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Motion picture rating system

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A motion picture rating system is a method of giving moviegoers an idea of the suitability of a movie for children and/or adults in terms of issues such as sex, violence and profanity. A particular issued rating is called a certification. 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. Some people think that the ratings should be stronger. There is much debate in major countries as to whether ratings actually serve a valid function, or whether they simply entice young children to watch movies deemed inappropriate for them. This concept is known as the forbidden fruit phenomenon.

In some countries (e.g. Australia), an official government body decides on ratings; in other countries (e.g. the US), it is done by industry bodies with no official government status. However, in most countries, movies that are considered morally offensive have been banned or restricted.

Contents

Argentina

The Institute of Film and Audiovisual Arts (Instituto de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales) through the Advisory Commission of Cinematographic Exhibition (Comisión Asesora de Exhibición Cinematográfica) uses the following system:

Australia

Australian Ratings
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Australian Ratings

The Office of Film and Literature Classification Generally controls all ratings used on motion pictures. The OFLC is government run and funded. Australian States have the power to reclassify or ban movies if they wish to. Television advertising for Films over the MA15+ Rating is restricted to certain times of the day. The OFLC will also not "cut" or edit a movie, and films are rarely banned.

The ratings board is comprised of mostly liberal members, therefore the OFLC has a strong influence on "Informing your Choices", rather than "censoring." Thus very detailed content descriptions are used. Film Advertising is accompanied by a Colour Coding and a Specific Shape for each classification level. This is accompanied by information such as Low, Medium or Strong Coarse Language, Nudity, Sexual References, Horror and so on. However this is generally unstandardised and very detailed information such as "Suicide Themes" or "Racist Themes" and so forth can be included. The E Rating is used on films to do with things such as gardening, hobbies and other things which do not have a need to be classified. The MA15+ rating is usually quite strictly upheld by cinemas (with ID needed for entry), however MA15+ movies can often be rented out or sold to under 15's from video stores. Movies holding an R rating or higher are very strictly controlled in who is allowed to view, buy or hire them.

Unrestricted:

Restricted: Banned: It is illegal to exhibit, sell or import RC films. It is not however in general illegal to have them in one's possession without intent to sell. (Although some RC films, i.e. child pornography, are illegal to possess as well.)

Belgium

Brazil

Movies are rated in Brazil by the DJCTQ, or Department of Justice, Rating, Titles and Qualification (Departamento de Justiça, Classificação, Títulos e Qualificação in Portuguese). No "parental guidance" ratings are used.

The DJCTQ uses the following system:

People under the minimum age intended by the rating can watch the movie accompanied by their parents, except for porn films. The films are rated by trained raters and more recently, the DJCTQ makes surveys to see if the people agree or not with the rating intended for a specific film.

Canada

Movie ratings in Canada are mostly a provincial responsibility, and each province will have its own legislation regarding exhibition and admission. There are currently six film classification offices rating movies in Canada, each an agency of a provincial government:

The province of Saskatchewan has a [Film and Video Classification Board], but it uses ratings provided by British Columbia. Newfoundland has no classification office or system. A [source] notes that "Newfoundland theatres and video store operators are not required by legislation to use ratings, many theatres in Newfoundland use the classifications assigned by the Maritime Film Board in Nova Scotia". Of the three Canadian territories, Yukon uses the BC ratings, while Nunavut and the Northwest Territories use Alberta ratings.

Canadian ratings outside Quebec

General Canadian Ratings.
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General Canadian Ratings.

In the past there were a wide range of rating categories and practices in the various provinces. However, the five rating systems outside Quebec now all use categories and logos derived from the Canadian Home Video Rating System. In general, the categories are:

Alberta and British Columbia adopted this system in 1997. Manitoba and Ontario adopted it in 2003. Nova Scotia adopted it in April 2005.

There is also a common stock of [Information Pieces] ("Frightening Scenes", "Coarse Language", etc), although boards may have additional qualifiers.

