Why is 'Mary Poppins' Britain’s most complained about film of 2024?

2024 was a great year for cinema, and several films that made our year featured some NSFW content.

Whether it was the nudity in Anora, the colourful language in Kneecap, the grotesque body horror in The Substance or some of the gorgeous yet horrific tableaus in The Devil’s Bath, there was plenty to keep censors busy.

Still, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has revealed that none of these films were in consideration for the most complained about movie of 2024.

It turns out that the new age rating given to a beloved classic caused the biggest stink...  

In their annual report, the BBFC reveals that its decision to reclassify the 1964 classic Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, from a U (Universal – suitable for all) to a PG (Parental Guidance) has made it the most complained about movie of 2024.  

According to the BBFC, of the 224 complaints made during the year, 56 were for Mary Poppins – meaning it came ahead of complaints about knife fights in Dune: Part Two and that sex scene in Saltburn.

So, why was Mary Poppins’ rating changed?  

It all comes down to the word “hottentots” – which is used twice in the film by the character Admiral Boom, who refers to chimney sweeps covered in soot.

Hottentots is a slur originally used by Dutch settlers in South Africa – and was later used to refer to all Black people. 

Those complaining to the BBFC deemed the discriminatory term to be too outdated and wanted the rating to remain unchanged 

David Austin, chief executive of the BBFC said: “The two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots’ are neither criticised nor condemned, increasing the risk that very young viewers might repeat it without realising the potential for offence.” 

Elsewhere, there were 17 complaints regarding the 1989 sci-fi classic The Abyss - regarding rumours that the film had been cancelled because of BBFC advice concerning a scene in which a man submerges a live rat in liquid – and Dune Part Two got 13 complaints from people feeling that the 12A (no one younger than 12 may be permitted to attend a 12A cinema screening unless they are accompanied by an adult) was too lenient.

Rounding things off was the dark comedy Saltburn, which tallied ten complaints after being rated 15 for “strong sex, nudity, sexual threat, drug misuse and very strong language”. 

Austin said: “Those who got in touch with us generally felt that the film’s depiction of sexual obsession was too disturbing for 15. Given the blackly comic tone of the film and that the key scenes, while strong, lacked graphic nudity and other visual explicitness, Saltburn meets our standards at a 15 classification.” 

The current UK ratings are U, PG, 12A/12, 15, 18 and R18. You can read all about the UK's precise – some might say illiberal – classification system here. And in case you missed it, check out our Top Movies of 2024 here.

And remember: "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, in the most delightful way!"