When writing academic papers or conducting research in fields such as literature or film studies, it is important to properly cite your sources. This includes citing movies, whether they are streamed online, found on DVD, or viewed in theaters. In this article, we will explore how to cite a movie in MLA style, providing format examples for different scenarios.
First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the MLA style guide follows a specific format for citing movies. The format includes the names of people involved in the production or performance of the film, the title of the movie, relevant timestamps, and other relevant information. By following this format, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and in accordance with the MLA guidelines.
If you are citing a movie that is available on DVD, the format will be slightly different. You will need to include the name of the publisher, production company, or distributor, along with the year of publication or release. For example:
Scorsese, Martin, director. The Departed. Warner Bros., 2006.
If you are citing a movie that you watched online, the format will focus on the title of the movie and the website or streaming service where it can be found. For example:
Johansson, Scarlett, performer. “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.” Film4, www.film4.com/movies/nosferatu.html.
It is worth noting that if you are citing a specific episode or discussion from a television show or a series of videos, you should include the title of the episode or discussion in quotation marks, followed by the title of the show or series. For example:
“The One with the Prom Video.” Friends, season 2, episode 14, Prime Video, 1995.
When citing multiple works from the same contributor or performer, it is important to use additional information to differentiate between them. This can include timestamps, titles of different works, or other relevant details. For example:
Johansson, Scarlett, performer. “Lost in Translation.” Film4, www.film4.com/movies/lost-in-translation.html. 35:45-37:20.
How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style
In-Text Citations
To cite a movie in the text of your paper, include the title of the film in italics followed by the director’s name. For example, if you are citing the film “Nosferatu” directed by F.W. Murnau, your in-text citation would look like this: (Nosferatu, dir. Murnau).
Citing Movies in Works Cited
When citing movies in the Works Cited section, the format will vary depending on the source. Below are examples of how to cite movies from different formats:
1. DVD/Blu-ray:
Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Publisher, Publication Date.
2. Online Streaming Service:
Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Performances by Performer’s Name, Service Name, Year of Publication. URL (if applicable).
3. Television Series:
“Episode Title.” Title of TV Series, created by Creator’s Name, performance by Actor’s Name, season X, episode Y, Publisher, Year of Publication.
4. Online Video:
Title of Video. Directed by Director’s Name, Website Name, Publication Date, URL.
For more detailed information and further examples, the Purdue Owl website provides a comprehensive guide on MLA citation formats for movies and other sources related to entertainment.
By following the tips and examples provided in this section, you can cite movies in MLA style with confidence. Whether you’re looking to cite a film, a television series, or an online video, these guidelines will help you express your sources accurately and prevent any plagiarism issues.
Format Examples
If you’re citing a movie in MLA style, the format examples below will help you correctly cite movies in your research or academic papers.
In-Text Citations:
- When referring to the movie in your text, you can include the director’s name and the title of the movie, without any additional information. For instance, you could write: “Scarlett Johansson’s performance in Lost in Translation was remarkable.”
- If you’re discussing specific scenes or sections of the movie, you can include a timestamp to indicate when the scene occurs. For example, “In the film Nosferatu, the vampire is first shown at 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 30 seconds into the movie.”
- For in-text citations of spoken-word recordings or speeches, include the name of the speaker along with a timestamp if necessary. For example, “In her speech at the 9th Womxn’s Rights Conference, Angela Davis discussed the importance of intersectional feminism.”
- When citing multiple works by the same director or performer, include their name in the in-text citation to differentiate between the works. For example, “In Scarlett Johansson’s films, such as Lost in Translation and Jojo Rabbit…”
Works Cited:
When citing a movie in your Works Cited page, the format will depend on the platform or service where you watched or accessed the movie.
- For movies watched on DVD or Blu-ray, use the following format example:
- Last name, First name of the director. Title of the Movie. Studio, Year of Release.
- For example: Anderson, Wes. The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fox Searchlight, 2014.