Each board is responsible for assigning a rating to films, and while most movies will likely obtain the same rating, there can be differences. For instance, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers was rated R in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario but only 18A in British Columbia and 16+ in Quebec (it was NC-17 in the USA). received a 14A in British Columbia and an 18A in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. Also, the NC-17 rated Bad Education received the relatively mild 13+ in Quebec and 14 in Nova Scotia (with the rest of Canada rating it 18A and R).

Since Canada receives much American advertising concerning film ratings, it should be noted that the American MPAA "R" rating is similar to the Canadian "18A" category (under-18s admitted with adult accompaniment). The Canadian "R" category would be similar to the American NC-17 rating.

For home video purposes, a single Canadian Home Video Rating System rating consisting of an average of the participating provincial ratings is displayed on retail packages, although various provinces may have rules on display and sale, especially for the R and A categories.

Quebec system

Quebec Ratings.
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Quebec Ratings.

In Quebec the [Régie du Cinéma] rates films and videos.

The ratings are sometimes accompanied by indications which specify the dominant characteristic of the film. These may prove quite useful when the classification alone does not provide sufficient information.

For children, Associated with a "Visa général" rating, this indication means that the film is particularly suitable for young children.

Not suitable for young children, Associated with a "Visa général" rating, this indication warns that the film may be disturbing to children under eight years of age.

Coarse language, Accompanies a rating of "13 years and over," "16 years and over", or "18 years and over." This indication means that the film contains coarse or obscene language.

Eroticism, Accompanies a rating of "13 years and over", "16 years and over", or "18 years and over." This indication specifies that the film contains enough visual elements pertaining to sexuality to make this one of its dominant characteristics.

Violence, Accompanies a rating of "13 years and over", "16 years and over", or "18 years and over." This indication means that violence is one of the dominant aspects of the film.

Horror, Accompanies a rating of "13 years and over", "16 years and over", or "18 years and over." This indication warns that the film is strongly characterized by scenes aimed at provoking disgust, repulsion or fear, such as those showing mutilated bodies.

Explicit sexuality, Only accompanies the classification of "18 years and over." This indication signifies that the film essentially contains scenes of real and explicit sexual activity. In the retail video industry, the presence of this indication requires the storeowner to place the film in a separate adults only room or the entire store must be off limits to minors e.g. a sex shop.

Chile

The Council of Cinematographic Classification (Consejo de Calificación Cinematográfica) uses the following system:

Subcategories

China

Mainland China has not enacted a motion picture rating system even though it has been suggested. The Chinese censorship of motion pictures is to cut certain contents so the remaining parts are suitable for all ages.

See also separate rating systems in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Colombia

As of June 22, 2005, the [Ministry of Culture] issued its new rating system. The classifications are:

Denmark

The [Media Council for Children and Young People] 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 responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children do not watch violent and hard-core pornographic films.

Films accessible to the public do not have to be classified by the Media Council but consequently must be labeled as 15 -Approval of the film for admittance of children from the age of 15 – no matter the harmlessness of the film.

Finland

The Finnish Board of Film Classification has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories:

A person two years younger than the given rating is permitted to see a film in a movie theater when accompanied by an adult. This rule does not apply to the K-18 rating.

Only material intended to be accessible to minors (those below 18 years of age) is subject to mandatory inspection. A proper notification is sufficient for adult material. However, the board has the right to inspect material suspected of violating laws or material which was not properly notified.

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), or to grant a license among the 6 following: In practice, the ministry always follows the decision of the commission.

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.

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)

Germany

The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (Voluntary Self-Control of the Film Business, FSK) has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories -

All movies not submitted to the FSK including movies classified SPIO/JK may additionally be put on the German "list of youth-endangering media" if considered endangering to youth by the federal institute in charge of such listing. This means a ban on all advertising, import, export, or mailing of such material; anything that could make the mere existence of such a movie known to a minor is basically illegal.

