Does the BBFC treat movies distributed by there Big 5 better than indie movies?
Here is a guide to BBFC and MPAA ratings
A typical theme reoccurring is the BBFC and MPAA seem to favourite movies distributed by the big 5. They are more likely to give a higher rating to an indie movie, and a lower rating to a mainstream movie.
The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) opens with a very violent and gory scene, where a pencil is put through a mans head.
Budget: $180m
Box office: $1b
Distributor: Warner Bros.
The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) opens with a very violent and gory scene, where a pencil is put through a mans head.
Budget: $180m
Box office: $1b
Distributor: Warner Bros.
The parents guide on IMDb considers the violence and gore to be moderate, with the sex and nudity being 'none', profanity to be 'mild', alcohol, drugs... to be 'mild' and the frightening and intense scenes to be 'severe'. One comment says:
BBFC gave this movie a 12A and MPAA gave it PG-13, "due to intense sequences of violence and some menace"
They claimed it was due to its 'cartoon style'
The World's End (Edgar Wright, 2013) has constant swearing, with 'mother****er' almost becoming a catchphrase for one character.
Budget: $20m
Box office: $46.1m
Distributor: Universal pictures
The parents guide on IMDb considers the profanity as 'severe', the sex and nudity as 'mild', the frightening and intense scenes as 'mild', the alcohol, drugs and smoking as 'moderate' and violence and gore as 'moderate'.
The movie was given the rating of R by MPAA, and it was given a 15 by BBFC. This seems to be quite shocking due to the repeated use of swearing. The distributors will be very happy with this as it means the target audience (Age 15-24) is easier to access.
On the opposite side, we have a Warp film called This is England (Shane Meadows, 2007). This movie was produced with the intention of creating a teenage movie with a target audience of between 15-24. They were given a BBFC rating of 18, meaning their audience was narrowed to mainly above 18 only. This means that the box office is smaller.
Budget: 1.5 m GBP
Box Office: 5m GBP
Distributor: StudioCanal UK
The parents guide considers the violence to be 'severe', the profanity to be 'severe', the alcohol, drugs and smoking to be 'moderate' and the frightening and intense scenes as 'severe'. Although appearing to have a harsh parents guide, the comments don't seem to appear too different to The World's End.
I would agree that the profanity is severe, however it seems to be similar to the profanity in The World's End. You could look at the other side and say that it depends on the context of the swearing, as it is considered more extreme if it is used as an insult and said directly to someone. The World's End is a comedy, therefore most of the swearing done in that is for comedic purposes.
BBFC gave this movie a 12A and MPAA gave it PG-13, "due to intense sequences of violence and some menace"
They claimed it was due to its 'cartoon style'The World's End (Edgar Wright, 2013) has constant swearing, with 'mother****er' almost becoming a catchphrase for one character.
Budget: $20m
Box office: $46.1m
Distributor: Universal pictures
The parents guide on IMDb considers the profanity as 'severe', the sex and nudity as 'mild', the frightening and intense scenes as 'mild', the alcohol, drugs and smoking as 'moderate' and violence and gore as 'moderate'.
On the opposite side, we have a Warp film called This is England (Shane Meadows, 2007). This movie was produced with the intention of creating a teenage movie with a target audience of between 15-24. They were given a BBFC rating of 18, meaning their audience was narrowed to mainly above 18 only. This means that the box office is smaller.
Budget: 1.5 m GBP
Box Office: 5m GBP
Distributor: StudioCanal UK
The parents guide considers the violence to be 'severe', the profanity to be 'severe', the alcohol, drugs and smoking to be 'moderate' and the frightening and intense scenes as 'severe'. Although appearing to have a harsh parents guide, the comments don't seem to appear too different to The World's End.
I would agree that the profanity is severe, however it seems to be similar to the profanity in The World's End. You could look at the other side and say that it depends on the context of the swearing, as it is considered more extreme if it is used as an insult and said directly to someone. The World's End is a comedy, therefore most of the swearing done in that is for comedic purposes.
Good, clear examples Louis, but lacking in more general context: who are the BBFC? are they a statutory organisation (like OfCom) or voluntary (like IPSO)? In the US system, ratings are voluntary – is the same true for the UK? Do the BBFC ever ban any films? I’ve covered this on the mediareg blog as well as britcin + A2 media blogs. For the MPAA you can find the full This Film Is Not Rated doc on them (very entertaining, highly provocative) on YT etc.
ReplyDeleteYou need to update this too with a post analysing typical age ratings for your genre (looking at budget and studio/Indie as you do). You could also use some basic research to find quotes/evidence/stats on what impact, if any, an 18 rating has on box office – so far you only have my word on that + 3 very different films.
Sub-headings would help distinguish the films being analysed, and in any longer post a short summary (IN THIS POST or KEY POINTS) should be at the top…alongside POSSIBLE INFLUENCES – not just for conventions! Once you’ve analysed a range of genre egs you will be in a position to state with authority which age rating you’d target through production choices/omissions.
The BBFC/age ratings, and their link to box office/distribution prospects as well as production (including scripting/screenplay) choices, is an important point for AUDIENCE as well as INDUSTRY.