BBFC News

Ali G: Who Iz I? is a 2026 UK/US comedy by Sacha Baron Cohen
Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Morgana Robinson and Stewart Rodeheaver

BBFC cuts were required for 2026 cinema release. The BBFC cited the Protection of Children Act 1978 as the undetailed reason for the cuts.

Summary Notes

Hip-hop journalist Ali G returns after 20 years to make a documentary with real people. Cameras follow him for over a year as he takes classes, walks the streets, and appears on shows, often with his pregnant girlfriend.

Versions

cut:   run: 88:45s pal: 85:12s		UK: BBFC 15 rated with a trigger warning for strong sex references, crude humour, language, discrimination after BBFC cuts: 2026 Amazon Digital UK cinema release (rated 16/10/2026) The BBFC commented: A cut was made in accordance with BBFC Guidelines, policy, and the Protection of Children Act 1978. Ali vs AI The Daily Mail reported on an AI assisted campaign trying to prevent Ali G: Who Iz I? from being shown at cinemas. In the hours that following the release of the movie trailer, a most peculiar series of events played out. It involved a short-lived but apparently extremely high-profile campaign to have Ali G: Who Iz I? banned from worldwide cinemas. This campaign claimed that the entire film, along with its central character, is somehow racist. Out of nowhere, people who appeared to be offended by Baron Cohens trailer had launched a letter-writing campaign. Before long, more than 50,000 messages were sent to cinema chains, calling for the film to be blacklisted. The social media accounts of firms such as Odeon were similarly bombarded. Each of 50,000 complaint emails was different. Some were written in the local language, they had a variety of subject lines and, while none were exactly the same length, many were extremely detailed. The attempt to cancel Baron Cohen was in fact a highly organised Ai assisted campaign. It was also very well financed. The campaign was apparently orchestrated via an internet platform named NewsCord, which devotes most of its resources to opposing Israel. A NewsCord user wishing to join the campaign against Sacha Baron Cohen needs only to enter their own email address in a box. The website will then create 20 unique complaint AI assisted emails in their name and send them out to cinema chains and the BBFC. The BBFC commented in board meeting minutes: The BBFC Board was briefed about emails received from members of the public concerned about elements of discrimination in the forthcoming comedy sequel Ali G: Who Iz I?. The BBFC has received a high volume of emails urging that we assess the film in line with our Classification Guidelines, issue cuts or refuse classification if necessary, or, if such intervention is not necessary, publish content advice outlining the issues present in the film. We have responded that if/when the film is submitted for classification, we will assess its content in accordance with our Guidelines, as we do all films submitted to us.
uncut run: 88:58s pal: 85:24s		Ireland: Uncut and IFCO 16 rated with a trigger warning for strong sexual content, language and discriminatory terms, crude humour throughout: 2026 Amazon MGM Studios cinema release

Casino Royale is a 2006 US/UK/Czech/Germany/Bahamas spy film by Martin Campbell.
With Daniel Craig, Eva Green and Judi Dench.  

Originally cut according to BBFC for a 12 rating. The film was also cut in the US but differently for a PG-13 rating. The uncut version was later released on Blu-ray with a 15 rating in the UK and MPAA Unrated in the US. The uncut version was downrated to BBFC 12A for 2026 cinema release.

Summary Notes

James Bond goes on his first ever mission as a 00. Le Chiffre is a banker to the world's terrorists. He is participating in a poker game at Montenegro, where he must win back his money, in order to stay safe among the terrorist market. The boss of MI6, known simply as M sends Bond, along with Vesper Lynd to attend this game and prevent Le Chiffre from winning. Bond, using help from Felix Leiter, Mathis and having Vesper pose as his wife, enters the most important poker game in his already dangerous career. But if Bond defeats Le Chiffre, will he and Vesper Lynd remain safe?

Cutting Edge

A video and detailed description of the BBFC and MPAA cuts in
Gavin Salkeld's Cutting Edge 11: Casino Royale
See more from Cutting Edge

