FAQs

How does the BBFC classify films and videos?

What are the differences between the ‘U’ and ‘Uc’ categories?

Why are some films that were passed ‘12A’ in the cinema ’15’ on DVD?

Can I bring back DVDs from abroad that are not currently classified?

Can a school show DVDs of a particular category to children below that age?

What does the 'E' symbol mean, and is it an official category?

Why are only some computer games classified by the BBFC?

How do people become examiners?

My enjoyment of a ‘12A’ film was spoiled by very young children in the cinema. Who should I complain to?

I can’t find any information about the film/DVD/game I want to look up. How can I find it?

Is every film, DVD and game on this website?

I want to teach my child about classification, how can I do that?

My child is studying classification and censorship at school - are there any resources to help?

Are films that are downloaded from the internet classified by the BBFC?

Do online films have a BBFC classification?

How does the BBFC classify films and videos?

Films and videos are normally classified by at least two examiners using the published Guidelines.
In most cases the decision is ratified by a senior member of staff, but if the examiners are in any doubt or fail to agree, or if important policy issues are involved, the work may be seen by other members of the Board up to, and including, the Director and President.
Occasionally it is necessary to take specialist legal or medical advice about the acceptability of film content or its potential for harm.

What are the differences between the ‘U’ and ‘Uc’ categories?

The 'U' category is given to films and DVDs that are likely to be suitable for anyone over the age of four years old.

The ‘Uc’ category is restricted to DVD, and the distributor can chose whether to accept a ‘Uc’. It signals that the video or DVD is especially suitable for pre-school children, in terms of its story or content and also the way the story is presented. There should be nothing in a ‘Uc’ video or DVD to upset the youngest children, although it is always important to remember that the very young are sometimes unpredictable is the way they react to what they see on the screen, and that parents or carers should always be at hand.

For more details of what might be found in a ‘Uc’ or ‘U’ work, please see [link to category pages]

Why are some films that were passed ‘12A’ in the cinema ’15’ on DVD?

The main reason for the difference is the content of the DVD ‘add-ons’, but occasionally these films will be marketed as being the ‘uncut’ edition or the ‘extended’ version of a film. This will mean that the works contain additional footage, either added to the film itself or included in the extras package, that have made the new version a ‘15’.

The extra footage could include the use of strong language ('f**k'), extended sex scenes, the inclusion of drug use or more intense scenes of horror or violence.

The Consumer Advice on the DVD packaging will indicate which issues resulted in the higher classification.

Can I bring back DVDs from abroad that are not currently classified?

The Video Recordings Act 1984 (VRA) makes it illegal to supply any video or DVD within the UK which has not been classified by the BBFC. There are some exceptions to this (eg educational works or works predominantly concerned with sport, religion and music) but all feature films and TV programmes must be classified.
Although it is not a customs offence to import an unclassified video or DVD it must be for your personal use only and the content must not breach the UK law (eg Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964, Protection of Children Act 1978).
You are therefore entitled to purchase unclassified videos or DVDs whilst abroad, provided they contain no illegal material and are solely for personal use.

Can a school show DVDs of a particular category to children below that age?

The classification decision indicates that the film contains material which the Board considers unsuitable for children younger than the age specified.
However, there are some cases where it might be considered appropriate to show a film in an educational context where it is properly discussed and presented. For example, some AS and A2 Media or Film Studies exam syllabuses include ‘18’ rated films.
Clearly, schools should seek parental consent prior to the screening. We would also recommend obtaining the approval of the Head Teacher and Governors. It is also important to make sure that any children watching are not likely to suffer any ill effects as a result of seeing the film.

What does the 'E' symbol mean, and is it an official category?

The 'E' symbol on video packaging indicates that the distributor believes the work to be exempt from classification. Under the Video Recordings Act 1984, a video is an exempted work if it is designed to inform, educate or instruct; is concerned with sport, religion or music; or is a video game. However, if such a work depicts human sexual activity or gross violence to any significant extent it will need a BBFC classification.
The 'E' symbol is not an official symbol and does not have any legal standing. Nor is it a requirement that it should appear on video cassettes, unlike the BBFC classification symbols. Under the Video Recordings Act, the onus is on the distributor to decide whether or not a video work is an exempted work, and distributors have tended to put an 'E' symbol on tapes as guidance to the public.
The Board does not examine exempted works and does not decide whether or not a work is exempt.

Why are only some computer games classified by the BBFC?

