THE SUICIDE SQUAD: UK Rating Board Explains Why The Violent, Gory Movie Only Received A 15 Cert

THE SUICIDE SQUAD: UK Rating Board Explains Why The Violent, Gory Movie Only Received A 15 Cert

The Suicide Squad is a violent, gory movie, and some fans and critics were surprised that it only received a 15 cert in the UK. Now, The BBFC has released a statement explaining their decision.

By MarkCassidy - Aug 03, 2021 07:08 AM EST
Filed Under: The Suicide Squad

At its core, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is a fun, "Men on a Mission" style comic book adventure, but it also happens to be pretty damn violent. It doesn't revel in nastiness to any great extent, but a few scenes are surprisingly brutal, and it seems some fans and critics were shocked that the movie was passed uncut with a 15 certificate in the United Kingdom.

A 15 is basically the equivalent of an R in the US (though that rating states that anyone under 17 must be accompanied by an adult), but many believe The Suicide Squad should really be rated 18, and have reached out to the BBFC to make their feelings on the matter known.

In their response (via The Independent), the BBFC pointed out that “whilst comparatively more violent than the last film, the violence is mitigated by the film’s humour and the action-packed fantasy context.” The board added that “the violence and gore were sufficiently mitigated” due to “the focus on action within a comic, fantastic, superhero context”.

“At 15, our Classification Guidelines state that ‘violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury’,” they concluded.

Most major studio releases tend to avoid an 18 cert if at all possible, as adult-oriented movies don't usually perform as well as more family-friendly fare. However, the BBFC did confirm that The Suicide Squad did not require any edits to pass with a 15.

Have you seen The Suicide Squad yet? If so, were you shocked at how violent it was? Drop us a comment down below, and check out a new critics TV spot for the movie.

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Twenty23Three
Twenty23Three - 8/3/2021, 7:37 AM
I didn’t even realise that was the rating they gave it. Don’t really have to worry about that kind of thing at my age but, there are definitely some points they dwell on certain violent actions
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 8/3/2021, 7:40 AM
TBH, I was a bit surprised it was only a 15 (16 here in Ireland). Most of the violence is cartoonish, but some is genuinely pretty brutal and disturbing.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 8/3/2021, 7:46 AM
@RorMachine - this pleases me, Ror
Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 8/3/2021, 11:06 AM
@RorMachine - Is it any worse than the Deadpool movies??
McMurdo
McMurdo - 8/3/2021, 7:45 AM
Cannot wait to see this
manofillintent1
manofillintent1 - 8/3/2021, 7:55 AM
Most things that are R in America are 15s in the uk
bkmeijer2
bkmeijer2 - 8/3/2021, 8:10 AM
So remember kids, if you're laughing about it, violence is okay.
dragon316
dragon316 - 8/3/2021, 10:35 AM
@bkmeijer - that’s how marvel thinks of it
Whaley87
Whaley87 - 8/3/2021, 11:49 AM
@dragon316 - And DC clearly is you're on this article.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 8/3/2021, 8:17 AM
Didn't the first one also get that rating?
Cap1
Cap1 - 8/3/2021, 8:36 AM
@WakandanQueen - yeah, blurred lines of whether that was too harsh or this is too lenient. BBFC’s rating have been gradually getting more tolerant of stuff. Don’t Breathe was an 15 and that’s got a man being fed his own cum in a condom after finding out he’s kidnapped a girl and impregnating her. Kinda wild
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 8/3/2021, 8:27 AM
Deadpool had the same rating. Should be fun, I enjoy juvenile humor and cartoon violence.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 8/3/2021, 8:45 AM
Movie looks like it'll be a great time.
SerKurtWagner
SerKurtWagner - 8/3/2021, 9:16 AM
The answer is very simple. The UK Ratings board isn't a bunch of arbitrary, puritanical idiots like the MPAA.
Warneford87
Warneford87 - 8/3/2021, 9:38 AM
@SerKurtWagner - 100%. They should do away with strict ratings and just be advisory, so anyone any age can attend. That way film makers wouldn't have to neuter their original vision. We’d have amazing films again possibly.
SuperCat
SuperCat - 8/3/2021, 9:47 AM
Vision85
Vision85 - 8/3/2021, 9:58 AM
Its surprising people find 15 lenient. Its strictly 15+ unlike R rating which allows under 17s in with parents...we are a nation with an age of consent set at 16 and a drinking age at 18. You could look at it that we give teenagers more credit....or maybe care less? Who knows. I watched Robocop when I was 10....im probably not the right person to judge whats appropriate.
ManofSteel23
ManofSteel23 - 8/3/2021, 10:02 AM
Because us brits aren’t pussys it was no where near an 18
TheCoonII
TheCoonII - 8/3/2021, 10:04 AM
Wasn't deadpool rat ed 15 too
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