The ‘18’ Category

What does the ‘18’ symbol mean?

No-one under 18 is allowed to see an ‘18’ film at the cinema or buy/rent an ‘18’ rated DVD or video game. No ‘18’ rated works are suitable for children.

Is an ‘18’ certificate on a video game the same as an ‘18’ for a film or DVD?

Yes, if a video game is rated ‘18’ it contains strong material and is not suitable for players who are under 18.

Grand Theft Auto - San Andreas

What sort of issues might I find in an ’18’, film, DVD or video game?

‘18’ works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as:

• very strong violence
• frequent strong language (eg 'f***') and/or very strong language (eg ‘c***’)
• strong portrayals of sexual activity
• scenes of sexual violence
• strong horror
• strong blood and gore
• discriminatory language and behaviour

An ‘18’ work could also contain depictions of real sex if it is justified by context. For more detailed information on the ‘18’ category click here to read the BBFC guidelines.

Dark Sector

Can you see drugs in an '18'?

At ‘18’ drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse.

If adults can watch what they want, what might be cut from an ‘18’ work?

Cuts are occasionally made to ‘18’ films, DVDs and video games. Intervention is most likely in the following areas:

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works and, in “sex works” (see below), would normally be confined to that category.

In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

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 ‘18’ 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.

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