Age classification in film

By Ollie Dwyer

What are the different age groups seen in media filming?

Quote from BBFC website - ‘All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years.’

Her shown are the different age ratings in the film industry:

U - Age rating classification This age rating means that the film is suitable for

people from the age of four and upwards to watch according to the BBFC website.

It means ‘Universal’.

Films with this BBFC insight should raise no significant issues in terms of discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, theme or violence.

PG - Age rating classification PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means that the film should be suitable for most ages, however some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children.

Parents may want to consider whether their children will find the content of the film with this rating distressing or not.

The certificate means that any issues in the work are appropriate for the majority of this age group and nothing should upset a child of eight or over.

Their can be references to sex and some bad language in a PG rated film however their shouldn’t be any scenes of direct violence.

12A – Age rating classification

12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go to see this particular film unaccompanied. The A stands for 'accompanied' and 'advisory’ for people who are under the age of 12 years old.

What is the difference between 12 and 12A? – The difference between these two age ratings is that the 12 certificate is just for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays, where as 12A is for films at the cinema only.

12 – Age rating classification

This age rating means that anyone watching the film has to be aged 12 or above. It is different from the 12A rating as people under the age of 12 should not be watching the film even if they are accompanied by an adult.

Strong language can appear in a 12 rated film, however it cannot be frequent. It also depends on the manor the strong language is used in.

Sex cab be briefly portrayed in a 12 rated film, although verbal sex references should not go further than what is suitable for young teenagers.

12 rated films may contain moderate violence.

15 – Age rating classification

No-one under the age of 15 is allowed to see or buy a 15 age rated film. Films that are rated in this way are not suitable for anyone under the age of 15 (according to the BBFC website), as they may include the following aspects:

• Strong violence• Frequent strong language• 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

18 – Age rating classification

Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see a 18 age rated film or buy an 18 age rated film.

No theme or content is prohibited in an 18 age rated film, therefore the content within the film could prove to be offensive to even some adult viewers.

Films that fall under the 18 age rating can include very strong language, sex scenes which can be real sex, sexual violence, strong violence, drug taking/dealing, strong scenes blood and gore etc.

There are no constraints on the aspects that can be applied to an 18 age rated film.

18R – Age rating classification

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification, that is used to consent films that are based on sex scenes or strong sex fetish material involving adults.

The BBFC says:‘R18 works are sex works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation and which are only allowed to be shown in specially licensed cinemas, or sold in licensed sex shops. They can only be seen by or sold to adults.’

It isn’t as common to find a film with this age rating, as this classification of film is filtered out from the main public search, as some viewers may find it too explicit and offensive.