The document compares the film rating systems used in the United States and United Kingdom. In the US, films are rated on a scale of General Audience, Parental Guidance Suggested, Parents Strongly Cautioned, Restricted, and No one 17 and Under Admitted. In the UK, films are rated on a scale of Universal, Parental Guidance, 12A, 15, and 18. The ratings provide guidance to parents on the age-appropriateness of content that may be unsuitable for children, such as violence, sexual content, drug use, and discriminatory language.

1. AMERICA Vs UK:
THE FI LM RATING SYSTEM
BBFC: British Board of Film Classification
MPAA: Motion Picture Association of America

2. AMERICA
General Audience: Nothing
that would offend parents for
viewing by children.
UK
Universal (U): 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.

3. AMERICA
Parental Guidance Suggested:
Parents urged to give ‘parental
guidance’. May contain some
material parents might not like
for their young children.
UK
Parental Guidance (PG): This means a
film is suitable for general viewing,
but some scenes may be unsuitable
for young children. Parents should
consider whether the content may
upset younger, or more sensitive,
children.
•

4. AMERICA
Parents Strongly Cautioned:
Parents are urged to be
cautious. Some material may
be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.
UK
12 A: Adults planning to take a
child under 12 to view a 12A film
should consider whether the film
is suitable for that child. The 12A
requires an adult to accompany
any child under 12 seeing a 12A
film at the cinema.

5. AMERICA
Restricted: Contains some
adult material. Parents are
urged to learn more about
the film before taking their
young children with them.
UK
15: In a 15 rated film someone might
see strong violence, frequent strong
violence, portrayals of sexual activity,
sexual nudity and drug taking etc. So
parents should be aware of what film
their child is watching before.

6. AMERICA
No one 17 and Under
Admitted: Clearly adult.
Children are not admitted.
UK
18: No-one under 18 is allowed
to see an 18 film at the cinema.
No 18 rated works are suitable
for children. There may be
racist, homophobic or other
discriminatory language at 18.

7. AMERICA
No one 17 and Under
Admitted: Clearly adult.
Children are not admitted.
UK
18: No-one under 18 is allowed
to see an 18 film at the cinema.
No 18 rated works are suitable
for children. There may be
racist, homophobic or other
discriminatory language at 18.