THE '15' CATEGORY
What does the ‘15’ symbol mean?
No-one under 15 is allowed to see a ‘15’ film at the cinema or buy/rent a ‘15’ rated DVD or video game. Parents are warned that ‘15’ rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age.
Assassin's Creed
Is a ‘15’ certificate on a video game the same as a ‘15’ for a film or DVD?
Yes, if a video game is rated ‘15’ it is not suitable for players who are under 15. Parents should not assume that because something is a game it is unlikely to contain the same sort of material as a ‘15’ rated film or DVD. If the BBFC has rated a game ‘15’ it is because it does contain the same sort of material as a ‘15’ rated film or DVD.
The ‘15’ rating has nothing to do with the difficulty of a game or the amount of skill required to play it.
What sort of issues might I find in a ‘15’ film, DVD or video game?
‘15’ works are stronger than '12' or ‘12A’ rated works and could include any of the following:
• 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
Occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms (eg 'c***'), although continued aggressive use will not normally be passed at ‘15’. For more detailed information on the ‘15’ category click here to read the BBFC guidelines
What about horror works?
At’15’ there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.
Halo 3
Can you see drugs in a ‘15’?
At ‘15’ drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse.
The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances like aerosols or solvents is unlikely to be acceptable at ‘15’.
How can I find out more?
In order to provide adults with more information about a work, the BBFC produces 'Consumer Advice' for each film.
This is a line of additional information that explains why the film received its certificate. The Consumer Advice appears on posters, in TV advertisements and alongside the billings in local newspapers. It is also available on the main BBFC website. For further information about Consumer Advice, click here.
For video games classified ‘15’ further information for parents is available on this website. A games search will provide comprehensive information on exactly why a film, DVD or game has been given a particular category. All the issues are discussed in detail and parents can use this information to make informed decisions when choosing viewing material for their children.
Extended Consumer Information for films rated ’15’ can also be found on the main BBFC website, although this advice has not be written especially for parents..
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