When the BBFC gives a film a certificate it also provides ‘Consumer Advice’ (CA) – a brief line of information giving cinema goers a clear idea of the key issues in the film. How is this line arrived at? Will it ruin the plot? And how can you find out more about what a film contains?

This CA is an increasingly important aspect of the classification system and is discussed by film, video and game examiners in the same way that category decisions are discussed. Occasionally examiners may even ‘split’ over CA and recommend that the work is viewed by others to ensure the CA is clear and appropriate.

Some lines of information are fairly standard – ‘Contains strong language and violence’ for example, for a thriller rated ‘15’, while others are more complicated. Take the film Million Dollar Baby, which was rated ‘12A’because it contained several distressing scenes and a grown up plotline about a character’s injury and desire to die.  The film starts off (and was in part marketed) as a boxing story. However, the issue which required the ‘12A’ was one which would spoil the plot if spelled out too clearly in the CA.

In such instances the BBFC often works with film distributors to ensure the CA helps inform the public without ruining the film.

The BBFC’s Consumer Advice is now so much a part of the cinema going landscape that it turns up in some unusual places, like political cartoons.  Some of the phrases have taken on a cult status all of their own.  One such phrase was ‘mild peril’ - which was used in the CA for Finding Nemo .  Sadly not everyone understood what that actually meant.  In 2005 the words and phrases which we use in Consumer Advice were themselves subjected to public consultation.  It’s no good using words which people don’t easily understand.  Sadly ‘mild peril’ was given the thumbs down and we usually use ‘scary moments’ instead now. 

But what if parents or members of the public do want to know more? After all, although a phrase like ‘strong violence’ or ‘medical gore’ gives a flavour of what will be in a work, it can only highlight key issues. The Mummy – Tomb of The Dragon Emperor, Elizabeth - The Golden Age and Flightplan, for example, all have Consumer Advice which includes the phrase ‘moderate violence’ but the reaction of audiences, the tone and the style of that violence could be very different.

Since 2007 the BBFC has published extended versions of CA on its main website for all films and games classified. It also publishes specifically tailored advice for parents on its website, Parentsbbfc – ECA. All films rated ‘U’ – ‘12A’ and all video games are featured on the site.

It explains the CA and gives examples of the sorts of things you will see or hear in a film such as violence, bad language, sexual references etc. The advice on parents BBFC will also note any other issues that might be important for those wishing to take younger viewers to see a film, such as themes of divorce or bereavement.

Sometimes ECA will give away bits of the plot or describe scenes. For example it might refer to a specific fight scene to give you a flavour of the sort of violence in a film and how strong it is. So the extended consumer advice for The Dark Knight notes:

'The Dark Knight contains a good deal of violence but it does not contain detail. In one of the stronger scenes, Batman repeatedly beats the Joker during an interrogation. The blows however are all masked from the camera and, despite both their weight and force, the Joker shows no sign of injury.’

It also tells you that the film includes knife scenes with some ‘menace’ and that it is a ‘superhero movie’ and that the genre provides a context for this violence.

More information is available for films at the higher categories too – although this is found on the main BBFC website www.bbfc.co.uk. With horror works it offers an opportunity to give a flavour of the tone and feel of the film.

The advice on creepy US flick The Strangers adds details which are designed to prepare an audience for the specific type of psychological horror the film provides:

‘The narrative follows a young couple in a remote house who are terrorised by three unknown and masked assailants. Sudden appearances at windows and doors provide for some very effective 'jump' moments in the film as the tension and psychological threat are cranked up.’

‘The detail of the violence perpetrated is kept relatively muted… None of the killings that take place are actually shown in detail. Much more is suggested than actually depicted.’

By stressing the tonal quality of the violence the advice forewarns the viewer that although the film is in many ways relatively detail free it has a powerful affect.

With games the advice might explain what genre the game is, how it is played, what the focus of the play is. Advice on all video games is available on our website for parents too.

Find out more:

Consumer Advice

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