This document discusses BBFC film ratings and the criteria for different ratings in the UK and US. It provides examples of rating trailers for films like ParaNorman, Frozen, Gravity, and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. The ratings include U, PG, 12/12A, and 15. Criteria covered include violence, language, sex, drugs, discrimination, and more. Real trailers are then rated, such as Lego Movie, Boxtrolls, and If I Stay, based on the issues in each trailer.

1. Assignment 7:
BBFC & Ratings
Judy Ibelgauptiene
Courtney Buabeng
Kelly Morales

2. RATING TRAILERS

3. Rating ParaNorman
As a group we identified the following issues within ParaNorman.
However we didn’t mention there being an issue of threat.
We rated ParaNorman a PG. As the issues we were found were mild.
Violence is shown as one of the zombies gets hit in the face by a door.
Theme of zombies are present. Also a light representation of pornography is seen.
This is what BBFC said about it.

4. Rating Frozen
As a group we didn’t identified any issues within Frozen.
However the BBFC Examiner identified the following.
The issue of violence is seen as the snowman and reindeer are seen fighting over a carrot. The
snowman is seen catapulting his head across the frozen lake and losing his head and nose throughout.
However we still awarded Frozen with a U rating.
This is what the BBFC said about it.

5. Rating Gravity
I watched the trailer for Gravity and then had to rate it either U, PG, 12A or 15. I rated it a 12A and
identified some issues within it making it a 12A. I identified the following issues.
Whereas the issues it really had were.
All the issues the BBFC Examiners found I had also found.
Threats and violence were seen as it showed a spaceship being destroyed and astronauts being lost and
injured.
The theme itself may be quite distorting for a younger audience.

6. Rating Mandela Long Walk To
Freedom
• After watching the trailer of ‘Mandela Long Walk To Freedom’, I then had to
rate the contents of film with U, 12, 12A or 15.
• I rated the film as a 12A due to the scenes of violence, weapons and
discrimination. I believed that this film would not be a PG as these scenes
were quite unsettling.
• The issues in which I noticed altogether were:
• Weapons, threat, discrimination, themes, dangerous behaviour and violence.
• All the issues the BBFC Examiners had found, I had also found. However, they
had rated this film PG.
• Violence is shown at the time of the explosion.
• Discrimination is shown where the white men stop the black people from
entering through the gate.
• Weapons are shown through the white man holding a gun.

7. Rating 12 Years A Slave

8. BBFC RATINGS

9. U
Universal means the film/trailer has been rated to suit all.
However films rated U should have a positive framework and should
counterbalance to any violence, threat or horror aspects.
U film requirements:
• Discrimination – no discriminatory language or behaviour to be used unless
clearly disapproved of within the film/trailer.
• Drugs – No reference to drugs or misuse of them unless this is infrequently,
or clearly educational or anti-drug messages suitable for young children.
• Horror – Scary sequences should be mild and brief. The outcome should be
reassuring.
• Imitable behaviour – No dangerous behaviour to be shown which young
children are likely to copy.
• Language – Infrequent use of very mild bad language may be used.
• Nudity – Occasional natural nudity with no sexual context may be shown.
• Sex – Mild sexual behaviour such as kissing may be shown, and references
to it.
• Theme – Problematic themes may be present but their treatment must be
appropriate for young children.
• Violence – Mild violence/threats only.

