New 'Harry Potter' movie may scare kids
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-24 09:06

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has ruled the movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is too scary for young children.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The board rated the film 12-A — no one under 12 admitted unless accompanied by an adult — because its tone is “much scarier and darker than its predecessors,” the World Entertainment News Network reported Friday.

The previous three films in the series were all rated PG in Britain — meaning children of any age could watch them in theaters with adult supervision. The BBFC stated on its Web site that no scenes were cut from the movie and that it contained “moderate fantasy violence, threat and horror.”

The latest “Harry Potter” flick will carry a PG-13 rating when it opens next month in the United States, which means parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

The film is expected to make millions at the box office and includes a cast of British stars, from Ralph Fiennes to veterans including Michael Gambon and Maggie Smith, and even singer Jarvis Cocker from pop group Pulp.