Barbieworld may be a utopia — but it does come with a warning of “moderate innuendo and implied strong language”.
Greta Gerwig film Barbie, which has been sweeping UK cinemas, has been classified — to some surprise — as a 12A, the third category beyond ‘Universal’ and ‘Parental Guidance’.
Despite the stricter-than-imagined classification, Barbie has been a box office success, packing out cinemas across London and beyond after a spectacular press tour by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling promoting the film.
In the same week that the film was released with its surprising 12A certification, the classic film Watership Down was upgraded from a U to a PG.
Here is what it all means, and if you can expect any scary jump cuts, peril, and gore in Barbie (ok, spoiler alert, you can’t — but there is guidance nonetheless).
What does 12A mean in UK cinemas?
The 12A certificate means the film is classified as suitable for children aged 12 and above but might be inappropriate for those below.
Children below this age can see the film in the cinema if they are accompanied by a parent. However, there is not a 12A cert for films on DVD, which are a straight 12.
The decision as to what certificate a film is given is made by the British Board of Film Classification. It rules that a 12A rating is usually given when a film contains:
- Moderate violence
- Mild language
- Moderate sex references
- Occasional nudity
- Tense scenes
- Drug use
Why is Barbie film a 12A?
The board states of the film: “Barbie and Ken leave Barbieland and venture to California where they encounter the realities of being human in this lighthearted US comedy. It explores themes of gender roles and patriarchy through a satirical lens.”
The board has ruled that Barbie is a 12A as it contains: “Moderate innuendo, brief sexual harassment, and implied strong language.”
It says violence is a two (out of five), threat is a two, language is a three, sex is a three, sexual violence or threat of sexual violence is a three, dangerous behaviour is a two, and it has two for its theme.
Other famous 12A films
The 12 rating came into force due to a “large gap” between the PG and 15 ratings, which gave classifiers a particular headache when Batman was released in 1989.
The 12A certificate came into being in 2002 when another superhero film, Spider-Man, was released and excluded children under the age of 12. The Bourne Identity was the first 12A film to be released in cinemas.
This rating came into being after a two-year trial period in Norwich.
