Film Ratings

All films have a rating system, but every country is different in how they use their system. In the United Kingdom it is the BBFC which is the British board of film classifications which decide what rating the film will receive.


The ratings that you can get in the UK are;




The "U" rating stands for Universal, which means that it is safe for anyone to watch the film including children. This means that most "U" rated films are for children. E.g. Disney films like Cinderella and Peter Pan.




The "PG" rating means Parental Guidance, which means that it is often advised that the parent or guardian should be with the child when watching a "PG" film as certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 8.E.g. Grease and The Cat in the Hat




The "12A" rating is only used in the cinema and is for anyone over the age of 12, but it can be suitable for children under the age of 12 if their parent/guardian allow them to watch it but only if an adult is with them.




The "12" is for anyone aged 12 and over. No one under the age 12 can buy or go and see a 12 in the cinema. E.g. Mean girls and Meet the Fockers




The "15" is for anyone aged 15 and over, no one under the age of 15 can buy or go see a 15 in the cinema. E.g. White Chicks and Stand By Me.




An "18" can only be seen by someone who is 18 or over, no one under the age of 18 can see the film in the cinema or buy the DVD in the shop with out i.d. Most 18s often contain violence, drugs, sexual reference, strong language etc. E.g. Jackass and The Godfather.