Child pornography is altogether illegal to trade or to own. Approximately 300 extremely violent films, such as the first and the second part of Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead, have been confiscated from dealers and distributors. However, all copies of such confiscated versions owned for personal use are legal to possess for adults. As with ratings in other countries, movies may be re-edited to achieve lower ratings, if a lower rating is preferred by the distributor. Sometimes the FSK refuses to rate movies even in the highest rating Keine Jugendfreigabe, mostly due to excessive violence. This means that even no youth admitted rated movies may be cut as compared to foreign releases. FSK rated movies are exempt from all blacklisting measures of the government. Since foreign versions of movies are always considered unrated, even if the German release of the same movie has been rated no age limit, mail-ordering DVDs from outside the European Union will frequently get them confiscated by customs officials, no matter how harmless the content.

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.

Apart from films, packaging of Category III videotapes and laser discs and advertising materials of Category III films must be approved by the Film Censorship Authority (FCA) before they can be published or publicly displayed. Category III films generally contain sexually explicit or pornographic content.

Iceland

Icelandic movie rating labels
Kvikmyndaskoðun Íslands was started in 1932. Since 1997 the board does not edit movies. Movies are classified with the following ratings

India

In India, the Indian Film Censor Board classifies films into three categories:

Indonesia

Motion pictures shown in Indonesia must undergo reviewing by the Indonesian Film Censor Board (Lembaga Sensor Film). [(Lembaga Sensor Film)]. Other than issuing certificates, the LSF also reviews and issues permits for film-related advertising, such as movie trailers and posters. LSF has the authority to cut scenes from films. Certificates are issued based on the following categories:

Ireland

The Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) under which theatrical films 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.

For video releases (VHS and DVD), categories G, PG and 18 share the same meanings as above, however, there is no 16, and categories 12 and 15 are mandatory, not advisory.

Italy

Japan

Eirin has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of the following categories:

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the Ministry of Information (Kementerian Penerangan Malaysia) ruled out movie ratings either for all persons or for persons above 18. The rating system specifies movies restricted for persons below 18. However, in movies with excessive scenes, the excessive scenes will be cut off the film, or the motion picture itself (eg. 'Daredevil') will be banned in Malaysia.

Mexico

The General Directorate of Radio, Television and Cinematography (in Spanish, Dirección General de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía, or RTC[link]) is the issuer of ratings for television programs (although only one channel in Mexico explicitly shows the classification on each program, XEIMT-TV in Mexico City) and motion pictures. The RTC is a dependency of the Department of State (Secretaría de Gobernación[link]. It has its own classification system, as follows:

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the Kijkwijzer system is used.

Unrestricted:

Restricted: Mostly, these icons are used along with other symbols, displaying if a movie contains violence, sexual content, frightening scenes, discriminating language, drug use, or coarse language.

New Zealand

The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 Act gives the Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand) the power to classify publications into three categories: unrestricted, restricted, and "objectionable" or banned. Unrestricted films are assigned a green or yellow rating label. Restricted films are assigned a red classification label. The common labels in each category are as follows:

Unrestricted films:

Restricted films: All films, videos, DVDs, and computer games with restricted content, must carry a label before being offered for supply or exhibited to the public.

Some films like Irréversible are banned on video but not banned for cinema or film festivals.

The Office of Film and Literature Classification's homepage: http://www.censorship.govt.nz/

Norway

In Norway all movies have to be approved by Medietilsynet (The Norwegian Media Authority) (formerly Filmtilsynet), a government agency, to be exhibited commercially.

Movies are rated using the following classifications:

Films rated 7, 11 or 15 may also be seen by children accompanied by a parent or adult guardian if the child has turned 4, 8 or 12 years, respectively. In addition to the ratings, the board indicates if a movie is suitable for children, families, youths or adults. A film may be given a rating even though it is intended for an older age group, e.g. an "A" film might be intended for adults if it does not contain material unsuitable for young children.

The board also indicates if a rating is "hard". A "hard" 11/15 rating is usually indicated by the text "not advised for children/youths under 11/15" ("frarådes barn/ungdom under 11/15 år"), however this does not affect if children under the given age are allowed to see the film if accompanied. In 2000 a Board of Appeal was established. Prior to this the ratings board could choose to reclassify a film.

