Mary Poppins has been named the most complained about film of 2024, following its reclassification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) due to the use of discriminatory language. The 1964 Disney musical, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, was reclassified from U to PG in 2024 after the BBFC identified two uses of the term 'Hottentots', a racially loaded word historically used to describe the Khoikhoi people of South Africa.
The BBFC received 224 complaints in 2024, with 56 of them concerning the reclassification of Mary Poppins. The term is used by the character Admiral Boom, played by Reginald Owen, once when referring to the Banks children and again to describe chimney sweeps. The BBFC argued that the language is not condemned in the film, increasing the risk that young viewers might repeat it without understanding its offensive nature.
Complainants requested that the U rating be retained, arguing that the term is outdated and appears in other films. However, the BBFC defended its decision, stating that regular research shows parents are concerned about children being exposed to discriminatory language they might find distressing or repeat. A BBFC spokesperson said: 'While Mary Poppins has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U.'
Other films that drew complaints included James Cameron's The Abyss, which received 17 complaints over a scene involving a live rat submerged in liquid. The BBFC confirmed that the scene had been re-edited since its original submission in 1989 due to concerns under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937. Dune: Part Two and Saltburn also attracted complaints over their ratings, with Saltburn's depiction of sexual obsession deemed too disturbing for a 15 certificate by some.
