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Original poster

To urge parents not to take their underage children to see the FNAF movie?

316 replies

Ahsoka2001 · 04/10/2023 22:25

Today it was announced that the new "Five Nights at Freddy's Movie" has been classified 15 by the BBFC for "strong threat, violence" - https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/five-nights-at-freddys-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdeznzy4

I know there's a large fanbase for the FNAF franchise aged 10-14. I'm sorry that they won't be able to see the highly-anticipated movie version on the big screen. But at the same time - as someone who works in a cinema - reading this news has me dreading the release of this film.

A 15 certificate means that NOBODY who has not reached their 15th birthday is allowed into the auditorium. This is enforced by UK law and applies even if the parent accompanies their child. No one underage being in the screen is a condition of the cinema operating. It's just like alcohol - sell alcohol to anyone underage, the venue loses its license and won't be able to remain in operation.

So, if I turn away your under-15 from the FNAF film, I am just following the law. Underage patrons being let into the screen could mean not only legal action against the cinema, but legal action against me - I could also potentially lose my job.

Many people think, "It's not like it's alcohol, it's just a film." No. It's treated almost just as badly as alcohol and other age restricted products. Please be kind to cinema workers who have no choice but to turn away underage customers. It's a shame I have to say this but please don't become aggressive or verbally abusive (it's happened to my colleagues before). I'm sure this isn't the vast majority of people but it's one of the prime sources of customer aggression in the exhibition sector.

Oh - and if your child genuinely is 15 or over, please make sure they bring valid photo ID :) If you don't want them taking valuable documents like passports out then a clear photo of these should suffice. The last thing we want to do is turn away people who ARE within the law but if we do have to...we have no choice and it's absolutely nothing personal.

Five Nights At Freddy's

A man with a traumatic past takes a night security job at a shut down diner in this US horror thriller. Scenes of strong, sustained threat and violence accompany an unsettling theme of child abduction.

https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/five-nights-at-freddys-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdeznzy4

OP posts:
BodegaSushi · 31/10/2023 09:03

stingster · 29/10/2023 19:08

I just chucked the popcorn onto the ground after being refused entry with my 13 year old son. I get what you're saying but obviously people are going to get angry when some bloody jobsworth refuses you entry when you've invested 60 bloody quid in tickets and popcorn. It's an effin movie made for kids. if you dont want people to get upset, ask to confirm birth dates when buying the tickets and stop charging the equivalent of a second mortgage for snacks. last time I ever go to the cinema.

if you dont want people to get upset, ask to confirm birth dates when buying the tickets

But they clearly state the 15 certificate. What more do you want?

lilkitten · 02/11/2023 20:20

gotomomo · 04/10/2023 23:07

I still remember when they did this to gremlins- I was so annoyed

One of my uni lecturers on my film course certified Gremlins. He said the kitchen scene with the microwave and the mixer were the two clips they wanted removed to make it a PG. The distributors didn't want to cut it, which sabotaged their merchandise plans aimed at kids.

lilkitten · 02/11/2023 20:24

I used to be a cinema manager, the abuse we got from parents to "just let them in" but my job was on the line as it was illegal. My 13yo has been begging me to take him, and I think he probably would be ok with it as tweens and teens seem to be the demograpic for FNAF, there's no way I would break the law by taking him to a cinema

SocksAndTheCity · 02/11/2023 20:29

I saw FNAF earlier in the week and I can't understand the 15 certificate; there's no bad language, sexual content or nudity that I remember and it's pretty tame and bloodless - the kills are off screen or in shadow.

I suspect they were going for a 12A and for whatever reason didn't get it, but it's definitely a shame as I imagine a lot of tweens would love it.

JollyOldStNicholas · 02/11/2023 20:41

Watched with our boys aged 11 and 12 and they enjoyed it. There's no reason for it to be a 15, Watership Down is far scarier!!!

VoiceOfCommonSense · 02/11/2023 22:10

Ahsoka2001 · 04/10/2023 22:25

Today it was announced that the new "Five Nights at Freddy's Movie" has been classified 15 by the BBFC for "strong threat, violence" - https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/five-nights-at-freddys-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdeznzy4

I know there's a large fanbase for the FNAF franchise aged 10-14. I'm sorry that they won't be able to see the highly-anticipated movie version on the big screen. But at the same time - as someone who works in a cinema - reading this news has me dreading the release of this film.

A 15 certificate means that NOBODY who has not reached their 15th birthday is allowed into the auditorium. This is enforced by UK law and applies even if the parent accompanies their child. No one underage being in the screen is a condition of the cinema operating. It's just like alcohol - sell alcohol to anyone underage, the venue loses its license and won't be able to remain in operation.

So, if I turn away your under-15 from the FNAF film, I am just following the law. Underage patrons being let into the screen could mean not only legal action against the cinema, but legal action against me - I could also potentially lose my job.

