How to mla cite a movie

Overview

Citing a movie in MLA (Modern Language Association) format ensures that your audience can locate the specific film you referenced in your work. The MLA style guide provides specific guidelines to help you format these citations accurately, whether you are referencing a classic film, a documentary, or a film viewed via a streaming service. Proper citation is crucial for academic integrity and allows readers to verify your sources and explore them further.

MLA Citation for Films: Core Components

The fundamental structure for citing a film in MLA 9th edition (the most current as of this writing) focuses on key elements that identify the work and its creators. The general format is as follows:

Director's Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release.

Let's break down each component:

Director

Begin the citation with the director's name. Use the Last Name, First Name format. For example, if the director is Christopher Nolan, you would write Nolan, Christopher.

Title of Movie

Follow the director's name with the full title of the movie. The title must be italicized. If there are subtitles, include them after a colon, maintaining the italicization. For example: Inception, or The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Production Company

Next, list the production company or companies responsible for making the film. You can usually find this information in the opening or closing credits of the film, or on reputable movie databases. Use the name as it appears on the film. For example: Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures.

Year of Release

Conclude the basic citation with the year the movie was released. This helps distinguish between different versions or remakes of a film.

Example of a Basic Citation:

Nolan, Christopher, director. Inception. Warner Bros., 2010.

Citing Films from Streaming Services or Online Platforms

In today's digital age, many films are accessed through streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or YouTube. MLA provides guidelines for citing these versions as well. The format expands to include the name of the website or streaming service, the distributor (if different from the production company), and a URL or DOI.

The format becomes:

Director's Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release. Name of Streaming Service, URL or DOI.

Important Considerations:

• Name of Streaming Service: Use the name of the platform where you accessed the film (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, YouTube).
• URL: Provide the direct URL to the film if possible. If the URL is very long or complex, you can shorten it, but ensure it remains functional. MLA generally prefers URLs without the "http://" or "https://" prefix, but check with your instructor if they have specific requirements.
• Distributor: If the distributor is different from the production company and is relevant (e.g., a specific release label), you may include it. For many streaming films, the production company listed is sufficient.
• Access Date: While not always mandatory for stable online resources like well-established streaming platforms, MLA suggests including an access date if you believe the content might change or be removed. The format is: Accessed Day Month Year.

Example of a Citation from a Streaming Service:

Wachowskis, Lana, and Lilly Wachowski, directors. The Matrix. Warner Bros., 1999. Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/60157927.

If you accessed it on a date, it would look like:

Wachowskis, Lana, and Lilly Wachowski, directors. The Matrix. Warner Bros., 1999. Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/60157927. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

Citing Other Versions of a Film

If you are citing a specific version of a film, such as a director's cut, a restored version, or a film released on DVD or Blu-ray, you should include relevant details. This might involve mentioning the distributor or the format.

For DVDs/Blu-rays:

Director's Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release. DVD or Blu-ray, Distributor, Year of Release (if different).

Example:

Cameron, James, director. Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Carolco Pictures, 1991. Blu-ray, StudioCanal, 2017.

For Director's Cuts or Special Editions:

You can often indicate these in the title or add a note about the version.

Example:

Scott, Ridley, director. Blade Runner: The Final Cut. Warner Bros., 1982. Blu-ray, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, 2007.

Works Cited Page

Remember that all sources cited in your text must appear on a "Works Cited" page at the end of your paper. The format for the Works Cited entry is the same as described above. Entries are alphabetized by the first word of the citation (usually the director's last name).

Additional Tips

• Accuracy: Always double-check the spelling of names, titles, and production companies.
• Consistency: Maintain consistency in your citation style throughout your paper.
• Instructor Guidelines: If you are writing for a specific course, always adhere to your instructor's guidelines, as they may have specific preferences or modifications to the standard MLA format.
• Databases: When citing films found through academic databases (like JSTOR or Project MUSE, though less common for films than articles), follow the guidelines for citing works from databases, which may include the database name and a DOI if available.

By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in your MLA-formatted essays and research papers.