Infocommunications Media Development Authority

In Singapore, film/video game classification is decided by the Board of Film Censors, a part of the Infocommunications Media Development Authority of Singapore.

Before showing a film or game to a child, they should check the classification information of the material in advance when available.

Classification categories

Films

These three classification categories are unrestricted or advisory and do not carry any legal enforcement.

• G – General. Suitable for all ages. Equivalent to G for movies and TV-Y, TV-G or TV-Y7 for television. The following content limits by the guidelines at this classification are:
  • Themes – Themes are suitable for viewers of all ages. Content should promote positive social values e.g. family bonding, respect for the elders.
  • Violence – Mild portrayals of violence are allowed. The occasional mild threat or menace is acceptable if justified by context. No portrayals of dangerous or harmful behaviour that can be easily imitated by children.
  • Sex – No sexual activity is allowed. Portrayals of affection (e.g. brief kissing) can be allowed.
  • Nudity – There should be no nudity.
  • Language – No coarse language is allowed.
  • Drug and Substance Abuse – No references to illegal drugs or drug abuse. Content meant for children should not promote consumption of alcohol and tobacco products.
  • Horror – Treatment of horror should not be too realistic, or threatening, as it is likely to cause fear and anxiety among children. Horror tinged with humour may reduce the impact. Scenes of horror should be mild and not psychologically disturbing.

• PG – Parental Guidance. All ages admitted but parental guidance is recommended for young children. Equivalent to PG for movies and TV-Y7-FV or low TV-PG for television. The following content limits by the guidelines at this classification are:
  • Themes – Themes should be suitable for children below 13 years. They should have a low sense of threat or menace, and be justifiable by the context. Special attention should be paid to their Impact on children. Crime, violence, juvenile delinquency and promiscuity should not be glamorised or promoted.
  • Violence – Moderate portrayals of violence without details, may be allowed, if justified by context. Portrayals of violence should not dwell on cruelty, infliction of pain or torture of any kind.
  • Sex – Sexual activity may be implied, and should be infrequent. Only mild displays of affection (e.g. kissing and caressing) and mild sexual innuendoes are allowed.
  • Nudity – Discreet portrayal of back nudity is allowed if it is brief and in a nonsexual context. Full frontal and side nudity is not allowed.
  • Language – Infrequent coarse language is allowed if it is relevant and justified by context. Examples are "bitch" and "asshole".
  • Drug and Substance Abuse – Only discreet references to illegal drug use are allowed on the condition that such references do not promote or endorse drug abuse and should be justified by context. Content targeted at children should not promote consumption of alcohol and tobacco products.
  • Horror – Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Horror tinged with humour and in a fantasy setting may be mitigating factors.
• PG13 – Parental Guidance 13. Suitable for persons aged 13 and older. Under 13s are admitted, but parental guidance is strongly advised. It is the newest classification category. Equivalent to PG-13 for movies and high TV-PG or low TV-14 for television. The following content limits by the guidelines at this classification are:
  • Themes – Themes should be suitable for young teens between 13 and 15. Darker themes can be allowed. Crime, violence, juvenile delinquency, and promiscuity should not be glamorised or promoted.
  • Violence – Moderate portrayals of violence with some details, may be allowed, if justified by context. Portrayals of violence can include some infliction of pain and injury but should not be detailed, intense or prolonged.
  • Sex – Sexual activity may be implied, and should be infrequent and brief. Sexual humour can be allowed. Sexual innuendoes, crude hand gestures and sexual imagery can be allowed if mild and infrequent.
  • Nudity – Discreet and fleeting side profile nudity may be allowed in a nonsexual context. Full frontal nudity is not allowed. However, infrequent portrayal of female frontal nudity of the upper body may be allowed only under exceptional circumstances and in a non-sexual context. For example, films which feature historical or dramatised events such as the World War II Holocaust, tribal ways of life, or health programmes.
  • Language – The word "f**k" is allowed if used infrequently.
  • Drug and Substance Abuse – Only discreet depictions of illegal drug use are allowed on the condition that such depictions do not promote or endorse drug abuse and should be justified by context. Content targeted at children should not promote consumption of alcohol and tobacco products.
  • Horror – Depiction of horror can be more realistic and intense.

The next three classification categories are legally restricted; it is an offence to allow persons younger than the stipulated age limit to be admitted in cinemas. Additionally, it is illegal to sell, show or supply such material to persons younger than the stipulated age limit.

