Joe Martyn
 The 12 category is awarded to films that are
suitable, in general, for those aged 12 and
over.
 For 12A rated movies, an adult may take a
younger child if, in their judgement, the film
is suitable for that particular child. In such
circumstances, responsibility for allowing a
child under 12 to view the film lies with the
accompanying adult.
 Films under this category can contain mature
themes, discrimination, soft drugs,
infrequent strong language, very strong
language (introduced in 2015) and moderate
violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual
activity may be briefly and discreetly
portrayed. Sexual violence may be implied or
briefly indicated.
 12A ratings only apply to films in cinemas.A
12 rating is used for the DVD release and
online streaming.
 The film contains scenes of moderate
violence and threat, including a
striking sequence in which a mass of
crocodiles attack humans, with the
result that the river Nile turns red with
blood. Although the sequence in
question is fairly bloody, there is little
sight of wounds, and the historical
setting provided mitigation for the
kind of occasional gory moments
permissible at 12A.
 This film features only moderate violence with no focus on blood or
injury detail. Furthermore, unlike the preceding two instalments,
there is no ‘hunger games’ competition, in which contestants are
pitted against one another to the death. Instead, there is a focus on
more generalised scenes of revolution, in which the people fight
back against an oppressive government.The BBFC classified the
film 12A without cuts.
 The work as a whole must not endorse
discriminatory language or behaviour.
 Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole
must not promote or encourage drug misuse.
Promotion of drugs which are easy to obtain are
unlikely to be allowed.
 Strong threat and menace are permitted unless
sadistic or sexualised.
 Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide
and self-harming) can be allowed provided the detail
of such is low so that it can not create too much of
an impression of the viewer. Abuse of weapons
which are easily obtained will not be tolerated.
 Frequent use of strong language can be permitted,
although very strong language needs to be
restricted and would have to be seen as reasonable
in the context. Frequent usage of very strong
language would be seldom allowed.
 Nudity in a sexual content must be restricted
however nudity in a non-sexual content does not.
 Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the
infliction of pain or injury.The strongest gory images
are unlikely to be acceptable.The same applies to
references.Any sexual violence should be discreet
and be strongly justified.
 Devil’s Knot is a US drama, based on
real events, about the murder of
three young boys in Arkansas.The
film follows the efforts of a legal
investigator to prove a miscarriage
of justice after three teenagers are
convicted of the crimes. Although
the murders are not shown, there
are verbal references made to the
nature of the boys’ deaths.There are
also disturbing images of the
children’s corpses, and sight of their
injuries in crime scene photos,
requiring a 15 classification.
 The Interview (classified in
2014; released in 2015) is a
comedy starring Seth Rogen
and James Franco about a US
TV chat show host and his
producer who are enlisted by
the CIA to assassinate North
Korea's supreme leader Kim
Jong-un.The film contains
several strong and crude sex
references, along with some
very strong language and
strong bloody violence, and it is
classified 15 accordingly.

BBFC Certification Research powerpoint

  • 1.
  • 2.
     The 12category is awarded to films that are suitable, in general, for those aged 12 and over.  For 12A rated movies, an adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view the film lies with the accompanying adult.
  • 3.
     Films underthis category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language, very strong language (introduced in 2015) and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sexual violence may be implied or briefly indicated.  12A ratings only apply to films in cinemas.A 12 rating is used for the DVD release and online streaming.
  • 4.
     The filmcontains scenes of moderate violence and threat, including a striking sequence in which a mass of crocodiles attack humans, with the result that the river Nile turns red with blood. Although the sequence in question is fairly bloody, there is little sight of wounds, and the historical setting provided mitigation for the kind of occasional gory moments permissible at 12A.
  • 5.
     This filmfeatures only moderate violence with no focus on blood or injury detail. Furthermore, unlike the preceding two instalments, there is no ‘hunger games’ competition, in which contestants are pitted against one another to the death. Instead, there is a focus on more generalised scenes of revolution, in which the people fight back against an oppressive government.The BBFC classified the film 12A without cuts.
  • 6.
     The workas a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.  Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. Promotion of drugs which are easy to obtain are unlikely to be allowed.  Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.  Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) can be allowed provided the detail of such is low so that it can not create too much of an impression of the viewer. Abuse of weapons which are easily obtained will not be tolerated.
  • 7.
     Frequent useof strong language can be permitted, although very strong language needs to be restricted and would have to be seen as reasonable in the context. Frequent usage of very strong language would be seldom allowed.  Nudity in a sexual content must be restricted however nudity in a non-sexual content does not.  Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury.The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.The same applies to references.Any sexual violence should be discreet and be strongly justified.
  • 8.
     Devil’s Knotis a US drama, based on real events, about the murder of three young boys in Arkansas.The film follows the efforts of a legal investigator to prove a miscarriage of justice after three teenagers are convicted of the crimes. Although the murders are not shown, there are verbal references made to the nature of the boys’ deaths.There are also disturbing images of the children’s corpses, and sight of their injuries in crime scene photos, requiring a 15 classification.
  • 9.
     The Interview(classified in 2014; released in 2015) is a comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco about a US TV chat show host and his producer who are enlisted by the CIA to assassinate North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un.The film contains several strong and crude sex references, along with some very strong language and strong bloody violence, and it is classified 15 accordingly.

Editor's Notes

  • #5 https://youtu.be/uoO0pVsu8Ro?t=15s
  • #10 https://youtu.be/9oVzgybbU3M