How to Cite a Movie in MLA & Other Citation Styles

Ever had to mention a movie in your school work and felt a bit lost on how to do it right? It happens to the best of us.

Citing movies for essays or projects can be tricky, and the different rules for doing it can be confusing. 

The fear of messing up the citation or spending too much time figuring it out can be a real headache for students.

No worries! In this blog, we're here to help you understand how to cite a movie in your paper. 

We'll break it down in simple terms, whether you're using any citation style. 

Let's get into it!

How to Cite a Movie - MLA Format

When citing a movie in MLA format, it's essential to provide accurate and complete information for proper referencing. 

The basic format for citing a movie in MLA is:

• Last Name, First Name of the Movie Director. Title of the Movie. Contributors (if applicable), Version (if applicable), Publisher, Release Year.

Here's a breakdown of how to cite movies in different scenarios:

Online Streaming Service

When citing a film that you watched on online streaming services like Netflix or Amazon, in MLA format, it's crucial to include details about the streaming service. 

This information helps readers locate the exact version of the movie you're referencing.

• Format:

Last Name, First Name of the Movie Director. Title of the Movie. Contributors (if applicable), Version (if applicable), Publisher, Release Year. Name of the Streaming Service, URL.

Other Contributors

Movies often involve various talents beyond the director, and acknowledging these contributors adds depth to your reference. 

If there are notable writers, performers, or individuals whose contributions stand out, including their names after the movie title is essential.

• Format:

Last Name, First Name of the Movie Director. Title of the Movie. Contributors, Version, Publisher, Release Year.

Versions

Movies sometimes undergo revisions or have different cuts that impact the viewing experience. When citing a movie with special editions, it's crucial to specify this information in your MLA citation. 

This ensures that readers can access the precise version according to the release date of the movie you are referring to.

• Format:

Last Name, First Name of the Movie Director. Title of the Movie. Contributors, Revised by [Name], Version, Publisher, Release Year.

Publishers

If a specific company played a crucial role in bringing the film to audiences, including this information in your MLA citation is essential for a comprehensive reference.

• Format:

Last Name, First Name of the Movie Director. Title of the Movie. Contributors, Version, Publisher, Release Year.

How to Cite a Movie - APA Format (7th Edition)

Movie citation in APA format requires attention to detail, ensuring that your citation provides the necessary information for others to locate the source. 

Here is the basic format for citing a movie in APA format:

• DirectorLastName, DirectorFirstInitial. (Director). (Year). Title of Movie [Film]. Production Company.

Below are guidelines and examples for various scenarios:

For Online Streaming

When citing a movie from an online streaming service, include the movie's URL in addition to the standard information.

• Format:

DirectorLastName, DirectorFirstInitial. (Director). (Year). Title of Movie [Film]. Production Company. URL

How to Cite a Movie in Chicago

The Chicago Manual of Style provides two different citation styles: the notes and bibliography system (commonly used in the humanities) and the author-date system (commonly used in the sciences). 

Below are the examples for both systems:

Notes and Bibliography System

1. Footnote/Endnote

Director's First and Last Name, Title of Movie (Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication), page number (if applicable).

2. Bibliography

Director's Last Name, First Name. Title of Movie. Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.

Author-Date System

In the Author-Date system, you'd include a corresponding entry in your reference list:

• Director's Last Name, First Name. Year of Release. Title of Movie. Place of publication: Publisher.

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