The body that oversees film ratings in the U.K. is tightening its age restrictions and giving movies with certain types of sexual content older age ratings.

The British Board of Film Classification said the changes were in response to public demand after a consultation that took in the views of over 10,000 people in the U.K.

Specifically, the BBFC said that while it already applies a more restrictive rating to scenes depicting sexual threat and sexual violence, the public mood has shifted on in recent years, notably with regard to rape. It said that British audiences had asked for a stronger rating for such content and that it had amended its classifications accordingly.

In practice, it means that films with rape scenes will have at least a 15 rating (for viewers 15 years old and up), rather than a 12 certificate, as has sometimes been the case previously. In a BBC interview,...