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How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style | Format & Examples
Published on August 1, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 16, 2022.
To cite a film in MLA, include the title, the director, any other relevant contributors, the production or distribution company, and the year of release. If there are multiple versions of a film, you also need to identify the version.
To cite a movie from Netflix (and similar online streaming services), add the name of the website or app (e.g. “Netflix app”). If you watched the movie on an unofficial website or video-sharing platform like YouTube, add the website name, the uploader, the date of upload, and the URL.
In the MLA in-text citation , include the title (or a shortened version of it) and the time range.
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Mla movie citation format, citing online movies, mla in-text citations for movies.
You build an MLA Works Cited entry by filling in the relevant elements. An MLA citation usually starts with the author’s name, but because films are created by many different people, you start the citation with the film’s title instead. The director appears after the title as a contributor.
Other contributors
If relevant, you can also add other contributors, as with TV shows . For example, if your paper mentions specific performances, you can include the actors in your citation; if you discuss the film’s visuals, you can include the cinematographer.
Identify the role of each contributor and separate them with commas.
If your discussion of the movie focuses mainly on one contributor (e.g. the director or a performer), you can choose to include that name at the start of the citation instead, where the author would normally go.
In this case, make sure to use the same name in your in-text citation.
If there are different versions of a film, you need to state which one you used so the reader can find the correct source (e.g. extended version, director’s cut).
If this version was released later than the original, you can also add the year of the original release after the title. This is optional, but it is often helpful to give the historical context of the source.
Films are often produced and distributed by several different companies, which can make it difficult to determine the publisher .
Try to identify the organization that had primary responsibility for the movie’s production or distribution. If multiple production companies and/or distributors were equally involved, you can separate them with a forward slash.
If you stream a film on an official distribution platform like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, you can choose to add information about the platform to the Works Cited entry if you think it’s relevant.
If the film was republished on a website unconnected to the producers or official distributors (such as YouTube, where anyone can upload a copy of a movie), you should generally include this information in the citation.
After giving full details of the movie, add the name of the website , the uploader , the date it was published, and the URL .
Note that this format only applies to full movies uploaded to YouTube. If you are citing a clip or other material on YouTube, follow the format for citing a YouTube video instead.
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The in-text citation must always correspond with the first word of the Works Cited entry. For movie citations, this is usually the title in italics. If the title is longer than a few words, shorten it to the first word or phrase.
Instead of a page number, add the time range of the part you are quoting or referring to.
If you have already mentioned the title in the sentence, the parenthetical citation only needs to include the time range.
If you are referring to the movie as a whole, it is acceptable to mention only the title with no time range.
If you start the Works Cited entry with the name of a contributor , make sure to use this name in the in-text citation so that the reader can easily locate it in the alphabetized list.
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How to Cite a Movie in MLA Format
Citing a movie in MLA format is a bit different from citing a movie in APA or Chicago style. The 9th edition of the MLA style guide (the most recent) has a few unique guidelines compared to APA and Chicago (such as putting the title first instead of the director). We explain everything here so you can cite movies in MLA format with confidence.
Movie citations in MLA format require the standard information for films : the title , publishing company , and year of release . These citation guidelines are crucial if you’re figuring out how to write a research paper or how to write a report .
However, citations for movies in MLA format also include other contributors besides the director. It’s not necessary to add them, but it’s recommended if they’re relevant to the topic of your paper; for example, if your topic is a specific actor or your subject appears in an interview within a documentary, you’ll want to include them in the citation. Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly
Citing a film in MLA? Use this formula:
Movie title. Directed by Director’s Name, contribution type by Additional Contributors’ Names, Production Company, Year of release.
This formula applies to movies whether they are primary or secondary sources . When you apply the basic formula, without additional contributors, to citations on your works cited (or bibliography ) page, it should look like this:
Pollock . Directed by Ed Harris, performances by Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, and Jennifer Connelly, Sony Pictures Classic, 2000.
