BBFC Classification guidelines

The British Board of Film Classification is a non-governmental organisation responsible for the classification and censorships of films in the UK. The classification system aims to protect children and other vulnerable groups from harm when viewing videos, DVDs, video games and films. Thrillers are usually classified as 12 and over depending on the graphic content of the film.

·         ‘U’ rating stands for Universal which means that people of all ages can view the movie. ·         Suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ·         Mild language and violence with no sexual context. ·         No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless there is an educational purpose. ·         Scenes of violence should be short and only consist of mild threats ·         No emphasis on weapons or dangerous behaviour.
·         ‘PG’ rating stands for Parental Guidance is advised when viewing the film. ·         Suitable for general viewing but some scenes may be unstable for young children.  ·         Moderate violence without graphic detail e.g. historical war battles. ·         Mild Language and no references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless there is an educational purpose. ·         No glamorisation of weapons or dangerous behaviour.
·         ‘12’/ ‘12A’ rating stands for Suitable for ages 12 and over and may contain material which may be unsuitable for children under 12. ·         Nudity is allowed but no emphasis on sexual context. ·         Moderate language is allowed. ·         Drug use can be shown, which no glamorisation of weapons, dangerous behaviour or drugs. ·         Moderate horror and psychological scenes. ·         Dangerous behaviour can be shown briefly.
·         ‘15’ rating stands for Suitable only for 15 years and over, no one under 15 can view the material. ·         Drug use can be shown but not promoted. ·         Strong language is allowed. ·         Sexual references, strong violence and dangerous behaviour can be shown without strong detail. ·         Horror and strong psychological scenes can be shown.
·         ‘18’ rating stands for Only Suitable for Adults, no-one younger than 18 can view an‘18’ film in a cinema. ·         The portrayal of strong graphic violence and sexual scenes can be shown. ·         Drug use can be graphically shown. ·         Extreme strong language is allowed. ·         Extreme horror is allowed.