Film Classifications research

Film Classification 

U (universal)

U rated films are ones that are suitable for audiences aged four and over. However it is impossible to predict what a child might find frightening or inappropriate, that may be up to the parents.If there is any violence or horror in a U rated film, it should be over quickly and the film should tell children that it will have a happy ending.

An example of a U rated film is lion king. This is a animated film from Disney studios and contains a death which isn't gruesome or violent. 

 

There are no examples of post- apocalyptic films that are rated U this is because most films of that genre contain themes not suitable for young children.  

PG (Parental guidance)

This rating is for children eight or older and is seen to a general viewing rating.A PG tells parents that the content within the film may upset young and sensitive children.

An example of a PG rated film is Shrek forever after is the fourth installment of the famous Shrek films. It contains a few fight scenes which are very mild and no blood is shed.    

An example of a PG rated post-apocalyptic film is Enders Game which is a sci-fi film set in a dystopian future in which Ender saves the world from aliens.

12/12A

12A is used so that people who are under the age of twelve are entitled to see a film in a cinema if they are accompanied by an adult. A 12 classification is films that are suitable for children aged twelve and older. Films under this cataogy can contain  mild adult themes, hard drugs, strong language, violence and sexual references. These all need contextual justification. 

An example of 12/12A Is popular sci-fi film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it was given this rating due to "moderate violence" and "threat." However the signs of blood and injury detail are brief. It also contain "infrequent Language"



A post-apocalyptic film that is a 12/12A is The Hunger Games which contains many death scenes as the point of the Games is to survive against 23 other teenagers in a virtual arena. The film features scenes in which contestants stung to death, impaled by spears, ripped apart by dogs and beaten to death with a brick, Although the intensity in which it is shown is mild.

15

These are media products suitable for people aged 15 and older. films under this category can contain violence and hard drugs. Sex can be actively portrayed but without strong detail. strong language can used within 15 films and very strong language can be used in specif context. 

An example of a film with a 15 rating is the american comedy Role models that stars Paul Rudd and   contains strong language from a child and nudity of a chest of a woman.

 

An example of a post-apocalyptic film with an age rating of 15 is the 2007 film I Am Legend which contains violence and imital behavior (Kills himself to save other people using a grenade), there is a strong sense of threat due to the dark nature of the infected. 

18

Films with this rating are suitable for adults only and anyone younger then eight-teen is not permitted to see it in the cinema. These films may contain explicit sexual content, Very strong gory/ sadistic violence and very foul language can be used. 

An example of a film with a rating of 18 is the famous serial killer thriller The Silence Of The lambs, this film contains heavy gore as Buffalo Bill murders women and makes a suit out of their skin and also a man is shot six times. There is some moderate sexual references and also mild nudity of both men and women. 

A post-apocalyptic film that is rated 18 is the British zombie film 28 Days Later,as it contains very strong language and horror themes throughout. There is a lot of blood and gore to the point someones eyes are squeezed into their head until they pop and references to rape of two women.

Restricted 18

These films can only be shown at licensed cinema and licensee sex shops. These films always contain hard-core pornography with many explicit themes such as incest and BDSM. 

An example of a restricted eight-teen is the film Come Undone which contains a steamy affair with a lot of sex within the film.

There are no post-apocalyptic films that are of this classification.