While the British Board of Film Classification provides a film certificate whose age restriction is enforced by councils, there have been some exceptions as statutory powers over film remain with local councils which can overrule the BBFC's decisions and apply their own licensing conditions. All city councils recognise the following British film certificates: U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18 and R18.
This is a list of films whose council-enforced certificate differs from that of the BBFC certificate. Only cinema releases are shown here. Films rated U and PG by the BBFC are not included here due to them being unrestricted classifications.
Film title and year | BBFC cert |
Council ruling |
Details |
---|---|---|---|
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) | ![]() |
Banned (11 councils) (28 councils) |
The film was given an AA certificate (allowing audiences 14 and over) in 1979. Due to the film's subject matter, which was perceived by some as blasphemous, the film was raised to an X certificate (allowing audiences 18 and over) in 28 councils and banned in 11 councils.[1] |
Crash (1996) | Banned (councils in the West End and Cardiff) | The erotic thriller Crash was given an 18 certificate by the BBFC in 1997. Westminster City Council was originally given permission to screen the film in 1996. Following a campaign by newspapers such as The Daily Mail and The Evening Standard, the film was prohibited from screening in some councils in the West End and Cardiff after the distributor refused to make cuts to the most graphic sex scenes. | |
All films released between October 2001 and January 2002 | PG-12 (Norwich) | The "PG-12" certificate allowed persons under 12 to be admitted provided they were accompanied by an adult. Norwich was chosen as it was isolated from other large towns. The results of the trial led to the introduction of the 12A certificate. | |
Spider-Man (2002) | PG-12 (Tameside) (some councils) |
Between the end of the Norwich trial and the formal introduction of the 12A certificate, Tameside allowed responsible adults to override the 12+ age restriction. Some councils chose not to restrict the film to 12 years and older and instead be screened under a PG certificate. The cinema rating for Spider-Man was later changed to 12A. | |
Sweet Sixteen (2002) | (Inverclyde) | A crime drama directed by Ken Loach. The film was given an 18 certificate due to many uses of very strong language, some of which are directed. Scotland views the word "c**t" less offensive than in England and Wales. The Inverclyde Council allowed persons aged 15-17 in following an appeal from local cinema owner Robert Gilmour. There are also over three hundred uses of strong language, but that alone warrants just a 15 certificate. | |
This Is England (2006) | (Bristol) | A drama film set in 1983 England. The use of very strong and racist language (particularly P*ki c**t), some of which are aggressive and accompanied by violence, resulted in the film being given an 18 certificate. In the Bristol City Council screenings of the film were shown under a 15 certificate. | |
A Northern Soul (2018) | (Hull, Sheffield and 7 other councils) | The documentary was given a 15 certificate for strong language. In Hull City Council, Sheffield, and seven other local authorities in England, the film was shown under a 12A certificate. | |
The Batman (2022) | 15A (Belfast) |
The film was given a 15 certificate due to scenes of strong threat and violence. On 16 February 2022, a cinema chain located within the Belfast City Council launched a bid to overturn the BBFC's decision giving it a 15 certificate, but it was narrowly defeated. A couple of weeks later, the same council allowed persons under 15 in the screening provided they were accompanied by an adult. It was rated 15A in the Republic of Ireland. | |
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) | 15A (Belfast) |
The film was given a 15 certificate due to scenes of strong threat and violence. On 19 October 2023, Belfast City Council overruled the film's 15 rating and gave it a 15A rating, allowing children under 15 to see the film as long as they were accompanied by an adult.[2] |
British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) |
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Formerly used certificates: A | H | X | AA | Uc | PG-12 History of certificates | Video Recordings Act 1984 | Rejected works | Cut works | Discrepancies |