Flicks and Popcorn - Film Classification

Film classification schemes

ARGENTINA
Administered by Comisión Asesora de Exhibición Cinematográfica branch of Instituto de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales
[none]	suitable for children
ATP	suitable for all ages
13	suitable for 13-year-olds and over
16	suitable for 16-year-olds and over
18	suitable for 18-year-olds and over
X	sexually explicit

AUSTRALIA
Ratings system is administered by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and established under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995.
G	general, suitable for all ages [green]
PG	parental guidance recommended for persons under 15 years [yellow]
M	mature, recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over [blue]
MA 15+	mature accompanied (restrictions apply to persons under the age of 15) [red]
R 18+, X18+	restricted to adults 18 years and over [black]
The same classifications apply to videos and computer games. The consistent design of classification markings and colour coding were added by the OFLC in July 2005.
BELGIUM

KT	suitable for all audiences
KNT	unsuitable for children
BRAZIL
System administered by the Departamento de Justiça, Classificação, Títulos e Qualificação (DJCTQ)
Livre	suitable for all audiences
12 anos	recommended for persons 12 years old or over; mild swearing or violence, sexual references
14 anos	recommended for persons 14 years old or over; swearing, sexual references
16 anos	recommended for persons 16 years old or over; strong language, mild non-explicit sex (some nudity possible), drug use
18 anos	recommended for persons 18 years old or over; strong language, graphic violence or drug use, porn
Children of any age may watch any film other than porn is accompanying adults
CANADA
Each province has its own film ratings scheme. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island), Ontario, North-West Territories, Saskatchewan and Yukon:
G	general, suitable for all ages (not Ontario)
F	Ontario only: family, suitable for all ages
PG	parental guidance; Manitoba only: recommended for 12 and over
14A	under 14s must be accompanied by an adult (not Manitoba or Maritimes)
AA	Maritimes only: adult accompaniment required for children under 14
PA	Manitoba only: parental accompaniment required for children under 15
18A	under 18s must be accompanied by an adult (Manitoba, Maritimes and Ontario only: recommended but introduction pending)
R	restricted: no viewing by under 18s (not Maritimes)
18	Maritimes only: under 18s must be accompanied by an adult
Adult 18+ XXX	Alberta and Ontario only: no viewing by under 18s Manitoba only: no viewing by under 18s Maritimes only: no viewing by under 18s
E	Maritimes only: exempt
Quebec
G	general, 'unlikely to disturb an average viewer'
13+	under 13s must be accompanied by an adult
16+	restricted to persons aged 16 and over
18+	restricted to persons aged 18 and over
CHILE
System administered by Consejo de Calificación Cinematográfica
TE	suitable for all audiences
7	unsuitable for children under 7
14	unsuitable for children under 14
18 18/S 18/V	suitable for only adults aged 18 or over sexually explicit contains extreme violence
COLOMBIA
Ministerio de Cultura introduced a new scheme on 22 June 2005
T	suitable for general audiences
7	suitable for audiences aged 7 and over
12	suitable for audiences aged 12 and over
15	suitable for audiences aged 15 and over
18	suitable for audiences aged 18 and over
X	pornographic
DENMARK
System administered by Medierådet (Media Council for Children and Young People)
A	approved for general admittance
7	approved for general admittance but not recommended for children under 7
11	approved for children aged 11 and over
15	approved for children aged 15 and over
Children aged seven and over may be admitted to any film if accompanied by an adult. Classification is not mandatory but unrated films must carry a 15 certificate.
FINLAND
System administered by Valtion elokuvatarkastamo (Board of Film Classification), a department of the Ministry of Education
S	suitable for all audiences
K-7	suitable for audiences aged 7 years and above
K-11	suitable for audiences aged 11 years and above
K-15	suitable for audiences aged 15 years and above
K-18	suitable for audiences aged 18 years and above
KK	banned because of criminal content (eg, child pornography or actual violence presented as entertainment)
Children aged two years below the classification may be admitted to K-7, K-11 and K-15 films when accompanied by an adult.
FRANCE
Statutory scheme administered by the Centre Nationale de la Cinématographie (CNC).
U	suitable for all audiences
10	unsuitable for children under 10
12	suitable for audiences aged 12 and over
16	suitable for audiences aged 16 and over
18	suitable for adult audiences aged 18 and over
Films rated 18 may additionally be rated as 'pornographic or inciting to violence'.
HONG KONG
System adminsitered by the Film Censorship Authority.
I	suitable for all audiences
IIA	unsuitable for children (advisory)
IIB	unsuitable for children and young people (advisory)
III	for audiences aged 18 and over (mandatory)
ICELAND
System administered by Kvikmyndaskoðun Íslands
L	suitable for all audiences
10	passed for audiences aged 10 and above
12	passed for audiences aged 12 and above
14	passed for audiences aged 14 and above
16	passed for audiences aged 16 and above
AB	banned
INDIA
System administered by the Indian Film Censor Board
U	universal: suitable for all audiences
U/A	universal with adult/parental guidance; unsuitable for children under 12
A	adult: may only be watchedby audiences ages 18 and over
IRELAND
A new, more relaxed, set of classifications came into force on 1 January 2005, following consultation by survey with parents. The system is administered by the Office of the Films Examiner (Oifig Scrúdóir na Scannán).
G	general, suitable for all ages
PG	parental guidance; suitable for all ages but parental guidance advised
12A	suitable for audiences aged 12 and over; younger children may be admitted if accompanied by an adult
15A	suitable for audiences aged 15 and over; younger children may be admitted if accompanied by an adult
16	restricted to audiences aged 16 and over (a new category)
18	restricted to audiences aged 18 and over
Films can also be banned.
ITALY

