BBFC Research. 
Rating 
Symbol Meaning/ Description Examples 
U 
Suitable for all: The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film 
should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. 
However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular 
child, especially at this lower end of the category range. 
 Adventures of 
Elmo in grouch 
land 
 A bugs life 
 A goofy movie 
PG 
Parental Guidance: PG stands for Parental Guidance. This 
means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may 
be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a 
child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether 
the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, chi ldren. 
 Fantastic Mr Fox 
 The Goonies 
 Hocus Pocus 
12A 
Cinema/video release suitable for ages 12 and over: 
Films classified 12A and video works classified 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 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. 
 Interstellar 
 Teenage mutant 
ninja turtles. 
 Guardians of the 
galaxy 
12 
 Les miserable 
 The hobbit 
 The perks of being a 
wallflower 
15 
Suitable only for 15 years and over: No-one under 15 is 
allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15-rated 
video. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years 
of age. May include: strong violence, frequent strong language 
(e.g. 'f***'). Portrayals of 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 
 Abraham Lincoln 
Vampire hunter 
 Airplane 
 Anger management 
18 
Suitable only for adults: Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one 
under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy / rent 
an 18 rated video. No 18 rated works are suitable for children. 18 
works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as: very 
strong violence, frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and / or very strong 
language (e.g. ‘c***’), strong p ortray als of sexual activity , scenes of 
sexual violence, strong horror, strong blood and gore, real sex (in some 
circumstances), discriminatory language and behaviou 
 The wolf of wall 
street 
 The godfather 
 Evil dead
Taken from: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/how-does-classification-work 
“In order to protect children from unsuitable and even harmful content in films and videos and to give 
consumers information they might need about a particular film or video before deciding whether or not to 
view it, the BBFC examines and age rates films and videos before they are released. This independent 
scrutiny prior to release ensures the highest possible level of protection and empowerment. We watch 
films and videos all the way through and award an age rating and insight to each one. We reach an age 
rating by applying certain standards and criteria” 
I have chosen to give my production a 15 rating. This is because it does contain some instances of fairly 
s trong violence and gore in the ins tance of Gaudi’s vis ions and corps es. Strong language is us ed 
occasionally also. I have steered away from the higher 18 rating because My use of strong language 
does not extend to its upper parameters and the gore is not too disturbingly portrayed. I feel that giving 
my film too high a rating may alienate some of the target audience. The crime genre is very popular with 
teenagers around 15 and over. This certificate was also matches the expectation of my audience as I 
found in my audience research

gBbfc research

  • 1.
    BBFC Research. Rating Symbol Meaning/ Description Examples U Suitable for all: The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at this lower end of the category range.  Adventures of Elmo in grouch land  A bugs life  A goofy movie PG Parental Guidance: PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, chi ldren.  Fantastic Mr Fox  The Goonies  Hocus Pocus 12A Cinema/video release suitable for ages 12 and over: Films classified 12A and video works classified 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 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.  Interstellar  Teenage mutant ninja turtles.  Guardians of the galaxy 12  Les miserable  The hobbit  The perks of being a wallflower 15 Suitable only for 15 years and over: No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15-rated video. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age. May include: strong violence, frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***'). Portrayals of 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  Abraham Lincoln Vampire hunter  Airplane  Anger management 18 Suitable only for adults: Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy / rent an 18 rated video. No 18 rated works are suitable for children. 18 works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as: very strong violence, frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and / or very strong language (e.g. ‘c***’), strong p ortray als of sexual activity , scenes of sexual violence, strong horror, strong blood and gore, real sex (in some circumstances), discriminatory language and behaviou  The wolf of wall street  The godfather  Evil dead
  • 2.
    Taken from: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/how-does-classification-work “In order to protect children from unsuitable and even harmful content in films and videos and to give consumers information they might need about a particular film or video before deciding whether or not to view it, the BBFC examines and age rates films and videos before they are released. This independent scrutiny prior to release ensures the highest possible level of protection and empowerment. We watch films and videos all the way through and award an age rating and insight to each one. We reach an age rating by applying certain standards and criteria” I have chosen to give my production a 15 rating. This is because it does contain some instances of fairly s trong violence and gore in the ins tance of Gaudi’s vis ions and corps es. Strong language is us ed occasionally also. I have steered away from the higher 18 rating because My use of strong language does not extend to its upper parameters and the gore is not too disturbingly portrayed. I feel that giving my film too high a rating may alienate some of the target audience. The crime genre is very popular with teenagers around 15 and over. This certificate was also matches the expectation of my audience as I found in my audience research