Many people think, "It's not like it's alcohol, it's just a film." No. It's treated almost just as badly as alcohol and other age restricted products. Please be kind to cinema workers who have no choice but to turn away underage customers. It's a shame I have to say this but please don't become aggressive or verbally abusive (it's happened to my colleagues before). I'm sure this isn't the vast majority of people but it's one of the prime sources of customer aggression in the exhibition sector.

Oh - and if your child genuinely is 15 or over, please make sure they bring valid photo ID :) If you don't want them taking valuable documents like passports out then a clear photo of these should suffice. The last thing we want to do is turn away people who ARE within the law but if we do have to...we have no choice and it's absolutely nothing personal.

Alright Mary Whitehouse.. There’s worse things out there. Didn’t you ever watch say an 18 when you were younger?

Original poster
Ahsoka2001 · 02/11/2023 22:16

VoiceOfCommonSense · 02/11/2023 22:10

Alright Mary Whitehouse.. There’s worse things out there. Didn’t you ever watch say an 18 when you were younger?

Show quote history

I never watched a 15 or 18 film at a cinema when I was younger than those ages, no. At home is different and not relevant to the point of this thread.

Are you saying you disagree with the stuff I said in the OP? Seems all very reasonable to me.

OP posts:
Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream · 02/11/2023 22:16

I don’t think OP is being a Mary Whitehouse at all.. her point is about not abusing cinema staff who have to apply the rules regardless of whether they agree with the BBFC classification or not. I’ve done that job and no one likes turning kids away, but it’s not worth losing your job over.

Cosmic47 · 03/11/2023 06:50

You're obviously not a fan of five nights at freddys, it was made for the fans.

T1Dmama · 03/11/2023 12:14

VoiceOfCommonSense · 02/11/2023 22:10

Alright Mary Whitehouse.. There’s worse things out there. Didn’t you ever watch say an 18 when you were younger?

Show quote history

What an immature comment!
I never watched films that were older than my age growing up… but I had responsible parents. Now a days kids are messed up and parents wonder why! This thread says why! Parents who just let their kids watch and do whatever they want. And sod the consequence .. who cares if staff are abused or loose their jobs just because you can’t say no to your child!

SocksAndTheCity · 03/11/2023 12:15

Cosmic47 · 03/11/2023 06:50

You're obviously not a fan of five nights at freddys, it was made for the fans.

Wow, I was lucky they let me in then! And there was me thinking it was made to take money at the box office 😂

Prescottdanni123 · 03/11/2023 13:19

@VoiceOfCommonSense

OP is clearly asking people to not take their under 15s to the cinema and then make the cinema staff lives miserable when they don't let them in.

If you want to watch FNAF with your under 15s in your own home, that's fine. No one is saying you can't.

Leah5678 · 05/11/2023 22:02

Ok so just watched the film yesterday. No where is it mentioned that the villain is a pedo, although I can see why people would assume that as a motive but it is not actually mentioned.
Not too much gore actually quite a good film all in all. I still think it being a 15 was a better decision than making it a 12. Call me Mary Whitehouse if you want but too many of your precious little darling are messed up little demons partly because we as a society are becoming more lax with what we let kids watch. Don't even get me started on cardi b or sexxy red.

Some moron in the comments really threw her popcorn on the floor and had a tantrum because the person at the cinema wouldn't risk losing their job to let a precious little darling watch a horror film 😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Gracie95 · 06/11/2023 20:37

The villain is not a paedophile.... a child killer yes. I have been a gamer for most of my life and I was allowed to play certain games with a higher age rating, from experience, for me at least, games did not portray that same realism that films did and I am very grateful that my parents didn't tell me I couldn't have a game I really wanted because it had a 15 or 18 badge on it. My younger brother was playing FNAF at a very young age. That said, when I was young I was terrified of horror films. So again, just because kids play high rated games, it doesn't mean the film won't scare them which is why people need to be more understanding, I also think we as adults forget how different and scary things were for us when we were young.

It's important to recognise that not every child is the same and things that are scary for some might not be for others. I have studied film and I can see why they slapped the 15 rating on. There are a few scenes but I personally would have rated it a 15A. There is one particular scene featuring Abby that I feel would possibly distress some children around 13 or younger. I think there are many 13 year olds who would have been fine. They did well to make it fun to watch. There are many scenes that people younger than 15 would have really enjoyed, especially if they have played the games. I don't think it's fair for adults to act like spoilt brats in the cinema because their kid can't watch a film that clearly stated it was a 15 on the booking pages. Especially in a country where there is 0 leniency on age restrictions.

JoanOfAllTrades · 07/11/2023 04:42

JollyOldStNicholas · 02/11/2023 20:41

Watched with our boys aged 11 and 12 and they enjoyed it. There's no reason for it to be a 15, Watership Down is far scarier!!!

Yes, Watership Down is scary AF and I still can’t watch it!

goneaway2 · 16/11/2023 21:55

Saw it last night at home, let the 12 year old watch it as he's very into horror type things and he's not easily phased. It's not really a horror, it's a thriller as it's more about the storyline than the scares. Very tame, on the same level as Goosebumps books, tv series and movies. I honestly don't understand all the fuss but would like my 2 hours back as it was quite dull!

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