T (tutti)	suitable for all audiences
VM14	children under the age of 14 not admitted
VM18	children under the age of 18 not admitted
JAPAN
System administered by Eirin (Motion Picture Ethics Committee)
General	suitable for all audiences
PG-12	not recommended for children under 12 without parental/adult company
R-15	children under 15 not admitted
R-18	children under 18 not admitted
MALAYSIA
System administered by the Ministry of Information
U (Umum)	= general in Malay; suitable for all audiences
18SG	for audiences aged 18 or over only (non-excessive violent/horrifying scenes)
18SX	for audiences aged 18 or over only (non-excessive sex scenes or drug use)
18PA	for audiences aged 18 or over only (religious/political/counter-culture/mature themes)
18PL	for audiences aged 18 or over only (combination of above elements)
Films can also be cut or banned outright
MAURITIUS
Scheme administered by the Ministry of Arts and Culture's Board of Film Censors.
U	universal, suitable for all ages
PG	parental guidance compulsory for children under 15 (some scenes may be unsuitable for children under 12)
15	suitable for audiences aged 15 and over
18	suitable for adult audiences aged 18 and over
R18	restricted to adult audiences only, subject to specified conditions
Films can also be rejected.
MEXICO
System, administered by Dirección General de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía, was last revised in April 2002 with the addition of B15 and D ratings.
A	general
AA	suitable for children
B	suitable for teens
B15	over 15s accompanied by adults
C	suitable for adults only
D	high sex, violence and/or bad language content
NETHERLANDS
The 9 rating was introduced in 2004 for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
AL	suitable for all audiences
MG6	parental guidance recommended for children less than six years old
6	not recommended for children less than six years old
9	not recommended for children less than nine years old
12	not recommended for children less than 12 years old
16	children under 16 not admitted
NEW ZEALAND
Administered by the Labelling Body under the Films, Video & Publications Classification Act 1993
G	general, suitable for all ages
PG	parental guidance: some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
M	mature, unrestricted but recommended for mature audiences 16 years and over
R16	restricted: children under 16 not admitted
R18	restricted: children under 18 not admitted
NORWAY
System administered by Medietilsynet (Media Authority).
Alle	suitable for all audiences
7	suitable for children aged seven or over
11	suitable for children aged 11 or over
15	suitable for children aged 15 or over
18	suitable for children aged 18 or over
An additional indication may show suitability for children, youths, families or adults.Children accompanied by an adult may be admitted to films when three years below the classification age. Classifications may be designated 'hard' to indicate that films may not be suitable for the exercise of this dispensation.
PHILIPPINES
System administered by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), established by presidential decree on 5 October 1985
G	general audiences
PG-13	parental guidance for children under 13
R-13	restricted to audiences aged 13 and over
R-18	restricted to audiences aged 18 and over
X	banned for public viewing
PORTUGAL
System administered by the Comissão de Classificação de Espectáculos, a department of the Ministry of Culture, which is also responsible for rating video and live performances.
M/4	suitable for children aged four and above
M/6	suitable for children aged six and above
M/12	suitable for children aged 12 and above; children under 12 may be admitted if accompanied by an adult
M/16	suitable for audiences aged 16 and above; children under 16 may be admitted if accompanied by an adult
M/18	suitable for audiences aged 16 and above; children under 18 may accompany an adult but admission can be refused by the exhibitor
Films may also be graded as being of quality (addition of -Q to classification) or pornographic (M-18-P)
