Malaysia Showtimes

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Film ratings in Malaysia: U, P12, 13, 16 and 18

Every film on this site carries one of five classifications, shown as a small badge beside its title. They are set by the Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Penapisan Filem, LPF) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and since 1 February 2023 they have been age limits, not just advice. This page says what each one means and what changed.

The five classifications

U Umum
For general viewing, at any age.
P12
For all ages, with parental guidance required for viewers under 12. The P stands for pengawasan, supervision: children may watch it, but a parent or guardian is expected to decide and to be there.
13
For viewers aged 13 and above.
16
For viewers aged 16 and above.
18
For viewers aged 18 and above.

The 13, 16 and 18 categories are limits. A cinema can refuse entry to anyone below the age on the badge, so if you might be asked, take identification. P12 is the one category that leaves the decision with the parent.

What changed in 2023

Until the end of January 2023 Malaysia used three classifications: U, P13 and 18. The Film Censorship (Film Classification) Regulations 2023, made under the Film Censorship Act 2002, were gazetted on 9 January 2023 and took effect on 1 February 2023. They replaced P13 with three finer steps: P12, 13 and 16.

The Home Ministry gave three principles for the new scale: to protect children and adolescents under 18 from content unsuited to their age; to preserve the freedom of adults to choose the films they want to watch; and to encourage parents to take a more active part in guiding what their children see.

Films are still viewed by the Board before release, and the Board can require cuts as well as assign a classification. The classification describes the version that reaches Malaysian cinemas, which is not always identical to the version shown elsewhere.

How the badge is used on this site

The badge on a film page and on a showtime card is the classification as the cinemas publish it. Where the chains disagree on spelling (some still write the old PG13, or 12 for P12), the site normalises them to the five codes above. A film with no badge has not been given one yet: announced films are usually classified close to their release date, so most of the Coming Soon list is unrated until the week it opens.

A rating is not a description of the audience. An animated film can be an 18, and the site’s Kids & Family grouping on the home page only includes animated and family films that are rated U or P12 for that reason.

Sources

Also in the guides: cinema formats and every chain’s own halls and how booking works at each chain.