Version
1
URI:
This rating system has been adopted in these regions for the
specified usage:
Age Restrictions
Min Recommend Age: |
N.A.
|
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): |
N.A.
|
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): |
N.A.
|
Attributes
HAC Usage: |
Y
|
HAC Ordinal: |
0 |
Definition
G
:
General
Suitable for viewing by all ages.
Reasons and Content Descriptors
Explanation
This category includes films that are unlikely to disturb most viewers. Some films
that are considered appropriate for young children and family audiences due to their
relative absence of coarse language or other elements of concern appear in this category,
such as Despicable Me (2010), the Toy Story Films, and the High School Musical films.
Some documentaries also receive this classification, providing that there is little
or no coarse language or disturbing subject matter contained in the film. This includes
titles such as Oceans (2010), Justin Bieber Never Say Never (2011), and Cave Of Forgotten
Dreams (2011). This category provides no guarantee that a film will be of interest
to children, but it does indicate that most audience members would not object to a
child seeing the film.
Age Restrictions
Min Recommend Age: |
N.A.
|
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): |
N.A.
|
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): |
N.A.
|
Attributes
HAC Usage: |
Y
|
HAC Ordinal: |
3 |
Definition
PG
:
Parental Guidance
Parental guidance is advised.
Reasons and Content Descriptors
Explanation
Theme or content may not be suitable for all children. This category includes a wide
range of films that may be attended by viewers of any age without adult accompaniment.
While taking into account the subject matter of these films, there may be elements
of violence, sexual innuendo, or coarse language that adults should assess before
determining the film's suitability for minors in their care. Profanity, scatological
slang, cursing, and vulgar expressions may appear in this category. Sometimes these
films will include isolated use of the most common sexual expletive, though more frequent
use usually results in the placement of the film in a higher category. Examples include
films such as The King’s Speech (2010) and Eat Pray Love (2010). Many adventure films,
comic book adaptations, and science fiction films fall into this category, such as
the Harry Potter films, the Twilight Saga, the Iron Man films and The A-Team (2010).
In this category, violence is usually not bloody or vicious, and frightening elements
are more thrilling than terrifying. Many romantic comedies, such as Date Night (2010),
The Proposal (2009) and Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011) also receive this classification.
This does not mean that the film is necessarily intended as children's entertainment,
but that the sexual references and language are generally accepted as part of the
genre, and lack detail. Other PG comedies feature elements such as slapstick violence,
crude humour, or sexual references, such as in Jack And Jill (2011), Zookeeper (2011)
and The Other Guys (2010). These elements are evaluated by both detail and frequency.
Some dramas fall into the PG classification because the elements such as mature subject
matter or violence are not so prolonged or detailed that they warrant placement in
a higher category. Consider Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) , The Vow (2012),
and The Social Network (2010). Some documentaries also appear in this category, such
as Chasing Madoff (2011), Waiting for "Superman" (2010) and many of the Warren Miller
ski films. The use of coarse language, non-sexual nudity, or violence in this category
is comparable to what is found on the television news.
Age Restrictions
Min Recommend Age: |
14 |
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): |
N.A.
|
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): |
15 |
Attributes
HAC Usage: |
Y
|
HAC Ordinal: |
6 |
Definition
14A
:
14 Accompaniment
Suitable for viewing by persons 14 years of age or older.
Reasons and Content Descriptors
Explanation
Persons under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. May contain violence, coarse language,
and/or sexually suggestive scenes. This category is designed to include films that
are appropriate for audiences 14 years of age or older, but which may be considered
by some adults to be appropriate for viewing by the minors in their care in the company
of an adult. At this classification level there are often elements of frequent coarse
language, particularly use of the sexual expletive, such as in Bridesmaids (2011),
The Ides Of March (2011), or 21 Jump Street (2012). There may be elements of nudity
or implied sexual activity, such as in A Dangerous Method (2011), Friends With Benefits
(2011) or Going The Distance (2010). Sexual situations are evaluated according to
the level of detail and the context of each individual scene, rather than by the specific
body part or activity represented in the scene. Elements of crude humour and crude
sexual language may also appear at the this level, such as in Horrible Bosses (2011),
Bad Teacher (2011), Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work (2010) and Easy A (2010). These elements
are evaluated by both detail and frequency. Violence that is frequent but does not
involve gory wounds or serious threat often warrants inclusion in this category, such
as in the Bourne films, recent James Bond films and Fast Five (2011). Violence that
includes bloody wounds or serious threat, but which is mitigated by historical context,
such as in Passchendaele (2008) and Saving Private Ryan (1998), can also appear in
this category. Some horror films, such as the Paranormal Activity films, Don’t Be
Afraid Of The Dark (2011), Devil (2010), or Insidious (2011), can also be found in
this category as the film may be frightening but the depictions tend to lack graphic
detail and gore.
Age Restrictions
Min Recommend Age: |
18 |
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): |
18 |
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): |
18 |
Attributes
HAC Usage: |
Y
|
HAC Ordinal: |
80 |
Definition
R
:
Restricted
Admittance restricted to persons 18 years of age and older.
Reasons and Content Descriptors
Explanation
Content not suitable for minors. Contains frequent sexual activity, brutal/graphic
violence, intense horror and/or other disturbing content. This is the most heavily
restricted category in use by Alberta Film Classification; no one under the age of
18 may be in the theatre under any circumstances. These films contain the most graphic
violence, sexual violence, or other disturbing content that is available to moviegoers.
Films such as Saw 3D (2010), I Spit On Your Grave (2010), Les 7 Jours Du Talion (7
Days) (2010) and Hobo With A Shotgun (2011) represent the range of graphically violent
or sexually violent material in this category. Disturbing content, combined with sexual
activity and violence can be found in this category in films such as Antichrist (2009),
3D Sex And Zen: Extreme Ecstasy (2011) and Baise Moi (2001). Films depicting unsimulated
sexual activity, whether in live action, such as Shortbus (2006) and Enter The Void
(2011), or animation, such as Waltz With Bashir (2008), receive the R classification.
Extreme crude content that can include detailed depictions of bodily functions or
crude activities, such as those found in the Jackass films, also receive the R classification.
Age Restrictions
Min Recommend Age: |
18 |
Min Allowed Age (Supervised): |
N.A.
|
Min Allowed Age (Unsupervised): |
18 |
Attributes
HAC Usage: |
Y
|
HAC Ordinal: |
70 |
Definition
18A
:
18 Accompaniment
Suitable for viewing by persons 18 years of age or older.
Reasons and Content Descriptors
Explanation
Persons under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. May contain explicit violence, frequent
coarse language, sexual activity and/or horror. This category is
designed to include films that are appropriate for audiences who have reached adulthood,
but which may be considered by some adults to be appropriate for
viewing by the minors in their care in the company of an adult.
Many comedies that include detailed or crude sexual material or drug references appear
in this category, such as A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011),
The Hangover Part II (2011), and Project X (2012). Most horror movies that include
gory violence and nudity are placed in this category, such as Drive Angry (2011),
Piranha (2010), and Underworld: Awakening (2012). Many adult dramas, with elements
ranging from sexual themes to disturbing violence, also appear in this category. Consider
The Kids Are All Right (2010), Love & Other Drugs (2010), The Girl With The Dragon
Tattoo (2011), and Drive (2011). Alberta