Research into the rating by the BBFC.

1. Research - BBFC
A LOOK INTO WHAT JUSTIFIES RATINGS
GIVEN BY THE BBFC

2. The Reason
The BBFC or British Board for Film Censors is an independent, not-for-profit ,
self-financing media regulator set up to protect the public, especially children,
from and media content that might raise harm risks. They also try to empower
the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices.
When deciding on the certificate, they focus on the overarching factors, primarily
content (such as sex, language or violence and the way in which they are
presented), but also things such as the tone and impact, examples of
discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, sex/nudity, language,
violence ect. Depending on the levels of these, and the likelihood of it reaching
children add to the reasons for the certificate given.

3. Universal (U)
This rating means that the content is suitable for all ages, namely those of four years and
over. The content is likely to be set within a positive moral framework, with reassuring
counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
 There would be no discriminatory language or behaviour unless it is clearly disapproved
of.
 No references to illegal drugs or misuse unless for educational purposes or to give a clear
anti-drug message suitable for children.
 Scary horror sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause anxiety to young
children, the outcome which should be reassuring.
 There would be no potentially dangerous behaviour which children are likely to copy, and
no emphasis on realistic, easily accessible weapons.
 Any bad language should be infrequent and very mild.
 Any nudity would be natural and non-sexualised, and any sexual behaviour would be
mild i.e. kissing, with only references such as ‘making love’.
 The themes may be problematic, but their treatment must be suitable for young children,
and any violence must be mild i.e. an occasional mild threat or menace.

4. Parental Guidance (PG)
PG films can be watched unaccompanied by children of any age, however they should not be
likely to disturb a child of eight or over.
 Discriminatory language or behaviour isn’t acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in
a historical or educational purpose.
 Any reference to illegal drugs or misuse would be innocuous or carry an anti-drug
message.
 Frightening sequences would be non-intense and not sustained, sometimes with a fantasy
element.
 There would be no potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely o
copy, and no glamorisation of realistic, easily accessible weapons.
 Any uses of bad language would be mild.
 Any nudity would be natural, with no sexual content and sexual activity may be implied,
i.e. mild sex references and innuendo, but these must be discreet and infrequent.
 If more serious issues are involved, i.e. domestic violence, nothing about it should be
condoned .
 Can include mild violence (without detail) but this must be justified.

5. 12A/12
12A and 12 are categorised through the same criteria, and are suitable for children age 12 or over.
12A exists only in the cinema, and cannot be watched by children under 12 unless they are
accompanied my an adult.
 Any discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed. Anything aggressive is
unlikely to be accepted.
 Any misuse of drugs would not be glamorised and must be infrequent.
 There may be moderate physical or psychological threat so long as it is not sustained or
frequent.
 Dangerous behaviour such as hanging, suicide or self-harm would not dwell on details that
could be copied, and must not seem painless or harm free. There would be no glamorisation of
easily accessible weapons.
 There may be moderate language, however any use of stronger language must be infrequent.
 Nudity is allowed, but must be brief and discreet if in a sexual context, and any sexual activity
must be displayed only briefly and discreetly. Sex references wouldn’t go beyond what is
acceptable for a young teenager, i.e. nothing frequently crude.
 Mature themes are acceptable, but with suitable treatment.
 There may be moderate violence if it does not dwell on detail. There may be gory moments if
justified, but there would be no emphasis on injury or blood. There may be implied sexual
content if justified.

6. 15
No one younger than 15 can watch a 15 rated film.
 As a whole, the film cannot endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
 The film must not promote or encourage the misuse of drugs, or of highly accessible,
dangerous substances.
 There may be strong threat and menace, unless sadistic or sexualised.
 Dangerous behaviour such as hanging, suicide or self-harm would not dwell on details
that could be copied, and there would be no glamorisation of easily accessible weapons.
 Strong language may be used frequently, and the strongest terms may be used if not
aggressive or frequent, and if justified by the content.
 There may be nudity in a sexual content without strong detail. Strong verbal references to
sexual behaviour may be made, however the strongest are only acceptable if made in
justifiable context.
 There is no prohibited theme if it is suitable for a 15 year old.
 There may be strong violence, but would not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury.
Stronger gory images and strong sadistic or sexualised violence (unless verbal and
discreet within justified context) would not be permitted.

7. 18
18 is the strongest rating, and no one younger than 18 can watch, rent or buy 18 rated films.
 There may be strong drug use, language, strong scenes of horror and strong scenes of a
sexual nature, all seen as acceptable.
 The above are deemed unacceptable only when encouraging and endorsing violent or
dangerous behaviour. Anything deemed as a breach of law won’t be permitted.
 R18 is an extra rating used for sexual imagery such as explicit sexual scenes, including
fetishes and uses of violence including non-consensual scenes, and scenes using restraint.
There may be other strong scenes including strong sexual imagery or footage.
 This mostly applies to films used to sexually stimulate an adult audience.

8. What happens next
The film to be released will be given a rating by the BBFC before being released, usually to
either to cinema or DVD. Only people of the age limit stated are permitted to purchase or
watch the film, often requiring a form of identification for higher ratings.
The ratings apply to all forms of media, not just film or DVD. Videogames are also classified
by the BBFC, although the way in which they are rated differs.
The BBFC have the power to cut films.

9. Some Statistics
There is no correlation or pattern to what films are allowed to be released and which are cut.
 In 2002, 20 out of 585 films were cut.
 In 1983 127 out of 518 films were cut.
 More recently, in 2011 7 out of a possible 710 films were cut.