In-text citations use only the movie title and the starting and ending time stamps for the relevant portion of the movie, like so:
( Movie title hour:minute:second–hour:minute:second)
You don’t need to include the entire title for in-text citations , only enough to differentiate it from other sources. In practice, it should look like this:
( Pollock 1:25:45–1:26:50)
The time stamps are especially important when citing movies in MLA format. When reviewing your source films, write down the time stamps of excerpts you plan to use so you can include them in your essay outline .
That’s the basic formula for most movie citations in MLA format. However, there are slight variations if you want to emphasize a particular contributor, if you’re using an alternative version of the film, or if you watched the movie on a streaming site. We explain how to cite movies in MLA format with those particulars below.
Here’s a tip: Citations can be difficult, but they don’t have to trip you up. Grammarly’s Citation Generator ensures your essays have flawless citations and no plagiarism. Try it for tricky MLA citations like documentaries , movie trailers , and DVDs .
How to cite a movie in MLA format with emphasis on other contributors
One of the advantages of using the MLA format to cite movies is that it allows for special emphasis on certain contributors. For example, let’s say you’re writing a paper on film composers; in MLA format, you can cite the source using the name of the composer instead of the director. The same rule can be applied to actors, writers, cinematographers, or anyone else who worked on the film.
There are two ways to cite movies in MLA format with extra contributors. One is to simply mention them after the director in the citation on the works cited page. The other is to mention them as the main reference source.
Method 1: Mentioning after the director
When mentioning other contributors in the works cited page, use the same format as “Directed by . . . ,” but modify it to their particular role. So, if you want to mention actors, you can write “performances by. . . ,” or if you want to mention the writer, you can write “ screenplay by . . . .” Feel free to mention whatever contributors you like, as long as they’re relevant to your topic.
Avatar . Directed by James Cameron, music by James Horner, 20th Century Fox, 2009.
In this method, the in-text citation remains the same, with the title as the main source.
Method 2: Mentioning as the main reference source
The second method lists a contributor other than the director as the main source. This method works best if your topic is a certain person or aspect of the film, rather than the entire film itself.
For the works cited page, use this formula:
Last name, First name of contributor, job title. Movie title . Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of release.
Let’s say you’re writing a paper on the best James Bond actors. It would be beneficial to use this format for citations so that readers know which Bond actor you’re referring to, like so:
Connery, Sean, performer. Goldfinger . Directed by Guy Hamilton, Eon Production, 1964.
In-text citations use the last name of the contributor instead of the film title, followed by the time-stamp range.
(Connery 0:12:34–0:14:01)
How to cite a movie in MLA format using an alternative version
If you’re using an alternative version of the film, such as a director’s cut, mention the version after the contributors and before the production company for the works cited page. You do not need to mention the version in the in-text citation.
Movie title. Directed by Director’s Name, type of contribution by Additional Contributors’ Names, version, Production Company, Year of release.
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings . Directed by Peter Jackson, extended cut, New Line Cinema / WingNut Films, 2001.
Notice how multiple production companies are separated by a forward slash .
How to cite a movie in MLA format from a streaming site
If you watched the movie on an official streaming website , it’s best to mention which one because different sites sometimes use different versions. Simply put the name of the website in italics at the end of the citation on your works cited page. You don’t need to include the URL.
The Big Short . Directed by Adam McKay, Regency Enterprises / Plan B Entertainment, 2015. Netflix.
However, if you watched the movie on an informal video-sharing platform, such as YouTube, you have to mention the uploader , date uploaded , and URL . Use this formula:
Movie title. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of release. Website Name , uploaded by Channel Name , Day Month Year of upload, URL.
In this case, your citation should look like this:
Nosferatu . Directed by F. W. Murnau, Prana Film, 1922. YouTube, uploaded by Timeless Classic Movies, 9 July 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FC6jFoYm3xs.
