Film Age Ratings

We have decided to do some extra research on film age ratings for our media coursework to help better the overall quality of our finished product and to increase our own knowledge on the subject. In the UK, we have a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films.


The BBFC rates theatrically-released films. Legally, local authorities have the power to decide under what circumstances films are shown in cinemas, but they nearly always choose to follow the advice of the BBFC.


The government currently designate the BBFC as the authority for certifying video releases. As the law requires the certificate to be displayed on the packaging and media labels of the video recording, in practice only UK releases can be legally sold or hired in the UK, even if a foreign release had identical content.
All films and video games rated by the BBFC receive a certificate, along with "consumer advice" detailing references to sex, violence and coarse language. If a certificate specifies that a film or video game is only suitable for someone over a certain age, then only those over that age may buy it.


These are the rating images commonly seen on DVD and videogame boxes.

From researching the BBFC we are now much more educated about film ratings and which content is giving which rating. From this we can understand and know what we must and must not include in our trailer and the vital objective of not revealing too much in our trailer.