1. FILM CERTIFICATION

2. The British Board of Film
Classification is a non-governmental
organisation, funded by the film
industry.
It is responsible for the national
classification and censorship of films
within the United Kingdom.

3. Films are classified into one of a
possible seven certificates,
depending on the movie content:
• Universal
• Parental Guidance
• 12A
• 12
• 15
• 18
• Restricted 18

4. UNIVERSAL
All ages admitted, there is nothing
unsuitable for children.
• Only allows very mild bad language
such as ‘damn’ ‘hell’ and occasionally
‘bloody’ or ‘bugger’, where justified by
the context.
• Characters can be seen kissing and
cuddling, however there will be no
obvious hints of sexual behaviour or
innuendo.
• May include brief fight scenes or
moments when characters are placed
in danger. However, any anxiety a
viewer will feel will be quickly resolved
and the outcome will help to calm
them down.
• There may be brief scary scenes, but as
with the violent scenes, there will be a
pleasant outcome.
• References to illegal drugs or drug
misuse will not normally be used, unless
there is a clear anti-drug message which
is easily understood by a younger
audience.

5. PARENTAL GUIDANCE
All ages admitted, but certain scenes may
be unsuitable for young children.
• Mild bad language is allowed, but
context and delivery is very important.
• Sexual references are allowed if the
activity talked about or shown is
implied and lacking in detail.
• There can be no violence described in
detail. For example, if blood is shown
then how the injury occurred is not
seen.
• Some ‘jump’ moments and scary
scenes, but realistic violent/scary
scenes should not be prolonged.
• There might be innocuous or
passing references to illegal drugs
or drugs misuse in a PG work,
although there should not be an
obvious focus on drugs and their
use.

6. 12A (ACCOMPANIED)
• 12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can
go and see the film unaccompanied.
• 12A is for films at the cinema only.
• Strong language is allowed, however it must
be used rarely. Context of strong language is
important.
• Sex may be briefly and inconspicuously
portrayed at 12A. There may be nudity but a
lot of sex references are unlikely to be
accepted for this category.
• Some horror movies can fall under this
category. Moderate physical and
psychological threat is permitted at 12 or 12A
as long as disturbing sequences are not too
frequent or sustained.
• Dangerous behaviour such as
hanging, suicide and self-
harming may be present in 12A
works, but it is important that
these ideas are not dwelled
upon.
• There may also be one or two
references/sights of drug misuse
in a 12A, but the act of taking
drugs should not be
embellished.

7. 12
Video release suitable for 12 years and
over.
In order for a film to achieve the 12
certificate, it will follow the same
guidelines as that of a 12A certificate.

8. 15
• No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15
rated film or buy a 15 rated DVD.
• A large amount of strong language,
however, continued use of the
strongest bad language will not
normally be passed at 15.
• There may be racist, homophobic or
other discriminatory language.
• Sexual activity can be portrayed as long
as there is no strong or graphic detail.
• Nudity may be allowed in sexual
content but is not shown in strong
detail, and there are no constraints on
nudity in a non-sexual or educational
context.
• Strong violence can be seen,
however infliction of the injury and
the strongest of gory images are
unlikely to be allowed.
• At 15 drug taking may be shown but
the work as a whole must not
promote or encourage drug misuse.

9. 18
• No limits on strong language or even
very strong language.
• There may be racist, homophobic or
other discriminatory language at 18.
• There can be strong and detailed
portrayals of sex at 18, including full
nudity. There are no constraints on
nudity in a non-sexual or educational
context.
• Violence can be strong and be
portrayed with strong detail. There may
even be dwelling on the infliction of
pain or injury, or scenes of strong
sadistic or sexual violence.
• Drug taking is shown, however as with
other certificates, drug taking must not
be promoted.
• The strongest horror works are
passed at 18, they may contain
strong horror, gore or sustained
threat and menace which exceeds
the boundaries of 15.

10. RESTRICTED 18
• The ‘R18’ category is a special and
legally restricted classification primarily
for explicit works of consenting sex or
strong fetish material involving adults.
• Films that fall under this certificate can
only be sold in licensed sex shops and
shown in specially licensed cinemas.
• R18 works are sex works whose
primary purpose is sexual arousal or
stimulation.