• NC16 – No Children Under 16. Restricted to persons aged 16 and above. Equivalent to R for movies and low TV-MA for television. The following content limits by the guidelines at this classification are:
  • Themes – Portrayal of mature themes (e.g. gangsterism and transvestism) may be permitted, provided they are treated with discretion and are appropriate for those 16 years and above.
  • Violence – The portrayal of infliction of pain and injuries may be allowed with some details of blood and gore but should not be prolonged or frequent. Explicit sexual violence is not allowed.
  • Sex – Non-explicit depiction of sexual activities may be allowed but should not be detailed or prolonged.
  • Nudity – Infrequent, brief and discreet portrayal of female upper body frontal nudity may be allowed in a non-sexual context.
  • Language – Infrequent use of expletives such as "motherf**ker", "cunt", "chee bye", "lan jiao", "puki mak" and "pundai" may be allowed if justified by context and not impactful. Coarse language which offends community and cultural sensitivities should not be allowed (e.g. "kan ni na lao bu"). Continued aggressive use of strong language and verbal sexual abuse is unacceptable.
  • Drug and Substance Abuse – Drug taking may be allowed if brief and infrequent. The film must not promote or encourage drug and substance abuse.
  • Horror – Films with disturbing or gory scenes without strong details may be allowed. Frightening scenes which are more prolonged may be allowed.
• M18 – Mature 18. Restricted to 18 and older. Equivalent to low NC-17 for movies and medium TV-MA for television. The following content limits by the guidelines at this classification are:
  • Themes – Stronger portrayal and exploration of mature themes are allowed. Homosexual theme/content as a sub-plot may be permitted, if discreet in treatment and not gratuitous.
  • Violence – Realistic depiction of violence and gore with strong impact is allowed if justified by context. However, the portrayal should not be excessive, gratuitous or exploitative. Stronger portrayals of sexual violence may be allowed if justified by context, infrequent or without strong details.
  • Sex – Sexual activity may be portrayed if justified by context, infrequent and without strong details. Depiction of occasional, mild sexual activity (i.e. kissing and hugging) between persons of the same gender may be permitted if justified by context and not gratuitous. Sexual violence may be allowed if justified by context, infrequent and without strong details.
  • Nudity – Full frontal nudity with moderate detail is acceptable if justified by context, and not excessive. No close up of genitalia is allowed.
  • Language – Coarse language is allowed if it is not excessive.
  • Drug and Substance Abuse – Drug taking may be allowed with some details. The film must not promote or encourage drug and substance abuse.
  • Horror – Prolonged and/or intense sequences that invoke fear and/or terror may be permitted.
• R21 – Restricted 21. No one under 21 is admitted in cinemas. R21 ratings are not given for video releases. Equivalent to high NC-17 for movies and high TV-MA for television. The following content limits by the guidelines at this classification are:
  • Themes – Stronger and more explicit portrayal and exploration of mature themes are allowed. Films that portray, as a main theme, same-sex marriages or parenting will be subject to strict review.
  • Violence – Strong and realistic depictions of violence and gore are allowed if justified by context. Depiction of torture can be allowed, if not exploitative or gratuitous.
  • Sex – Simulated sexual activities are allowed if they are not excessive. Explicit images of sexual activity (e.g. masturbation, fellatio and sexual act) need to be justified by context. Explicit portrayals of sex between persons of the same gender are not allowed. Films likely to encourage an interest in abusive or unnatural sexual activity (e.g. paedophilia, incest and anal sex) are not permitted. Films with themes involving deviant sexual activities (e.g. sadomasochism, bondage, orgies or sex involving violence) will be subject to strict review and are likely to be disallowed.
  • Nudity – Full nudity is permitted but should not be excessive. Close ups of genitalia should be contextually justifiable.
  • Language – Frequent use of strong coarse language may be allowed.
  • Drug and Substance Abuse – Drug taking sequences may be allowed but instructive details of illegal drug use are not allowed. The film must not promote or encourage drug and substance abuse.
  • Horror – Depiction of intense horror, and sustained threat or menace may be permitted if contextually justified. Portrayals of extreme abhorrent activity that may offend and cause great discomfort may be disallowed.

Video games

On April 14, 2008, the Media Development Authority announced that an official video games classification system will be in effect on April 28, 2008.