Movie ratings database: http://www.filmtilsynet.no/Filmdatabase

Philippines

Poland

Until August 2005, Poland's movie ratings system consisted of three ratings:

The current Polish movie rating system, instituted in August 2005, consists of five ratings:

Portugal

Movies are rated in Portugal by the [Comissão de Classificação de Espectáculos] of the Ministry of Culture. This organization also rates Theater, other types of shows like circus, music concerts, Opera and Dance shows. It is also responsible for the rating of Video Releases.

Movies are rated using the following classifications:

Special classifications

These classifications can be added to the previous ones:

Singapore

The Media Development Authority revised the film ratings in Singapore on March 29 2004. The new film ratings are below. G and PG generally has no restrictions on age and most audiences are admitted. Regulation on the presence of adults for PG rated shows are advised but not strictly enforced. (The NC16 rating was issued with the release of Saving Private Ryan, which couldn't be passed as a PG film due to the violence present in the film, but lacked an adult theme to be rated R(A). Ratings from 1998 are different than those above. See below.)

NC16, M18 and R21 groups are restricted to only persons of the specified age or above of the particular group. No persons under the specified age would be admitted as the identity cards have to be checked before the person is allowed to enter the cinema. Once a movie is rated R21, the movie will be banned from DVD or VCD sales.

Before 29 March 2004, these were the film ratings for all movies.

South Africa

South Korea

Before 2002, these were the film ratings for all movies.

Spain

The Ministry of Culture (Ministerio de Cultura) troughout the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales) rates the films and video releases.

Spain is subdivided in 17 autonomous communities, each with their own ratings.

Sweden

Statens biografbyrå (SBB) (the Swedish National Board of Film Censors) reviews the content of all films or pre-recorded video recordings (videograms) prior to showing at a public gathering or entertainment (subject to some exceptions), in accordance with law SFS 1990:886. It is a criminal offense to hire or sell videos containing unlawful depictions of violence, and to hire out or sell videos depicting realistic violence to children below the age of 15.

The following categories are used by the SBB:

The Board's home page: http://www.statensbiografbyra.se/

Switzerland

Switzerland is split into 23 cantons, each with their own ratings. The entries above are for the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. The cantons of Switzerland are as follows:

Aargau, Appenzell, Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Genève, Glarus, Grischun, Jura, Luzern, Neuchâtel, Sangt-Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Unterwalden, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug and Zürich.

Taiwan

The [Government Information Office] of the Republic of China administering Taiwan divides licensed films into one of the following four categories pursuant to its issued ( in traditional Chinese):

An advertisement of a film uses a single Chinese character surrounded by a square to show what category it is. English abbreviations used here are for information only as they are not used in Taiwan.

Related and official link: [Classifications of movies] (in traditional Chinese)

United Kingdom

UK movie rating certificates.
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UK movie rating certificates.

''Main articles: British Board of Film Classification, History of British Film Certificates
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:

Videos deemed by their distributors to be exempt under the Video Recordings Act 1984 (typically specialist content such as sporting highlights, fitness videos, nature films, etc.) may bear the mark E (for exempt), though this is not a rating and the BBFC does not maintain a symbol.

United States

U.S. movie rating labels
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U.S. movie rating labels

In the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), through the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA) issues ratings for movies. The system was instituted in 1968 and is voluntary; however, most movie theater chains will not show unrated domestic films.

The ratings as they exist in 2006 are:

Unrestricted:

Restricted:

(NC-17 Does not necessarily mean obscene or pornographic; in the oft-accepted or legal meaning of those words. The Board does not and cannot mark films with those words. These are legal terms for courts to decide)

Others:

For history and more details, see MPAA film rating system.

CARA uses a demographically-balanced board of parents, who determine what the rating of a film should be.

Most films will have the MPAA insigna at the end the closing credits. Earlier films that had full opening credits such as The Poseidon Adventure would bear the insigna in the opening.

See also: TV Parental Guidelines, Entertainment Software Rating Board

External links

 

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