Note: When citing videos on social media sites like YouTube, there are different guidelines for citing full movies than for citing clips or original content from creators. In the case of the latter, you’ll want to follow guidelines for how to cite a website in MLA .
How to cite a documentary in MLA format
Knowing how to cite a documentary in MLA format is fairly important, considering that documentaries are a common source in academic writing . Luckily, documentaries follow the same formula as other movies. This includes the opportunity to emphasize particular contributors, which comes in handy if you want to highlight a specific interview within the film.
Citizenfour . Directed by Laura Poitras, appearances by Edward Snowden, HBO Documentary Films / Praxis Films, 2014. ( Citizenfour 0:51:43–1:01:23)
MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition
- MLA Style, 9th Edition
- In-text citations
- Books - Multiple Authors
- Books - with editors, translators, etc.
- Book - Essay, Short Story, Poem, etc
- Books - later editions
- Articles - Multiple Authors
- Articles - from scholarly journals
- Articles - from newspapers
- Articles - from magazines
- YouTube Video
- Television Shows
- Images from the Web
- Works Cited: Websites
- Works Cited: Social Media / Informal Communication
- Don't See an Example for Your Source?!
- Report an Error / Question
MLA Handbook
For a complete list of style rules, consult the MLA Handbook at the Reference Desk:
Major Changes in the 9th Edition?
Thankfully, not to Works Cited Entries & In-Text Citations!
There is more guidance and examples on the existing rules and more emphasis on writing. There is also a new chapter on inclusive language.
MLA 9th Edition: Guiding Principles
The MLA Handbook provides a "universal set of guidelines" for citing sources across all format types. Luckily, the 9th edition mainly expands upon the rules listed in the 8th edition. There are no significant changes in Works Cited/In-Text Citations (whew!).
These guidelines state that, if given, these major elements should be included in the citation:
1. Author. 2. Title of Source. 3. Title of Container, 4. Other Contributors, 5. Version, 6. Number, 7. Publisher, 8. Publication date, 9. Location.
Sometimes, elements 3-9 will repeat again, if say, your journal was inside a database.
Putting it all together:
Goldman, Anne. "Questions of Transport: Reading Primo Levi Reading Dante." The Georgia Review , vol.64, no. 1, 2010, pp.69-
88. JSTOR , www.jstor.org/stable/41403188 .
Works Cited Page & Example
A Works Cited page is a n alphabetical list of the sources you paraphrased or quoted within the text of your paper. Your parenthetical citations within the text of your paper should point to a corresponding entry on this page.
The Works Cited page should:
- Be at the end of your paper and be numbered consecutively with the rest of your paper
- Include the words Works Cited centered at the top of the page
- Include all sources paraphrased or quoted within you paper
- Be alphabetized by the source - usually this is by an author's last name but could be by title in entries where there are no authors.
- Have hanging indents, which means the lines after the first line of an entry are indented.
See the example below.
- Works Cited Page
- Next: In-text citations >>
- Last Updated: Jul 28, 2022 7:44 AM
- URL: https://libguides.uwf.edu/mla9
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Cite a Film in MLA
Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper
Consider your source's credibility. ask these questions:, contributor/author.
- Has the author written several articles on the topic, and do they have the credentials to be an expert in their field?
- Can you contact them? Do they have social media profiles?
- Have other credible individuals referenced this source or author?
- Book: What have reviews said about it?
- What do you know about the publisher/sponsor? Are they well-respected?
- Do they take responsibility for the content? Are they selective about what they publish?
- Take a look at their other content. Do these other articles generally appear credible?
- Does the author or the organization have a bias? Does bias make sense in relation to your argument?
- Is the purpose of the content to inform, entertain, or to spread an agenda? Is there commercial intent?
- Are there ads?
- When was the source published or updated? Is there a date shown?
- Does the publication date make sense in relation to the information presented to your argument?
- Does the source even have a date?
