To protect children from unsuitable or harmful things in films, the BBFC examines and age rates the films before release.
Typically, 2 examiners watch a film and then confirm the recommendation is confirmed by a Senior Examiner.
If the examiners are in any doubt or don't agree, the work may be seen by other members of the board up to the chief executive and the presidential team.
They look at issues like discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous and easily imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex and violence. They consider context, the tone and the likely impact of the film on the potential audience.
U Universal – Suitable for all
A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over, although it is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. U films should be set within a positive framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work is particularly suitable for pre-school children, this will be indicated in the BBFC insight.
Discrimination- Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of.
Drugs- References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be infrequent and innocuous, or have a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.
Imitable behaviour- Potentially dangerous or anti-social behaviour which young children may copy must be clearly disapproved of. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons.
Language- Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.
Nudity- Occasional nudity, with no sexual context.
Sex- Only very mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references to such behaviour.
Threat- Scary or potentially unsettling sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.
Violence- Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context (e.g. comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic)
PG- Parental Guidance
Discrimination- This is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of, or in an educational or historical context, or in a particular dated work with no likely appeal to children. Discrimination by a character with whom children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.
Drugs- References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.
Imitable behaviour- No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy, if that behaviour is presented as safe or fun. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives. No focus on anti-social behaviour which young children are likely to copy.
Language- Mild bad language only. Aggressive or very frequent use of mild bad language may result in a work being passed at a higher category.
Nudity- There may be nudity with no sexual context. Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.
Threat- Frightening sequences or situations where characters are in danger should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating behaviour.
Violence- Violence will usually be mild. however there may be moderate violence, without detail, if justified by its context (history, comedy or fantasy for example)
12A/12- Suitable for 12 years and over.
Films classified 12A and 12 contain material that 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 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 BBFC insight for that film in advance. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work.
Discrimination- Must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs- Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.
Imitable behaviour- No promotion which children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives.
Language- There may be moderate language. Strong language is permitted depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, it's frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity- There may be nudity but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet.
Sex- Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate sex references are permitted, but frequent crude references are unlikely to be accepted.
Threat- There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences but the overall tone shouldn't be disturbing.
Violence- Moderate but not dwelling on detail. No emphasis on injuries or blood. Sexual violence may be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated and it's depiction must be justified by context.
15- 15 Years and over
Discrimination- The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour but there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.
Drugs- May be shown but as a whole may not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances is unlikely to be acceptable.
Imitable behaviour- Dangerous behaviour should not dwell on detail which could be copied.
Language- May be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, it's frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity- There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail.
Sex- Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. May be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context.
Threat- There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.
Violence- May be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.
18- Suitable only for adults
No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema.
Sex education at 18- Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality or safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted.
Sex works at 18- Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed 18. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the R18 category.