Versions

uncut run: 144:21s pal: 138:35s		UK: Uncut and BBFC 12A rated for moderate violence, threat, injury detail, language, sex: 2026 Park Circus cinema release (rated 22/09/2026) titled Casino Royale (20th Anniversary Edition) The BBFC commented (with thanks to Joseph): Over the two decades since the film's original release, audience familiarity with the James Bond series' darker, more grounded tone in the Daniel Craig films has grown. Contemporary viewers expect a higher degree of threat and intensity in modern action cinema compared to the expectations of 2006 or 2012. Re-assessing the torture scene under current guidelines revealed that while the extended cut contains a small number of additional close-ups and reaction shots, it does not contain explicit bloodiness, gory detail or sexualised violence. The core elements causing impact, psychological threat and implied pain, remain substantially similar in tone to the theatrical 12A cut from 2006. The violence occurs within a fantastical spy-thriller setting rather than a realistic domestic or real-world context. Crucially, the scene relies heavily on dialogue and actor performance rather than graphic visual harm, and the protagonist ultimately survives and prevails, reducing the overall sense of lingering trauma. Under BBFC Classification Guidelines, the restored footage does not cross the threshold into sustained visual cruelty or graphic injury detail that would require a mandatory 15 rating. Consequently, the 20th anniversary complete international version is classified 12A for moderate violence, threat, injury detail, language, and sex, bringing it into alignment with the original theatrical release. UK: Passed 15 uncut for one scene of torture and strong action violence for: 2020 MGM (RB) 4K Blu-ray at UK Amazon titled Casino Royale (Extended Version) 2020 MGM Amazon Prime VoD [UK only] at UK Amazon 2015 20th Century Fox RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon 2015 20th Century Fox 23 Films Premium Edition RB Blu-ray UK Amazon 2015 20th Century Fox 23 Films RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon 2015 20th Century Fox 23 Films R2 DVD at UK Amazon 2013 Sony [Daniel Craig Triple Pack] R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon 2012 MGM R0 Blu-ray [Bond 50 Collection] at UK Amazon 2012 MGM R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon titled Casino Royale (Extended Version) The BBFC noted: Additional material in torture scene The BBFC later commented that not all the cut material was restored. Some material seen during the rough cut stage did not make the final cut, but the UK 15 rated release is now the definitive worldwide version. US: Casino Royale is uncut and MPAA Unrated: 2019 MGM [007 The Daniel Craig Collection] R0 4K Blu-ray at US Amazon US: Uncut for VoD streaming at Vudu (thanks to Neil)
advised category cuts cut: run: 144:08s pal: 138:22s		UK: Passed 12A/12 after BBFC advised category cuts were implemented for: 2015 20th Century Fox 23 Films R2 DVD at UK Amazon 2013 Sony [Daniel Craig Triple Pack] R2 DVD 2012 MGM [22 Film Collection] R2 DVD 2007 Sony R0 Blu-ray 2007 Sony R2 DVD 2006 cinema release The BBFC commented: Cut on BBFC advice in 2006: This film was originally seen by the BBFC in an unfinished version, for advice as to the film's suitability at '12A'. The BBFC advised the company that the torture scene placed too much emphasis on both the infliction of pain and the sadism of the villain for the requested '12A' category. When the completed version of the film was submitted for classification, reductions to the torture sequence had been made, including the removal of lingering shots of the rope, close shots of Bond's facial reaction and the substitution of a more distant shot of the beating compared to the original version. This re-edited version of the scene was considered acceptable at '12A', where the Guidelines permit violence provided there is no dwelling on detail or emphasis on injuries. Thanks to Floyd: The Region 3 DVD is uncut, but there's nothing graphic in the torture scene. There are a couple of lingering shots, most notably where Le Chiffre lands the rope gently on Bond's shoulder. In the cut version when there is a distant shot of him walking around Bond he says 'you've taken care of your body', and then in the next shot he's swinging the rope before hitting Bond. In the uncut version however, he lands the rope on his shoulder, and he leans over to him and says, 'such a waste'. The sound seems to be cut down as well of Chiffre swinging the rope before striking Bond, but nothing really shocking. It seems that the hopes of an uncut US release are premature. The Irish 15A is the same version as the UK release. It appears that the German version has suffered even more cuts than the US/UK versions to achieve a 12 rating. Perhaps the uncut version may have to wait on the (inevitable) Directors Cut.
cut cut: run: 144:10s pal: 138:24s		US: The PG-13 rated US region 1 release was cut. Through the use of numerous techniques including small snips, the shifting of edit points and alternative footage, Campbell re-edited the film's opening bathroom fight and the later stairwell fight to secure a PG-13 rating in the United States.

The government has commissioned British Board of Film Censorship to test the feasibility of censoring online pornography for violent and abusive content.

The pilot by the BBFC will inform ministerial decisions on the most effective way to censor world wide websites potentially resulting in a formal online censor.

A government commissioned review by anti porn peer Gabby Bertin has resulted in new criminal offences for the publication and possession of certain types of online pornography, including strangulation, incest, step-incest and adults role-playing as children.

The laws will come into force by the 6th November. However Baroness Bertin said for the legislation to be effective there also needed to be more proactive regulation, including spot checking and auditing.

Bertin's review had suggested the BBFC audit websites, given its experience monitoring offline pornography for 40 years. They have previously raised concerns about the disparity between online and offline regulation and said they stand ready to expand their remit.

