The BBFC gave Star Wars: The Force Awakens a 12A rating due to scenes of moderate violence including the use of blasters and lightsabers, brief depictions of injury, and occasional scenes of threat or implied pain caused by the Force. This was an increase from the original Star Wars film in 1977 which received a U rating. Specific scenes like the implied village slaughter, Han Solo's death, and Kylo Ren's facial injury contributed to the 12A rating. The BBFC otherwise found the film suitable without needing cuts beyond these standard ratings and descriptors.

1. P5 D- Role of
Regulatory Bodies
Kieren Carmichael

2. The BBFC
 TYPE: Feature
 APPROX. RUNNING MINUTES: 135
 RELEASE DATES: 05/09/2016, 08/07/2016, 08/02/2016, 17/12/2016
 BBFCINSIGHT: moderate violence, threat
 GENRE(S): Science Fiction, Adventure, Action
 DIRECTOR(S): J.J Abrams
 CAST INCLUDES: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver,
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis,
Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Max Von Sydow, Kenny
Baker, Warwick Davis, Simon Pegg, Ken Leung, Pip Torrens, Iko Uwais.
 SUMMARY: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is a sci-fi action
adventure in which a young woman becomes embroiled in a galactic conflict
 CUTS: All known versions of this work passed uncut.
 RATING: 12

3. BBFC Ratings- U
•The U rating means universal
and that anyone can watch the
film regardless of age. There is
almost noting unsuitable for
children aged 4 years and over.

4. BBFC Ratings- PG
• The PG rating means Parental Guidance and
that all ages can watch the film but certain
scenes may be unsuitable for young children. It
will not affect children aged 8 or older. It may
contain mild language and moderate violence if
justified by context eg. fantasy. A parent may
want to check the content before they let their
children watch it

5. BBFC Ratings- 12A
• The 12A category applies to cinema only releases
since 2002. Films in this category are considered
unsuitable for young children. Children under
the age of 12 can still watch the film as long as
they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 or
over. Films under this category can contain
mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs,
moderate language, moderate violence, sex
references and nudity.

6. BBFC Ratings- 12
• The 12 category only applies to home
media and states the films is suitable for
people aged 12 or older, it is illegal to sell a
video with a 12 certificate to anyone under
that age. 12A rated films are usually given
a 12 certificate when released for home
media. The content guidelines are the
same for that of a 12A film.

7. BBFC Ratings- 15
• The 15 category means suitable for people
aged 15 years or older, no one younger than
15 can watch it in cinema or purchase it on
home media. Films in this category can
contain adult themes, hard drugs,
(frequent) strong language, strong violence
and strong sex references, and nudity
without graphic detail.

8. BBFC Ratings- 18
• The 18 category means suitable only for
people aged 18 or over, no one younger
than 18 can see the film in cinema or
purchase it on home media. Films under
this category do not have limitation on the
foul language that is used. Hard drugs are
generally allowed, and explicit sex
references along with detailed sexual
activity are also allowed.

9. The BBFC
• The BBFC carried out a Case Study of the original Star Wars in 1977, and have held their stance for
40 years on the status of Star Wars, only slightly increasing the rating for Star Wars The Force
Awakens after JJ Abrams utilized a darker tone and more obvious violence in his incarnation of the
Star Wars Universe. On their website, they say of Star Wars: “Today it is perhaps one of the most
recognisable films in the world, but in June 1977 BBFC examiners sat down to watch Star Wars with
little idea of the film's destiny. The ingredients that would go on to capture the imagination of a
generation of young cinemagoers are noted as “vastly entertaining” and “grand fun for all ages”,
although one report mistakenly describes the film as being set "thousands of years in the future"
despite the opening line of the film famously setting the stage as “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away….'”. One examiner also remarks that “In the USA it is already outgrossing all other major
films”, which would prove to be a major understatement. There was some concern noted about the
level of violence and one examiner points out that the film was awarded a PG by the MPAA in
America. However the universal appeal and adventurous tone of Star Wars won the team over and
the film was passed at U, a category decision that has remained unchanged for over thirty years.”
• For the Force Awakens, they added some disclaimers for Violence and Threat that account for the
rise in rating between the original Star Wars and The Force Awakens. For violence, they state that
“there are some scenes of moderate violence, including the use of blasters and lightsabers, and
dogfights between spaceships. Sight of Blood and injury detail is brief and limited”. For Threat they
say that there are “Occasional scenes of moderate threat include characters being interrogated using
'the Force', which it is implied causes them pain, and characters being held at lightsaber-point” They
also claim that “There is infrequent use of very mild bad language ('hell', 'damn').”
• These ratings and comments are the extent of The BBFC’s dealings with The Force Awakens as it did
not come up against any more issues that required BBFC Intervention.

10. Why was a 12A Rating given?
• The Village Scene- This was a particularly vivid scene where there
was a slaughter in a village and although not explicitly seen in the
film, it was implicit that a slaughter was taking place. This was a
very prominent example of violence that would have contributed to
the 12 A Rating.
• Han Solo’s Death- Whilst not bloody or gore-filled, the death of Han
Solo was very explicit and showed beyond a doubt Han Solo being
impaled by Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, which is undoubtedly unsuitable
for a younger audience, thus contributing to the 12A Rating from
the BBFC .
• Kylo’s Injury- Kylo received a pretty gruesome facial injury towards
the end of the film when he was sliced by Rey’s lightsaber during
their conflict on Starkiller base. This contributed to the 12A Rating
as it is certainly unsuitable for a younger audience.