Post 13 - Film Rating/BBFC

BBFC Ratings

U - For all ages viewership.

PG - General viewing, although some scenes may not be suitable for young children.

12A - No-one under 12 can see the film, may upset those under 12.

15 - Suitable for people 15 and above.

18 - No-one younger than 18 can see the film.

R18 -  Can only be licensed for special cinemas, only available in licensed sex shops. 

Examples of the rating system

Footloose 1984 - Cinema release PG - DVD release 15 rating - Re-release 12A

BBFC examiners noted scenes of violence, sex references and drug use, this deemed it a 15 as it followed these points from the BBFC website:

• strong violence
• frequent strong language (eg '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

However after cuts, it met the PG rating the distributors wanted and was released in cinemas with a PG rating. It wasn't until 2002 when the full uncut DVD release hit the 15 rating it originally had, and then the 2007 cinema re-release resulted in a 12A rating.