18 rating refers to a type of age-based
content rating
A content rating (also known as maturity rating) rates the suitability of TV shows, movies, comic books, or video games to this primary targeted audience. A content rating usually places a media source into one of a number of different categories, ...
that applies to media entertainment, such as films, television shows and computer games. The following articles document the rating across a range of countries and mediums:
Ratings
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18 (British Board of Film Classification)
The 18 certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), to state that in its opinion, a film, video recording, or game is suitable only for persons aged 18 years and over. It recommends that no one below that age should ...
, a prohibitive rating used to regulate age based admission to films in the United Kingdom and Ireland
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R18 (British Board of Film Classification)
R18 (Restricted 18) is a film and video classification given by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). It is intended to provide a classification for works that do not breach UK law, but exceed what the BBFC considers acceptable in the ...
, a more restrictive rating used for hardcore pornography in the United Kingdom
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X rating
An X rating is a film rating that indicates that the film contains content that is considered to be suitable only for adults. Films with an X rating may have scenes of graphic violence or explicit sexual acts that may be disturbing or offensive ...
, a common variant of the UK's 18 and R18 ratings used across many countries
Classification organizations
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Australian Classification Board
The Australian Classification Board (ACB or CB) is an Australian Government of Australia, government Statute, statutory body responsible for the classification and censorship of films, television programmes, video games and publications for ex ...
(R18+ and X18+, but very similar film content as M - Mature rating)
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Brazilian advisory rating system
The Brazilian Advisory Rating (, abbreviated ClassInd) is a content rating system in Brazil for the classification of movies, games and television programs. The ClassInd rating system is controlled by the Advisory Rating Coordination (''Coordenaà ...
(18)
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British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is a non-governmental organization, non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited ...
(18 and R18)
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Canadian motion picture rating system
Motion picture ratings in Canada are mostly a provincial responsibility, and each province has its own legislation regarding exhibition and admission. For home video purposes, a single Canadian Home Video Rating System rating consisting of an a ...
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Canadian Home Video Rating System
The Canadian Home Video Rating System (CHVRS) is a voluntary rating classification system applied to films on VHS and DVDs. It is administered by the Motion Picture Classification Corporation of Canada, a subsidiary of the Motion Picture Associa ...
(18A, R and A – 18 equivalents)
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Manitoba Film Classification Board (18A, R and A)
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Maritime Film Classification Board (18A, R and A)
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British Columbia Film Classification Office
The British Columbia Film Classification Office, part of Consumer Protection BC (legally known as the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority) in the Canadian province of British Columbia, is responsible for rating and censoring films ...
(18A, R and A)
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Saskatchewan Film and Video Classification Board (18A, R and A)
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Ontario Film Review Board
The Ontario Film Review Board () is an inactive agency of the government of the Canadian province of Ontario that was formerly responsible for that province's motion picture rating system. Until 2015, the board reported to the Minister of Consu ...
(18A, R and A)
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Régie du cinéma (Quebec)
The Régie du cinéma () was a provincial film classification organization responsible for the motion picture rating system within the Canadian province of Quebec. Existing in several guises since the start of the 20th century, the organization ...
(18+)
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Central Board of Film Certification
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory Motion picture content rating system, film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of ...
(A – 18 equivalent)
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Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media (CSM) is an American nonprofit organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children. (18+)
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Computer Entertainment Rating Organization
The () is a Japanese entertainment rating organization based in Tokyo that rates video game content in console games with levels of ratings that inform the customer of the nature of the product and what age group it is suitable for. It was e ...
(Z – 18 equivalent)
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Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel
The (, ), abbreviated CSA, was a French institution created in 1989 whose role was to regulate the various electronic media in France, such as radio and television. The creation of the (High Authority for Audiovisual Communication) was a measure ...
(18)
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Dirección General de Radio, Televisión y CinematografÃa (C and D – 18 equivalents)
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Eirin
The , also known as , is Japan's industry self-regulation, self-regulatory film regulator. Eirin was established on the model of the now-defunct American Motion Picture Association, Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association's Hays C ...
(R18+)
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Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that assigns age and content ratings to consumer video games in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The ESRB was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Soft ...
