
This film will probably start in the
USA this because brad pits is
looking down to his country and
that is showing that the film will
probably be about him going to
other countries
People will see this
poster on bill boards
or on the side of a bus
or on the train when
passing by.
The age group for this
film is 15+