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BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification, it is the institution in charge of providing films with age ratings and certificates reflecting the content of the film therefore indicating who the appropriate audience is. The lowest age certificate a film can receive is the Universal certificate, this indicates that the film is appropriate for all age groups. The highest certificate in the UK is an R18 certificate, this includes explicit sex or strong fetish scenes and is a legally-restricted category.
- PG stands for Parental Guidance, this means that children are permitted to watch the film as long as their parents give them permission.
- 8 or older is the general guideline for PG rated films as the content included should not upset children older than this.
- Sex references are unlikely and infrequent and if used then often un-obvious so only the older audience will understand them.
- Mild violence
- No strong focus on drugs
- Dangerous/anti-social behaviour that children could copy will not be promoted and will always be challenged.
- 12A requires the child to be accompanied by an adult to the cinema, whilst adult accompanying cannot be monitored at home, the DVD's use just the 12 certificate on their films. Also, the 12 certificate is easier to enforce for retailers.
- The viewer has to be over 12 years old.
- Used for blu-ray and DVD's.
- Strong language could be passed depending on the manner used, but not too frequently.
- Aggressive use of language may change the certificate.
- Sex may be discreetly portrayed.
- Moderate violence without much detail/graphic images shown.
- Infrequent drug misuse.
- Moderate physical or psychological threat (horror/thriller)
- Nobody under 15 is allowed to watch the film at the cinema or buy/rent the film.
- No theme is specifically prohibited.
- Any of the following could be included in a 15 rated film:
- Strong violence
- Frequent use of strong language
- Strong verbal references to sex
- Nudity
- Brief sexual violence or verbal reference to it
- Discriminatory language/behaviour e.g. racist or homophobic etc. However the film must not endorse this discrimination.
- Drug taking- cannot promote drug taking.
- Dangerous behaviours such as suicide should not be dwelled on in detail.
- For adults only, nobody younger is permitted to watch them.
- Films that have an 18 certificate are allowed to include all of the same content that films with a 15 certificate can and more.
- Strong blood and gore could feature in films of the 18 certificate.
- No limits on language.
- Discriminatory behaviour can be included but it mustn't breach any relevant legislation.
- Very dangerous or criminal behaviour may be cut.