SINGAPORE
A revised scheme was introduced by the Media Development Authority on 29 March 2004.
G	suitable for general audiences
PG	parental guidance
NC16	no one under 16 admitted
M18	mature: no one under 18 admitted
R21	restricted: no one under 21 admitted
Presentation of ID card is required for admission to NC16, M18 and R21 films
SOUTH AFRICA
System administered by the Film and Publications Board (FPB), established 1 June 1998
A	suitable for all audiences
G	parental guidance
10	unsuitable for children under 10
13	unsuitable for children under 13
16	unsuitable for children under 16
18	unsuitable for children under 18
SOUTH KOREA
System administerd by the Media Ratings Board
General	suitable for all audiences
12+	only people aged 12 and over are admitted
15+	only people aged 15 and over are admitted; this rating was briefly suspended in 1999/2000
18+	only people aged 18 and over are admitted
There is no discretion about younger children being admitted if accompanied by an adult
SPAIN
System administered by Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales for the Ministry of Culture. Each of 17 autonomous regions has its own ratings authority that generally follow the ICAA ratings.
TP	suitable for all audiences
7	suitable for children aged seven and over
13	suitable for children aged 13 and over
15 16	suitable for children aged 15 and over (some autonomous regions only) suitable for children aged 16 and over (some autonomous regions only)
18	suitable for adults aged 18 and over
X	pornography
SWEDEN
System administerd by Statens biografbyrå (SBB, National Board of Film Censors, established 1911) under the Examination and Control of Films and Videograms Act 1990
	suitable for all audiences
7 år	children aged below seven must be accompanied by an adult
11 år	suitable for children aged 11 and above; children aged seven or over may be admitted with an adult
15 år	no one under 15 admitted
'Age classifications are not to be regarded as recommendations of suitability for children but relate only to the risk of serious mental damage.'
SWITZERLAND
Each of 23 cantons has its own ratings authority. These ratings are applied in Geneva and Vaud.
Btl	suitable for audiences of all ages (Geneva only)
7	suitable for audiences aged seven and above
12	suitable for audiences aged 12 and above
16	suitable for audiences aged 16 and above
18	suitable for audiences aged 18 and above
TAIWAN
System administered by the Government Information Office
G	General audiences: suitable for all ages
P	Protected: children under six not admitted; children aged six and less than 12 must be accompanied by an adult
PG	Parental guidance: children under 12 not admitted; children aged 12 and less than 18 must be accompanied by an adult
R	Restricted: children under 18 not admitted
UK More detail information, Click
Voluntary cinema classifications of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) were changed from 1 November 1982
U	universal, suitable for all ages
PG	parental guidance: children admitted but parents are advised that some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
15	passed for audiences aged 15 and over
18	passed for audiences aged 18 and over
R18	passed for screening only in specially licensed cinemas to which audiences aged under 18 are not admitted.
Films can also be rejected.
USA More detailed information, Click
Voluntary ratings scheme of the Classification and Rating Administration of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), of which these ratings are registered trade marks. The scheme has been officially supported by the National Association of Theatre Owners since its inception in 1968.
G	general, suitable for all ages
PG	parental guidance: children admitted but parents are advised that some material may be unsuitable for young children
PG-13	some material may be inappropriate for children under 13
R	children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult
NC-17	children aged 17 and under are not admitted