Before the introduction of an official video game rating system in Singapore, the IMDA banned The Darkness for graphic violence and Mass Effect because of an option of a homosexual romance if the player character is female.

Approved video games do not require cuts or other edits.

• If a video game has been approved for general distribution without the need of a classification, it is given a "General" decision by the IMDA. This makes the game effectively exempt from classification. This is not a formal classification, and they are not required to bear Singapore-specific age rating labels. Anyone can legally access a video game which has been given a "General" decision. Equivalent to E and E10+.
• ADV16 (Advisory 16 – Suitable for persons aged 16 and above) – May contain moderate graphic violence, some drug use, implied sexual activity, partial nudity and some strong language. Although unlikely to be suitable for children under 16, they may legally access the material. Before April 29, 2019, this rating was known as "Age Advisory". Equivalent to T and M.
• M18 (Mature 18 – Restricted to persons 18 years and above) – Only persons aged 18 and above may purchase such content. It is illegal to supply, show or sell an M18 classified game to a person younger than 18 years. May contain depictions of strong realistic violence, such as killing, maiming or causing other serious injury to humanoid characters if the violence is not sadistic, cruel and abhorrent, realistic drug use, portrayal of sexual activity with some nudity, both topless and full frontal, if not detailed, depiction of topless nudity or occasional full frontal nudity, frequent use of strong coarse language and mature themes including homosexual content. Equivalent to AO.

Video games with materials that exceed the content standards of the M18 rating will be refused classification. The first title to be refused classification by the IMDA is Waifu Uncovered, due to it containing excessive and exploitative nudity.

Refusal of classification

In exceptional cases, material may be refused classification when the content of the film undermines national interest or erodes the moral fabric of society.

A film will be likely to be refused classification if it meets one or more of the criteria below:

• It is deemed to undermine public order, national security and/or stability.
• Themes that promote issues that denigrate any race or religion, or undermine national interest.
• Themes that glorify undesirable fetishes or behaviour (e.g. paedophilia and bestiality).
• Promotion or glamorisation of homosexual lifestyle.
• Detailed or gratuitous depictions of extreme violence or cruelty.
• Detailed instructions on methods of crime or killings.
• Exploitative or pornographic sexual acts.
• Depictions of obscene and/or unnatural sexual activities (e.g. bestiality, necrophilia and paedophilia).
• Real sexual activities (e.g. actual penetration, actual ejaculation).
• Gratuitous, exploitative or offensive depictions or sexual activity including fetishes or practices which are offensive or abhorrent.
• Exploitative or excessive nudity.
• Language that denigrates religion or is religiously profane (e.g. Jesus F**king Christ).
• Materials glorifying or encouraging drug and substance abuse.
• Detailed and instructive depiction of illegal drug use.

However, if only some edits are needed to edit a small amount of material that meets the criteria above, it may be passed with a classification category after the distributor has made cuts. If the amount of cuts would be too complex or excessive, then the IMDA cannot recommend any cuts, and it will be refused classification. If the IMDA recommended cuts, but the distributor refused to do so, it will be refused classification as well.

Refused classification material was originally denoted with the NAR (not for all ratings) classification.

Classification is mandatory, and material that has never been formally classified or has been refused classification cannot be legally distributed or sold within Singapore under law.

List

• G list
  • Approx. 2,847 titles, as of September 1, 2022

• PG list
  • Approx. 16,162 titles, as of September 1, 2022

• PG13 list
  • Approx. 7,019 titles, as of September 1, 2022

• NC16 list
  • Approx. 5,539 titles, as of September 1, 2022

• M18 list
  • Approx. 8,090 titles, as of September 1, 2022

• R21 list
  • Approx. 2,875 titles, as of September 1, 2022

Trivia

• Singapore's media classification board is known to be stricter than other classification boards such as the Motion Picture Association (United States), the British Board of Film Classification (United Kingdom), and the Australian Classification Board (Australia) due to the socially conservative values of Singaporeans, thus making Singapore media accessibility for adults less free than these three countries. Some films with coarse language can contain a specific series of words, such as "Jesus f**king Christ". It is considered to be material that is "denigrating to any racial or religious community" according to the IMDA's classification guidelines. Homosexual content also affects the age rating given to films released in Singapore.
• Currently, non-urban cinemas are not permitted to screen R21 classified films at any time.
• G and M18 are the only ratings to be used in both films and games. M18 became the only restricted rating for games.