The British Board of Film Classification, the U.K.’s primary ratings body, has revealed that it developed and deployed a bespoke AI tool for the first time to support the classification of HBO Max‘s entire catalogue ahead of its U.K. launch earlier this year.
In its annual report for 2025, the BBFC said that, using the AI tool, it classified the whole HBO Max library in six months, a process that it claimed would otherwise have taken around 1,570 compliance officer working days.
The AI tool, it said, generated “detailed metadata” that highlighted specific compliance issues, such as violence, nudity, or language, for human review. However, the final age ratings and bespoke content advice remain the sole responsibility of BBFC officers.
Also in the report, the BBFC said it classified 1,315 feature film for cinema release in 2025, the highest number in its 113-year history and surpassing its 2024 record of 1,256. As in previous years, the 15 rating was the most frequently issued classification and applied to 45% of cinema submissions, closely followed by 12A at 35%. The 18 classification remained the least common, accounting for 4% of cinema films.
2025 marked the fifth anniversary of the BBFC’s self-rating partnership with Netflix. This collaboration was the first of its kind between the BBFC and a streaming service and ensured that all of Netflix’s U.K. catalogue content is rated in line with the board’s Classification Guidelines, a model that has since been adopted by others.
“The BBFC classifying a record-breaking 1,315 feature films in 2025 highlights the resilience and vitality of the UK cinema sector,” said Phil Clapp, chief executive of the U.K Cinema Association. “Beyond the numbers, this also tells a powerful story about how people are choosing to spend their time, particularly with the recent rise of younger audiences flocking to the big screen.”
“The role of the BBFC is now more important than ever in providing the trusted age ratings and expert content advice that cinema-goers have always relied upon.”
