BBFC passes the film uncut and details reasons for rating.

Star Wars The Force Awakens

The BBFC (British Board of Film Claffisication) has passed Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens uncut and awarded it a 12A rating in the UK.

The rating had been anticipated following the MPAA’s (Motion Picture Association of America) awarding of a PG-13 certificate for the film in the US, the closest equivalent to the UK’s 12A.

The original three films in the franchise were all award U certificates, classifying them suitable for everyone.

Of the prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menance was given a U in 1998, while Attack Of The Clones was given a PG in 2001 and Revenge Of The Sith a 12 in 2004.

The BBFC’s 12A rating classifies the film as “not generally suitable for children aged under 12” but children may still enter the cinema as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

The organisation’s notes describe the film as containing “frequent scenes of moderate violence, including use of blasters and lightsabers, and dogfights between spaceships. Sight of blood and injury detail is limited and brief.

“Occasional scenes of moderate threat include characters being interrogated using ‘the Force’, which it is implied causes them pain, and characters being held at lightsaber-point.

“There is also “infrequent use of very mild bad language (‘hell’, ‘damn’).”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is released in UK cinemas on December 17.

Screen previously reported that the film is tracking to become the highest-grossing movie of all time in the UK.