The document describes the various age rating classifications used in the UK for films, videos, and cinema releases. These include U (suitable for all ages), PG (parental guidance recommended for young children), 12A (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult), 12 (no one under 12 allowed), 15 (no one under 15 allowed), 18 (no one under 18 allowed). It provides explanations of the types of content that may be present at each rating level, such as violence, language, sexual content, and more. An evaluation section discusses applying these ratings in determining whether a film opening sequence would be rated 12A or 12.

2. AGE RATINGS
15 years and over
Video release suitable for 12 years and over
Suitable for all
Cinema release suitable for 12 years and over
Parental Guidance Adults works for licensed premises only
Suitable for adults only

3. U RATING
‘THE U SYMBOL STANDS FOR UNIVERSAL. 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.’

4. PG RATING
‘PG STANDS FOR PARENTAL GUIDANCE. THIS MEANS A FILM IS SUITABLE FOR GENERAL VIEWING, BUT SOME
SCENES MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. A PG FILM SHOULD NOT UNSETTLE A CHILD AGED
AROUND EIGHT OR OLDER. PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHERTHE CONTENT MAY UPSET YOUNGER, OR
MORE SENSITIVE, CHILDREN.’

5. 12A RATING
‘FILMS CLASSIFIED 12A AND VIDEO WORKS CLASSIFIED 12 CONTAIN MATERIALTHAT IS NOT GENERALLY
SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AGED UNDER 12. NO ONE YOUNGER THAN 12 MAY SEE A 12A FILM IN A CINEMA
UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. ADULTS PLANNING TO TAKE A CHILD UNDER 12 TO VIEW A 12A FILM
SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THE FILM IS SUITABLE FOR THAT CHILD. TO HELP THEM DECIDE, WE
RECOMMEND THAT THEY CHECK THE BBFCINSIGHT FOR THAT FILM IN ADVANCE.’

6. 12 RATING
‘THE 12A REQUIRES AN ADULT TO ACCOMPANY ANY CHILD UNDER 12 SEEING A 12A FILM AT THE CINEMA.
THIS IS ENFORCED BY CINEMA STAFF AND A CINEMA MAY LOSE ITS LICENSE IF ADULT ACCOMPANIMENT IS
NOT ENFORCED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12 ADMITTED TO A 12A FILM. ACCOMPANIED VIEWING CANNOT BE
ENFORCED IN THE HOME, SO THE 12 CERTIFICATE REMAINS FOR DVD/BLU-RAY, RATHER THAN THE 12A. THE
12 IS ALSO A SIMPLER SYSTEM FOR RETAILERS. IT MEANS THEY CANNOT SELL OR RENT THE ITEM UNLESS
THE CUSTOMER IS OVER THE AGE OF 12.’

7. 15 RATING
‘NO-ONE UNDER 15 IS ALLOWEDTO SEE A 15 FILM AT THE CINEMA OR BUY/RENT A 15 RATED VIDEO. 15 RATED
WORKS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE.’ FOLLOWING CAN BE IN AN 15 ; STRONG
VIOLENCE FREQUENT STRONG LANGUAGE, PORTRAYALS OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY, STRONG VERBAL REFERENCES
TO SEX, SEXUAL NUDITY, BRIEFSCENES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR VERBAL REFERENCES TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE OR BEHAVIOUR, DRUG TAKING.

8. 18 RATING
‘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 VIDEO. NO 18 RATED WORKS ARE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN.’ FOLLOWING CAN BE IN
AN 18 RATED FILM; VERY STRONG VIOLENCE, FREQUENT STRONG LANGUAGE OR VERY STRONG LANGUAGE,
STRONG PORTRAYALS OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY, SCENES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, STRONG HORROR, STRONG
BLOOD AND GORE, REAL SEX (IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES), DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOUR

9. EVALUATION
LOOKING AT BACK AT OUR PLANNING, WE WAS CONFUSED WEATHER OUR OPENING SEQUENCE WOULD BE A
12A, 12 OR A 15. LEARNING THE BBFC WE NOTICED THAT OUR FILM WILL NOT BE A 15 RATING THIS IS
BECAUSE IT DOESN’T HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING STRONG VIOLENCE FREQUENT STRONG LANGUAGE,
PORTRAYALS OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY, STRONG VERBAL REFERENCES TO SEX, SEXUAL NUDITY, BRIEF SCENES OF
SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR VERBAL REFERENCES TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE OR
BEHAVIOUR, DRUG TAKING. IT SHOWS THE RATING WOULD BE TOO HIGH FOR A FILM SO WE DECIDED IT
WOULD BE A 12A.

10. EVALUATION
WE ARE HAPPY WE CHOOSE OUR OPENING SEQUENCE TO BE A 12A DUE TO IT BEING AN INFLUENCE FROM
‘THE WOMEN IN BLACK’. ALSO BECAUSE IT GAVE US A WIDER TARGET AUDIENCE, REPRESENTING MORE
PEOPLE CAN WATCH IT.