10. PG

11. 12/12A
• The ‘12’ rating is for video works only. For example, a person younger than the age of 12
will not be able to rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video.
• With regards to the ‘12A’, it exists only for watching films in the cinema. A person
younger than the age of 12 can be able to see a ‘12A’ rated film, unless taken by an adult.
And that adult may only take the person if they the adult finds the film suitable for the
certain child, if not, it will be their responsibility.
‘12/12A’ film requirements:
• Discrimination – Discriminatory language or behaviour may be used but not in endorsed
as a whole.
• Drugs – Drugs can be shown but must infrequent and not showed in a good manner as to
promote.
• Horror - Psychological/ physical threats must be moderate and disturbing scenes should
not be throughout and shown frequently.
• Imitable behaviour – Concerning behaviour, dangerous behaviour such as, hanging and
self harm, should not show detail which could easily be copied. Also, it shouldn’t show
such actions as painless. In addition, weapons should not be shown in a positive manner.
• Language - Strong language can be allowed moderately. But, extreme strong language
must be mention only a few times if not once.
• Nudity – Nudity is allowed. However, sexual content must be brief and not explicit.
• Sex – Sexual content may be shown but discreet and very brief. Sex references should not
be too explicit and crude references is unacceptable.
• Themes – Mature themes are deemed acceptable. However their treatment must be
appropriate for young teens.
• Violence – Violence is allowed moderately but not to focus onto too much detail. No
emphasis on injuries or blood are allowed, but gory moments occasionally may be
allowed for understanding. Sexual violence can only be briefly and discreetly implied.
Depending on context.

12. American Ratings
In America there are two types of trailer ratings:
• Green band which means the trailer is appropriate for all audiences as it meets the standards for
motion picture advertising, which includes a limitation on foul language and violence, sexual or
objectionable imagery.
• Red band which means the trailer is appropriate for mature audiences as it may include nudity,
profanity or other materials deemed inappropriate for children.
However in the UK trailers are rated appropriate for both children and adults as trailers are accessible
by everyone. However even though Red band trailers may be only for mature audiences this doesn’t
stop them from being available online to a global audience. Some of the things within a red band may
be unsuitable for other audiences around the world in that age group as they haven't been exposed to
those sort of things as their rating system may be different.

13. RATING REAL TRAILERS

14. Lego Movie - U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ_JOBCLF-I
I would rate the film Lego Movie a U because the issues seen are very mild and minimal.
The only issue seen is violence, and possibly imitable behaviour.
The violence seen within this scene is the explosion.
Violence is seen in this scene when Batman throws his batarang’s at the guard,
this may also be seen as imitable behavior to throw weapons at others.

15. The Boxtrolls - PG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dFVnp5K0o
I would rate the film Boxtrolls a PG because some of the issues aren’t suitable for very young children.
Some scenes may be frightening for younger children.
Some violence is seen, such as a little boy ripping up his teddy.
Imitable behavior such as being
electrocuted is shown.
This may be shown as inappropriate
way to act to strangers which younger
children wouldn’t understand.

16. If I Stay – 12A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzg4KanBupc
I would rate the film If I Stay a 12 due to some of the issues being more server than a U or PG.
The overall theme of death may
be unsuitable for young children.
Some blood and dead bodies are
shown.
There is brief nudity seen and
sexual activity implied.
Alcohol is used as they are
seen at a party. This isn’t
suitable for young children.
Within the trailer there are several
kissing/making out scenes which some
children may be uncomfortable with.

17. PARENTAL GUIDANCE - U
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9nmIzCAMJQ
• My rating for ‘Parental Guidance’ would be a U as the issues
seen are mild violence and threats and probable imitable
behaviour.
• Potential imitable behaviour and mild violence is shown when
the kids are pulling for their mother to stay with them.
• Threatening is shown when the Grandma makes threats at her
granddaughters music teacher.

18. ENCHANTED - PG
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VzckcesYKs
• I would rate this film ‘PG’ because of issues which may be
disturbing for very young children.
• Some scenes/images may startle and upset young children.
• Weapons are shown with violence toward another person.
This may possibly be imitable behaviour for young children.

19. ALL GOOD THINGS- 12
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuEFm84s4oI
• Moderate violence is shown when the man throws a chair at the
bookshelf in anger.
• The brief appearance of alcohol isn’t appropriate for young children.
• Nudity is shown briefly in a dark scene which implies sexual activity.
• The action of kissing is shown quite frequently and would not be suitable
for young children.
• In one scene, the act of preparing a cigarette is shown which will not be
appropriate for a young child.