Under the Video Recordings Act, most video games are exempt from BBFC classification. However, they may lose this exemption - and therefore require a formal BBFC classification - if they depict, to any significant extent, gross violence against humans or animals, human sexual activity, human urinary or excretory functions or genital organs, or techniques likely to be useful in the commission of offences. 
In the early days of video games, the quality of graphics was so low that, even when 'human' or 'animal' characters were depicted, they were unlikely to be realistic enough to be covered by the Act. However, the increasing sophistication of computer graphics means that now a number of games require classification, usually because they contain violence against realistic human figures. In some cases, games may also need to be submitted to the BBFC because they contain non-interactive video elements (eg trailers or film clips) that do not enjoy the same exemption as interactive games.

Games that retain their exemption - for example because they do not feature violence or sex involving realistic human figures - are classified under the PEGI system, a voluntary pan-European rating system.  In the UK the system is administered by the Video Standards Council, who also advises publishers on whether or not their game requires a formal BBFC classification. For more information on the Video Standards Council, please visit their website. [link to VSC]

How do people become examiners?

Recruitment is through advertisement in the national press and on the BBFC website. The BBFC employs examiners from a wide variety of backgrounds. A broad knowledge of film or digital media is required, as well as an ability to grasp classification issues such as violence, imitable behaviour, sexual portrayal and drugs.
The Board is also looking for an understanding of child development and an interest in effects and opinion evidence. The BBFC is unable to employ anyone under the age of 18 because of their possible exposure to age-restricted material while working here. A balance is kept between men and women and examiners currently range in age from late twenties to early sixties. The Board includes examiners of various ethnic backgrounds, in part to help deal with foreign language films and videos, where knowledge of the culture of the country is as important as fluency in the language.

My enjoyment of a ‘12A’ film was spoiled by very young children in the cinema. Who should I complain to?

While we can do nothing about individual cases of young children causing disruption during ‘12A’ films, this is a matter which we recognise is of some concern to the public.
Cinema managers have the power to refuse entry to anyone whom they reasonably consider to be disruptive and we would strongly recommend that anyone whose enjoyment of a film is spoiled by noisy or disruptive young children should make their views known to cinema managers or staff.

I can’t find any information about the film/DVD/game I want to look up. How can I find it?

Extended Consumer Advice should be available for all films classified ‘U’, ‘PG’ or ‘12A’ at the cinema or ‘U’, ‘PG’ or ‘12’ on video/DVD since the start of 2007. ECA is also available for many other titles and all video games. A full guide to ECA is given here.
If you can’t find information on a specific film, please feel free to contact us. If possible, we will add the work you require to our database.

Is every film, DVD and game on this website?

Extended Consumer Advice should be available for all films classified ‘U’, ‘PG’ or ‘12A’ at the cinema or ‘U’, ‘PG’ or ‘12’ on video/DVD since the start of 2007. ECA is also available for many other titles and all video games. A full guide to ECA is given here.
If you can’t find information on a specific film, please feel free to contact us. If possible, we will add the work you require to our database.

I want to teach my child about classification, how can I do that?

The BBFC has two websites designed and maintained by its education team. CBBFC (www.cbbfc.co.uk) is a website aimed at children aged seven and over, it includes games and activities for use in the classroom and at home, an opportunity to rate and review films and information for parents and teachers. SBBFC (www.sbbfc.co.uk) is a site for older students studying subjects such as Media and Film Studies and those in further education. SBBFC has guides for students and teachers, Case Studies on famous films, news articles and other materials.

My child is studying classification and censorship at school - are there any resources to help?

The BBFC has two websites designed and maintained by its education team. CBBFC (www.cbbfc.co.uk) is a website aimed at children aged seven and over, it includes games and activities for use in the classroom and at home, an opportunity to rate and review films and information for parents and teachers. SBBFC (www.sbbfc.co.uk) is a site for older students studying subjects such as Media and Film Studies and those in further education. SBBFC has guides for students and teachers, Case Studies on famous films, news articles and other materials.

Are films that are downloaded from the internet classified by the BBFC?

Streaming and downloading of films has not yet been regulated under the law, but working with the major video distributors, we have developed a scheme for responsible companies offering downloads and streaming video to use our classifications. 'BBFC.online' will officially launch this summer and will give consumers pre-purchase information (including our symbols and consumer advice) and ensure that age-restricted content is kept from children. More details will appear on PBBFC and BBFC soon.

Do online films have a BBFC classification?

Only those marketed by companies belonging to the BBFC.online scheme outlined above. We expect these will include most of the major video distributors, websites and set-top box services offering digital films and video.

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