_x000D_Screenshot: Mary Poppins / Walt Disney Pictures

Why were Mary Poppins’ age ratings raised in the UK?

In a decision that surprised those who hadn’t read the rulebook cover to cover, the BBFC adjusted “Mary Poppins” from a U to a PG rating in February 2024 for “discriminatory language.” Specifically, the term “Hottentots” was used twice in the film to refer to chimney sweeps with soot-covered faces, a term historically used by Europeans in a derogatory manner towards the Khoikhoi people of South Africa. This change occurred as the film was poised to return to cinemas on its 60th anniversary.