Content ratings on HBO Max

Content ratings can help you make informed streaming decisions for you and your family.

Ratings are set by BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) guidelines in the United Kingdom.
HBO Max has a dedicated team that reviews content and works with local organisations to set the most appropriate rating for each country.
HBO Max includes content descriptors, when appropriate and necessary.
Ratings may vary by country.

Where can I find ratings in HBO Max?

Content ratings appear throughout HBO Max. Here's some of the places you'll find ratings:

On the title's description and more info screen
In the upper corner when you first start watching something
After commercial breaks and when you restart an episode or film
In search results
In the video player
On the Home screen

Content ratings

HBO Max uses BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) guidelines in the United Kingdom:

Age descriptors warn that the title may be harmful for children under the age rating, and content descriptors indicate the reason for the age rating.

U: Suitable for all, should be suitable for audiences of all ages
PG: General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for more sensitive children
12: Suitable only for 12 years and over
15: Suitable only for 15 years and over
18: Suitable only for 18 years and over

For more info about these ratings, go to bbfc.co.uk.

TV series ratings: The ratings on a TV series details screen are the highest maturity rating for an episode in the series.

Ratings and travelling

Content ratings are based on your physical location. If you travel to a country with a different content rating system, shows and films may be rated differently.

Set ratings for a Kids profile

You can create a Kids profile that limits what content is available to your child and what content they can watch. When you edit a Kids profile, you can choose from the following rating groups:

U (Up to Age 5): Content is designed for the youngest viewers.
PG (Ages 6+): Content may include mild fantasy or comedic violence. Contains little or no strong language or sexual content.
12: Content may contain mild language, suggestive dialogue, sexual situations, and/or moderate violence.
15: Content may contain coarse language, suggestive dialogue, sexual situations, and/or intense violence.

By default, a new Kids profile is set to 12. When you set ratings for a profile, that profile can only find and watch episodes and films at or below the ratings you selected.

Ratings can also be set for an Adult profile. By default, a new Adult profile can watch all content ratings.

To change ratings for a profile, you need to Edit the profile.

Content ratings not working?

If the ratings you set for a Kids profile aren't working as expected, check the following:

Check to see if restrictions are set on your device (e.g. on iOS check for Parental controls). If the device your child is using has parental controls that are more restrictive than the Ratings you set in HBO Max, HBO Max will follow the parental controls set on the device.
HBO Max doesn't follow parental controls that you may have set with your TV provider.