1. Genre and Classification of Films
By Emma Waite

2. What is genre?
a style or category of art, music, or
literature.

3. Why Genre is important?
• Advertising purposes
• To establish if it’s your type of film that you
like to watch.
• Genre will help indicate what would be shown
or said in a film.
•

4. Film Genre’s:
Hybrid Films:
Action
Science Fiction
Western
Comedy
Romance
Thriller
Horror
Adventure
Action Adventure
Rom-com
Action Thriller
Superhero
Action horror
Action Comedy
Spy

5. The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable
for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is
impossible to predict what might upset a particular child,
especially at this lower end of the category range. Characters
may be seen kissing or cuddling.
PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable
for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for
younger children. A PG film should not disturb a child aged
around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the
content might upset younger or more sensitive children.
Smoking and drinking will not be promoted
12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film
unaccompanied. The A stands for 'accompanied' and
'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see the film if they are
accompanied by an adult (eg someone over the age of 18), who
must watch the film with them.
There may be moderate language and sexual scenes may briefly
and discreetly be shown at 12 or 12A.

6. No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or
buy/rent a ‘15’ rated DVD. 15 rated works are not suitable for
children under 15 years of age. 15 works are stronger than 12 or
12A rated works and could include any of the following: strong
violence, frequent strong language (eg 'f***’),portrayals of sexual
activity, strong verbal references to sex, sexual nudity
brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual
violence, discriminatory language or behavior and drug taking
Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an
18 film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated
works are suitable for children. 18 works are for adults and can
contain strong issues such as: very strong violence, frequent strong
language (eg 'f***') and/or very strong language (eg ‘c***’), strong,
portrayals of sexual activity, scenes of sexual violence, strong horror,
strong blood and gore, real sex (in some circumstances),
discriminatory language and behaviour.
The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted
classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong
fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in
specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults
only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail
order.

7. Information found on:
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/