Motion picture rating system Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Motion picture rating systems are issued to give moviegoers an idea of the suitability of a movie for children and/or adults in terms of issues such as sex, violence and bad language. In some jurisdictions, they may impose legal obligations of refusing the entrance of children or minors to certain movies; in others, while there is no legal obligation to do so strictly speaking, movie theaters enforce the restrictions. Ratings are often given in lieu of censorship.
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2 Canada 3 Denmark 4 France 5 Germany 6 Hong Kong 7 Ireland 8 New Zealand 9 Sweden 10 Taiwan (Republic of China) 11 United Kingdom 12 United States 13 External link |
Australia
The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) uses the following system:
- G Suitable for all viewers. It is noted by the board that a "G" movie rating in Australia doesn't indicate the movie is intended for children, simply that nothing in the movie will be disturbing or harmful to children.
- PG Parental Guidance recommended for children under 15 years of age.
- M Mature, recommended for audiences 15 years and over. Note: this is not a legally restricted Australian movie rating, but movies in this category cannot be recommended for those under 15 years.
- MA Mature Accompanied. This category is legally restricted in that children under 15 cannot see "MA" films or rent them on video unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
- R Restricted. This category is legally restricted to adults. No one under 18 may view these movies in a cinema or rent them on videocassette.
- X Restricted. This rating applies to sexually explicit material which is restricted to viewers 18 years of age and over. Although there is no federal restriction on X rated material, it is officially illegal all states - meaning it is legally only available in the Australian Capital Territory. In practice, however, most authorities turn a blind eye within the states.
- E Exempt from classification - thus not a rating as such. These are usually educational programs.
Canada
Movie ratings in Canada are mostly a provincial responsibility.The Ontario Film Review Board uses the following system:
- Family. Film appropriate for viewing by a person of any age.
- Parental Guidance. Parents should exercise discretion in permitting a child to view the film.
- 14A. Persons younger than 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
- 18A. Persons younger than 18 years of age must be accompanies by an adult.
- Restricted. Film restricted to persons 18 years of age or older.
- Adult movies are given a sticker which denotes:
- Title
- Running Time
- Distributor ID
- Approval certificate number
- General. All ages. The contents of these motion pictures are suitable for viewing by all ages.
- Parental Guidance. All ages. Parental guidance advised. Theme or content may not be suitable for all children.
- 14 Accompaniment (14A). Anyone under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Parents cautioned. These films may contain violence, coarse language, and/or sexually suggestive scenes.
- 18 Accompaniment (18A). Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Parents strongly cautioned. Will likely contain explicit violence, frequent coarse language, sexual activity and/or horror.
- Restricted. No one under the age of 18 may view under any circumstances. Content not suitable for minors. May contain scenes of explicit sex and/or violence. However, the film classification office considers these films to have some artistic, historical, political, educational or scientific merit.
- Adult. No one under 18 may view under any circumstances. May contain explicit sexual scenes and/or violence. However, the classification office considers these films to be tolerable to the community.
- G. (Visa général) -- May be viewed, rented or purchased by persons of all ages. A classification of "Visa général" means that the film so classified is unlikely to disturb an average viewer. It in no way indicates that the film is considered to be "suitable" for children. Only a "for children" notice would indicate that such a film would be appropriate for younger viewers.
- 13+. (13 ans+) -- May be viewed, rented or purchased by persons 13 years of age or over. Children 12 years of age and under may be admitted to a public showing of the film, but only if accompanied by an adult aged 16 or older. When rating a film as 13+, the examiners consider: certain scenes of violence (senseless destruction, physical harm, graphic violence, etc.); the representation of sexuality (extremely detailed intimate scenes, sexual relationships promoting dominance or disturbing situations, etc.); certain themes (suicide, family break-ups, mental instability, marginal behaviour, etc.).
- 16+. (16 ans+) -- May be viewed, rented or purchased by persons 16 years of age or over. These films may contain complex sequences, including violent or erotic elements, as well as certain problematic situations encountered by adults. However, the examiners are required to conduct a rigorous evaluation when considering the following; detailed and complacent images of unwarranted or sustained violence; particularly troubling images; the manner in which sexuality is depicted.
- 18+. (18 ans+) -- May be viewed, rented or purchased by persons 18 years of age or over. This classifcation is used a;most exclusively for pornographic films. Video stores must keep them in a separate adults only room room or the entire store must be off limits to minors e.g. a sex shop.
- C. Intended for children only.
- C8. Intended for children age 8 or older.
- G. Suitable for viewing by all ages.
- PG. Parental guidance advised. Theme or content may not be suitable for all children.
- 14A. Suitable for people 14 years of age or older. Those under 14 should view with an adult. No rental or purchase by those under 14. Parents cautioned. May contain violence, coarse language and/or sexually suggestive scenes.
- 18A. Suitable for people 18 years of age or older. Persons under 18 should view with an adult. No rental or purchase by those under 18. Parents strongly cautioned. Will likely contain explicit violence, frequent coarse language, sexual activity and/or horror.