(Adults Only – 18 equivalent, but very similar game content than Mature 17+ equivalent)
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Film Censorship Board of Malaysia
The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia ( Malay: ''Lembaga Penapis Filem'') is a Malaysian government ministry that vets films. It is under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
History and legislative regulations
LPF was established on 1 ...
(18)
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Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft
The (FSK, ) is a German motion picture rating system organization run by the based in Wiesbaden.
Assignment
The main tasks of the FSK are approving and rating Film, movies and Trailer (movie), trailers, VHS, videos and DVDs, and Television ...
(18)
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Hong Kong motion picture rating system
The Hong Kong motion picture rating system () is a legal system of Motion picture rating system, movie screening and rating. An official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong cinemas.
History
In 1986, w ...
(III – 18 equivalent)
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Irish Film Classification Office
The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) () is the organisation responsible for films, television programmes, and some video game classification and censorship within Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Where restrictions are placed by the IFCO, t ...
(18)
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Korea Media Rating Board
The Korea Media Rating Board (; KMRB) is a public organization that classifies films, videos, and other motion pictures into age-based ratings and recommends domestic performances of foreign artists. Through these rating systems, the Korea Media ...
(R – 18 equivalent)
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Media Development Authority
The Media Development Authority (abbreviation: MDA) was a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).
History
MDA was founded on 1 January 2003 by the merger of Singapore Broadcasti ...
(M18)
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Motion Picture Association of America film rating system
The Motion Picture Association film rating system is used in the United States and its territories to rate a motion picture's suitability for certain audiences based on its content. The system and the ratings applied to individual motion pictur ...
(R and NC-17 – 18 equivalent)
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Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB; ; is a Philippine government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines that is responsible for the classification and review of television programs, motion p ...
(R-18)
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National Audiovisual Institute (Finland)
The National Audiovisual Institute (; or ') is a governmental bureau under the Finnish Ministry of Education responsible for supervising the distribution of audiovisual content (including video games), advancing media education in Finland
...
(18)
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National Bureau of Classification (NBC)
The National Bureau of Classification (NBC), previously the Film Censor Board of Maldives, is a government office founded on 21 May 1956 with the objective of presenting and promoting cinema and theatrical performances for the benefit of the Mal ...
(18+ and 18+R)
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National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (18)
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Norwegian Media Authority
The Norwegian Media Authority () is a Norwegian government agency subordinate to the Ministry of Culture and Equality charged with various tasks relating to broadcasting, newspapers and films. It enforces rules on content, advertising and spons ...
(18)
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Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)
An office is a space where the employees of an organization perform administrative work in order to support and realize the various goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a position within an organization with specific du ...
(R18 and RP18)
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Pan European Game Information
PEGI ( ), short for Pan-European Game Information, is a European video game content rating system established to help European consumers make informed decisions when buying video games or apps through the use of age recommendations and content ...
(18)
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Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle
Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (''Entertainment Software Self-Regulation'', abbreviated USK) is the organisation responsible for video game ratings in Germany.USK. Protecting Children and Young People. URL:http://www.usk.de/fileadmin/d ...
(18)
Systems
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Motion picture content rating system
A motion picture content rating system classifies films based on their suitability for audiences due to their treatment of issues such as sex, violence, or substance abuse, their use of profanity, or other matters typically deemed unsuitable for ...
, a range of classification systems for films that commonly use the age 18 as part of its regulatory criteria
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Television content rating system
Television content rating systems are systems for Content rating, evaluating the content and reporting the suitability of television programmes for Minor (law), minors. Many countries have their own television evaluation, rating system and coun ...
, a range of classification systems for television broadcasts that commonly use the age 18 as part of its regulatory criteria
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Video game content rating system
A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of video games based on suitability for target audiences. Most of these systems are associated with and/or sponsored by a government, and are sometimes part of the local m ...
, a range of classification systems for video games that commonly use the age 18 as part of its regulatory criteria
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Mobile software content rating system, a range of classification systems for mobile software that commonly use the age 18 as part of its regulatory criteria
See also
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Adults Only (disambiguation)
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R18 (disambiguation)
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Censorship in France
{{SIA
Media content ratings systems
Censorship