Main Issues in Film Classification - Violence

Violence

Violence has always been a feature of entertainment for children and adults. Classification decisions will take account of the degree and nature of any violence in a work.

Works which feature the following are likely to receive more restrictive classifications:

• portrayal of violence as a normal solution to problems
• heroes who inflict pain and injury
• callousness towards victims
• encouragement of aggressive attitudes
• content which depicts characters taking pleasure in pain or humiliation.

Sexualised violence or works which glorify or glamorise violence will receive a more restrictive classification and may even be cut.

A strict policy on sexual violence and rape is applied. Content which might eroticise or endorse sexual violence may require cuts at any classification level. This is more likely with video works than film because of the potential for replaying scenes out of context. Any association of sex with non-consensual restraint, pain or humiliation may be cut.