- R. Restricted to 18 years and older. No rental or purchase by those under 18. Contents not suitable for minors. Contains frequent sexual activity, brutality/graphic violence, intense horror, and/or other disturbing content.
- E. Exempt. Contains material not subject to classification, such as documentaries, nature, travel, music, arts and culture, sports and leisure, educational and instructional information.
Films accessible to the public do not have to be classified by the Media Council but consequently must be labelled as 15 -Approval of the film for admittance of children from the age of 15 – no matter the harmlessness of the film.
Classifications, as all administrative decisions, may be appealed before the courts (Conseil d'État at litigation). A highly publicized example of this is the movie Baise-moi, containing scenes of graphic sex and violence; it was initially not rated "pornographic or inciting to violence", but associations sued and obtained the "X classification".
Related link: movie classifications (in French)
Apart from films, packagings of Category III videotapes and laserdiscs and advertising materials of Category III films must be approved by the Film Censorship Authority (FCA) before they can be published or publicly displayed.
Unrestricted films:
The following categories are used by the SBB:
Denmark
The uses the following classifications.
Children who have turned 7 are allowed admission to all films if accompanied by an adult (a person turned 18). Consequently it is the parents responsibility to ensure that their children do not watch violent and hard-core pornographic films. France
Prior to showing in theaters, a license must be obtained from the Ministry of Culture. Upon the advice of the commission pertaining to cinema movies, the minister decides either not to grant the license (a very rare occurrence), either to grant a license among the 5 following:
In addition, the movie may be considered "pornographic or inciting to violence" (colloquially referred to as "X-rated"). In this case, it bears high taxation and may only be shown in specific theaters, which are now few in France. This classification is not used for merely violent movies, or movies containing mere erotic scenes.Germany
The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (FSK) has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories -Hong Kong
The Film Censorship Authority
in Hong Kong has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories -
While Categories I, IIA and IIB are advisory in nature, the age restriction (18 or above) for Category III films is strictly enforced.Ireland
The Film Censor's Office under which films, videos and DVDs are placed into one of the following categories:
Films without certification are not ipso facto banned and have been shown at film festivals and arthouse clubs such as the Irish Film Institute.New Zealand
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) first divides films into two categories ; unrestricted and restricted. Unrestricted films are assigned a rating label. Restricted films are assigned a classification label. The common labels in each category are as follows:
Restricted films:
Sweden
The Swedish National Board of Film Censors (SBB) reviews all pre-recorded video recordings prior to showing at a public gathering or entertainment (subject to some exceptions) in accordance with law SFS 1990:886. It is a criminal offence to hire or sell videos containg unlawful depictions of violence, and to hire or sell videos depicting realistic violence to children below the age of 15.Taiwan (Republic of China)
The Government Information Office of the Republic of China (Taiwan) divides licensed films into one of the following four legally binding categories in Chinese characters (with approximate but unofficial translation):
- 普遍級(普) General - General audiences may all view.
- 保護級(護) Protective - Children under 6 years old must not view. Children aged at least 6 but less than 12 require guidance of accompanying parents, teachers, or adult relatives to view.
- 輔導級(輔) Guidance - Children under 12 years old must not view. People aged at least 12 but less than 18 require attentive guidance of parents or teachers to view.
- 限制級(限) Restricted - People under 18 years old must not view.
United Kingdom
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rates both motion pictures and videos. Local authorities are responsible for accepting and enforcing the BBFC's recommended ratings for cinema showings, whereas those for videos are legally binding.
The current BBFC system is:
- Uc (Universal Children) Suitable for all but especially for young children (video only).
- U (Universal) Suitable for all.
- PG All ages admitted, but Parental Guidance is recommended. It is the board's policy that movies rated "PG" should not disturb a child of about 8 years of age or older; however, "parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset young or more sensitive children."
- 12A/12 No one under 12 years of age may see a "12A" film (unless accompanied by an adult) in a cinema or rent or buy a "12" video.
- 15 No one under 15 years of age may see a "15" film or rent or buy a "15" video.
- 18 Suitable only for adults. No one under 18 years of age may see an "18" film or rent or buy an "18" video.
- R18 To be supplied only in licensed sex shops or cinemas to adults of not less than 18 years of age.
- E Exempt from BBFC rating system (so technically not a rating). (Often these are specialist educational programmes)
United States
In the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) issues ratings for movies. The system was instituted in 1968 and is voluntary; however, most movie theater chains will not show unrated films.
The ratings as they exist in 2003 are:
- G - General Audience - Movie suitable for all ages
- PG - Parental guidance suggested - Contains mature themes, may not be suitable for small children
- PG-13 - Parents strongly cautioned - Contains mature themes, may not be suitable for children under 13 years old
- R - Restricted - Contains mature themes (usually sex and/or violence). Children under 17 not admitted without an adult
- NC-17 - No children under 17 admitted.
- NR or Not Rated - Not an MPAA rating. Used for independent or foreign films that are in limited release and have not been submitted to the MPAA for a rating classification. Also used by a film that is soon to be released and has trailers out for promotional purposes, but has not yet received a final rating.
See also: TV Parental Guidelines
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