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 sex and violence. Ratings are often given in lieu of censorship.
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2 Canada 3 United Kingdom 4 Australia 5 New Zealand 6 Hong Kong 7 External links |
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:
United States
For history and more details, see MPAA film rating system.
Movie ratings in Canada are mostly a provincial responsibility.
The Ontario Film Review Board uses the following system:
Canada
The British Columbia system is:
- 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. 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. 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. 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.
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 such as Trainspotting videos (as opposed to the movie Trainspotting) ).
Unrestricted films:
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.
Australia
The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) uses the following system:
New Zealand
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFCS) 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:
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.