They were awarded a three-month contract for an Audit of Internet Services pilot in July. The pilot includes generating evidence on the availability of certain online pornographic content and evaluating how it could be monitored and reported on at scale given the huge size of the market.

Such a porn censor would need funding for staff to monitor content as well as new technology. Baroness Bertin proposed a model where porn companies as well as social media companies and search engines pay for it.

Bertin suggested that users would appreciate a BBFC censored website saying:

You are then saying to users, we are tried and tested and if you come into our site you won't see illegal content.

She said as well as monitoring for illegal content, an auditor could draw up guidance to address the grey area of material that is not illegal but would be banned in the offline world. It could also do spot checks for age of performers and consent, and help bring down sites that are not behind an age gate or are showing illegal content - either through having its own statutory powers or working alongside Ofcom.

Ofcom has the power to fines sites that don't comply with new age verification requirements that came into force last year as part of the Online Safety Act, but Baroness Bertin said the system is too slow. It should also be noted that only a couple of websites have actually paid Ofcom fines.

BBFC Chief Censor David Austin will step down in July 2027. He can look back at a underwhelming career of guiding the BBFC into a more secretive organisation with reduced transparency towards public scrutiny.

During Austin's tenure we have seen:

• A 25 year rule imposed where the BBFC will not detail nor enter into conversation about any censorship or classification decisions in the last 25 years
• The removal of the facility for anyone to monitor recent rating and censorship decisions
• The removal of detailed cuts from the BBFC public facing database to be replaced by saying nothing or else adding a few vague and unspecific comments.

But on the positive side Austin has at least maintained policies of previous BBFC directors in making minimal cuts to 18 rated films. It's a bit hard to confirm whether the same is true of R18 films because there is no feasible method of monitoring such decisions.

The BBFC has found plenty to laud about though:

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) today announced that David Austin OBE will retire as Chief Executive following 23 years with the organisation, including the last 10 years as CEO.

David will step down from his executive responsibilities in July 2027 and will continue to support the BBFC as a member of its Board, ensuring continuity and providing strategic guidance as the organisation enters its next chapter.

David joined the BBFC in 2003 as an Examiner, now known as Compliance Officers, following a career in the Diplomatic Service, with postings in South Asia, Central Africa and the former Yugoslavia. He became Assistant Director, Policy and Public Affairs at the BBFC in 2011, before taking up the Chief Executive role in March 2016.

During his tenure, David has overseen a period of significant transformation for the BBFC, leading the organisation through major changes in the way audiences access and consume content.

Under his leadership, the BBFC continued to expand beyond traditional cinema classification, establishing self-rating partnerships with major streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video and HBO Max. He also drove the organisation's engagement with emerging technology, including the use of artificial intelligence to support classification work, culminating in a first-of-its-kind agreement with HBO Max to develop and deploy a bespoke AI tool to support BBFC Compliance Officers in the classification of the streaming service's entire content library.

These developments have strengthened the BBFC's ability to support audiences in navigating an increasingly complex digital media landscape, while remaining firmly focused on its core mission of protecting children and helping audiences make informed viewing choices.

The BBFC Board will begin a recruitment process for a new Chief Executive immediately, with the successful candidate expected to be in post by July 2027. David Austin will continue to serve as Chief Executive until that time to ensure a smooth and orderly transition and will take up a Board position in July 2027. In his Board capacity, David will continue to be one of the BBFC's four Statutory Classifiers.

David Austin OBE, Chief Executive of the BBFC, said:

Leading the BBFC has been the privilege of my career. I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together over the past 23 years, including my last 10 as Chief Executive, and I am deeply grateful to the many people who have supported our work and to the UK audiences who place their trust in the BBFC every day.

What began as a curious fascination with film and classification, born out of my love of horror, has grown into a deep love for the BBFC. There is no other organisation quite like it, and I could not have imagined dedicating so much of my career to anything else. What has made my time here so special is not only the importance of our mission to protect children and help audiences make informed viewing choices, but also the exceptional people I have had the pleasure of working alongside.

I know the BBFC is in a strong position for the future. It is a dynamic and innovative organisation with a clear purpose, talented people and a strong foundation on which to build. As the content landscape continues to evolve, there remains important work to do, and I am confident the BBFC will continue to play a vital role in supporting UK audiences.

While the credits may be rolling on my time as Chief Executive, this is far from my final scene at the BBFC. I will continue to support the organisation as a member of the Board, and look forward to seeing it continue to evolve and thrive in the years ahead.

Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, President of the BBFC, said:

David has made an outstanding contribution to the BBFC and to audiences across the UK. His leadership, vision and commitment have helped ensure the BBFC remains one of the most trusted and respected classification bodies in the world. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank David for his exceptional service and dedication over the past 23 years. We are delighted that he will continue to contribute to the organisation as a member of the Board.