- Was it reproduced? If so, from where?
- If it was reproduced, was it done so with permission? Copyright/disclaimer included?
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How do I create an in-text citation for a film?
Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .
The in-text citation for a film should key to a works-cited-list entry. If you list a film under its title, you must refer to the title in your writing or cite it parenthetically:
Point of No Return , a remake of Nikita , deviates from the original French movie in several ways. Luc Besson ( Nikita ) and John Badham ( Point ) approach the figure of the femme fatale differently in their films. Works Cited Nikita. Directed by Luc Besson, Gaumont / Les Films du Loup, 1990. Point of No Return . Directed by John Badham, Warner Bros., 1993.
If you list a film under the director’s name, you must discuss or cite the director:
Luc Besson and John Badham approach the figure of the femme fatale differently in their films. Point of No Return (Badham), a remake of Nikita (Besson), deviates from the original French movie in several ways. Works Cited Badham, John, director. Point of No Return. Warner Bros., 1993. Besson, Luc, director. Nikita . Gaumont / Les Films du Loup, 1990.
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Cite a Film
Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper
Consider your source's credibility. ask these questions:, contributor/author.
- Has the author written several articles on the topic, and do they have the credentials to be an expert in their field?
- Can you contact them? Do they have social media profiles?
- Have other credible individuals referenced this source or author?
- Book: What have reviews said about it?
- What do you know about the publisher/sponsor? Are they well-respected?
- Do they take responsibility for the content? Are they selective about what they publish?
- Take a look at their other content. Do these other articles generally appear credible?
- Does the author or the organization have a bias? Does bias make sense in relation to your argument?
- Is the purpose of the content to inform, entertain, or to spread an agenda? Is there commercial intent?
- Are there ads?
- When was the source published or updated? Is there a date shown?
- Does the publication date make sense in relation to the information presented to your argument?
- Does the source even have a date?
- Was it reproduced? If so, from where?
- If it was reproduced, was it done so with permission? Copyright/disclaimer included?
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COMMENTS
MLA movie citation format You build an MLA Works Cited entry by filling in the relevant elements. An MLA citation usually starts with the author’s name, but because films are created by many different people, you start the citation with the film’s title instead.
Movie citations in MLA format require the standard information for films: the title, publishing company, and year of release. These citation guidelines are crucial if you’re figuring out how to write a research paper or how to write a report. However, citations for movies in MLA format also include other contributors besides the director.
MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources Several sources have multiple means for citation, especially those that appear in varied formats: films, DVDs, television shows, music, published and unpublished interviews, interviews over e-mail, published and unpublished conference proceedings.
To cite a movie in MLA, it’s helpful to know basic information including the movie title, contributors and production details. The templates and examples below are based on the MLA Handbook, 9th edition. If you’re trying to cite a movie, the Chegg Writing MLA citation generator could help.
To create a basic works-cited-list entry for a movie, list the title of the movie. Then in the Contributor element, list the name of the director. Next, in the Publisher element, provide the name of the company that produced the movie, followed by the release date. You might include other elements, such as additional contributors if they are ...
These are the general pieces of information that MLA suggests including in each Works Cited entry. In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order: Author. Title of source. Title of container, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, …
MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition Films (Movies & Documentaries) - General Guidelines Citing films will not always be uniform, depending on your focus. For example, a film you discuss generally will be cited like so (Netflix example): Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Directed by George Lucas, Twentieth Century Fox, 1977.
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The in-text citation for a film should key to a works-cited-list entry. If you list a film under its title, you must refer to the title in your writing or cite it parenthetically: Point of No Return, a remake of Nikita, deviates from the original French movie in several ways.
Create manual citation Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper Scan your paper for plagiarism mistakes Get help for 7,000+ citation styles including APA 6 Check for 400+ advanced grammar errors Create in-text citations and save them Free 3-day trial. Cancel anytime.* Try Easybib® Plus *See Terms and Conditions