U (BBFC)

A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over, although it is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child.

–BBFC

U (full name: Universal) is a certificate given by the BBFC determining that a particular form of media is suitable for all ages (four years and over according to the BBFC). The BBFC cannot determine exactly whether a U-rated film may frighten some children, and U-rated works are not necessarily aimed at children (because (until 2009) Uc is the rating for children under four). It is the only rating to survive from the creation of the British film censors to today, as A (the other rating to be created in 1912) was absorbed into today's current PG classification, which means it is the longest running certificate by the BBFC.

It is equivalent to the MPA's G for movies, ESRB's E for video games and TV-G/hard TV-Y for television; however, the U rating is used mostly in PG-rated movies by the MPA, such as Shrek, due to the fact that the MPA is stricter with all age material than the BBFC.

The BBFC U rating was also used as an available classification for video games up until 2012, when PEGI ratings became legally binding.

List[]

As of June 8, 2023, there are over 33,000 U rated titles according to IMDb. (list)

Content guidelines[]

Dangerous behaviour

Potentially dangerous or antisocial behaviour that young children may copy should be clearly disapproved of or wholly unrealistic. There should be no emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons.

Discrimination

Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of.

Drugs

References to drugs must be infrequent and innocuous, or have valuable messaging for young children.

Language

There may be very mild bad language. Frequent use may result in a higher age rating.

Nudity

There may be occasional nudity with no sexual context.

Sex

There may be very mild sex references or sexual behaviour (for example, kissing).

Threat and scary scenes

Threat and scary scenes that may unsettle young children should be very mild and the outcome should be reassuring.

Violence

Violence should be very mild and justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic). Injury detail should be very mild, brief and undetailed.