A 15 film Is a film which is aimed at the age group of 15 years and over. It is illegal to watch a 15 rated film if you are under the age of 15. They can involve scenes which may portray discrimination. The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour. It may hold scenes of drug use. Within a film this must not encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. They can include bad language; frequent use of bad language (for example fuck) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of certain strong language may not be acceptable. Sexual scenes may be allowed but not in a strong content. Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour,
But the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.


An 18 certificate film is a film aimed towards the age group of 18 years and over basically adults. They can contain strong blood scenes, strong violence, and sexual violence. This is the reason a film is rated 18. 18 films often contain material which is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence. The language is used beyond the needed use. Where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault.