What is an Age Rating?

What are the ratings?
The BBFC rate films before they are released in cinemas. These days there are six certificates for cinema films

• U
• PG
• 12
• 12A
• 15
• 18

In theory, anyone can see a U or a PG, although children, parents and teachers are encouraged to think carefully about whether a PG film will be suitable for children if they are younger than 8 or 9 years old.
With 12A films, children must be 12 or older to go and see them, unless they have an adult with them. It is up to that grown-up to decide that the child won’t be upset or disturbed by anything they see.

When was the BBFC started?

The BBFC was created by the film industry in 1912.  It wanted to make sure that all of its films were checked on behalf of the whole country. Cinemas needed a licence to show films because film stock burns very easily and there was a big fire risk. Local councils who were in charge of cinemas throughout the country, grew to accept the BBFC's decisions. Even today for films shown in cinemas, councils have the power to ignore any decision made by the BBFC and can give them their own age ratings. For example, in 1993, the comedy film 'Mrs.Doubtfire' (1993) was given a 12 classification by the BBFC. Some councils disagreed with our decision and gave the film a PG.