Film Classifications: U and PG

Classifications are put in place to let viewers know the suitability of a film for the director's target audience.

There are two types of classifications which are suitable for children under the age of twelve; U and PG.

U Classification
Films which are rated U are deemed suitable for all (children aged over the age of four or of nursery age should the consumer guidelines allow). Films rated U are usually required to be set within a moral framework and lessons should be learned by the characters at the end of the film.

Any violence, threat, or horror should be mild and contrasts against these actions should be included. There should be no discrimination amongst the characters unless disapproved and an educational purpose should be in place in the case of referencing to drug abuse.

Young children are impressionable and could be influenced to copy any dangerous behaviour or stunts and so those should not be included.

Any language or nudity should be mild, infrequent and natural and should not be considered to be sexual. The plot of the film should contain appropriate issues for young children and should be sensitively handled.

PG Classification
The rating of PG should show that a film is suitable for children aged over the age of eight, parents of children under this age should be aware that some scenes shown may be unsuitable.

Violence included in the film should be moderate and idealy be included in a historical, comedy or fantasy background. There should be no idealism of realistic weapons and no potentially dangerous behaviour which could be easily copied by children. Discriminatory language is not liable to be acceptable unless set in a historical or educational background, or used mildly by a character not idealized in the film. Horror scenes should be short and unintense, and set within understandable situations.

Any language or nudity should be conducted in the same way as in a U and any sex references should be mild. Serious issues (such as domestic violence) should be approached and conducted in a way that isn't condoned or considered by the characters to be acceptable behaviour.