It’s Woke Side Story! Family classic from 1961 now rated unsuitable for under 12s due to ‘triggering themes’

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This beloved Hollywood musical is famous for its energetic dance numbers and memorable songs, which have stayed with audiences for generations.

After being rated suitable for general audiences (PG) for four decades, the classic film West Side Story has been re-rated to 12, meaning it’s now considered appropriate for ages 12 and up.

The BBFC determined that certain themes and scenes in the film could be upsetting for children, so they increased the age rating for the DVD and streaming versions.

The production received a warning for instances of sexism and occasional comments considered transphobic. These relate to the character Anybodys, who is now understood to be transgender, and a line telling them to ‘go wear a skirt’.

The content includes instances of moderate violence, suggestive themes, and prejudiced behavior. It also briefly depicts characters smoking and mentions alcohol abuse. Violent acts are shown, such as stabbings (without blood) and a shooting.

The classic tale of Romeo and Juliet was adapted into the 1961 film about Maria and Tony, two young lovers caught between feuding gangs in New York City’s Upper West Side. Originally a hit Broadway musical, the movie was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and features music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The BBFC originally gave the film a PG rating in 1986, meaning it was considered suitable for all ages but with some guidance recommended for younger viewers. It retained this same PG rating in subsequent reviews in 1994, 2003, and 2005.

The movie ‘Wicked: For Good’ recently received a 12 rating, and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) included several trigger warnings. One warning specifically notes that characters in the film use magic spells on each other.

The UK’s film board also pointed out a few story elements that parents might want to be aware of, but these are likely already familiar to anyone who knows the classic 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz or the book it came from.

Wicked reimagines the classic story of Oz, focusing on the untold history of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Cynthia Erivo), and Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande).

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) notes that the famous scene where Dorothy is swept away to Oz contains moments that could be frightening for some viewers, such as people being hit by falling objects during a storm and fantastical creatures causing chaos in a crowd.

The BBFC updates its classification guidelines every four or five years after public consultation.

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2025-12-27 04:19