- For movies watched on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, use the following format example:
- Title of the Movie. Directed by First name Last name, performances by First name Last name, Publisher, Year of Release.
- For example: Lost in Translation. Directed by Sofia Coppola, performances by Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, Focus Features, 2003.
- For movies viewed on websites like YouTube or other online video platforms, use the following format example:
- Title of the Movie. Directed by First name Last name, performances by First name Last name, Name of the Website or Platform, Year of Publication.
- For example: Nosferatu. Directed by F.W. Murnau, performances by Max Schreck and Gustav von Wangenheim, YouTube, 2015.
- For movies or TV shows from a database or library resource, use the following format example:
- Last name, First name of the creator or editor. “Title of the Episode or Segment.” Title of the TV Show or Series, performance by First name Last name, Season Number, Episode Number, Publisher, Year of Release, URL or DOI (if applicable).
- For example: Smith, John. “The Pilot Episode.” The Office, performance by Steve Carell, season 1, episode 1, NBC, 2005.
- For free streaming movies or TV shows, include the name of the streaming service:
- Title of the Movie or TV Show. Directed by First name Last name, performances by First name Last name, Name of the Streaming Service, Year of Release.
- For example: The Crown. Directed by Peter Morgan, performances by Claire Foy and Matt Smith, Netflix, 2016.
These format examples should provide you with the necessary guidance to cite movies properly in MLA style. For more in-depth discussions and specific formatting tips, refer to the MLA Handbook or check out the Purdue OWL website for complete MLA style guides. Remember to always cite your sources accurately and give credit to the directors, performers, and other individuals involved in the creation of the movie.
Prevent Plagiarism
With the rise of digital media and online streaming services like Netflix, it is easier than ever to access movies and other videos. However, just because these sources are digital does not mean you can freely use them without citing them.
When citing a movie in MLA style, you should include the names of the director, performers, production company, and any other relevant contributors. The title of the movie should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines. If the movie is part of a larger work, such as a series or anthology, you should also include the title of the larger work.
In-text citations for movies should include the last name of the director and the timestamp or range of timestamps for the specific scene or quote you are referencing. For example, “In the film Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau, the vampire Count Orlok terrorizes the city (00:08:56-00:12:30).
When citing movies from online sources, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video, you should follow the same basic format for in-text citations and works cited entries. Include the name of the streaming service as the container and provide a URL or other identifier to help readers locate the movie. For example, “In the TV show Stranger Things, created by the Duffer Brothers, Will Byers disappears (Netflix).
If the movie or video is available on a website or database, include the name of the website or database as the container and provide a URL or DOI if available. For example, “In the film Gone with the Wind, directed by Victor Fleming, Scarlett O’Hara struggles to find love amidst the turmoil of the Civil War (IMDb).
Remember, when citing a movie or video, it is not enough to simply mention the name of the film or show in your writing. You must provide citations that allow your readers to locate the specific video you are referencing. This is especially important when citing episodes of television shows or specific scenes in movies.
Plagiarism is a serious offense, and the consequences can be severe. By properly citing your sources, you show respect for the original creators and contribute to the academic and intellectual integrity of your own work. Refer to MLA style guides and consult your instructor or university library for more specific guidelines on citing movies and other sources in your research.
Useful Tips for Citing Movies in MLA Style:
- Italicize and capitalize the movie title according to MLA guidelines.
- Include the names of the director, performers, and other relevant contributors.
- Provide in-text citations with the director’s last name and timestamp or range of timestamps.
- Add the name of the streaming service or website as the container, along with a URL or DOI.
- For movies or videos part of a larger work, include the title of the larger work.
- Consult MLA style guides or your instructor for more specific guidelines on citing movies and videos.
Run a Free Check
Why Run a Free Check?
- Ensure proper formatting: MLA style has specific guidelines for citing movies and videos, including the format of the citations, placement of titles, use of italics, and more. Running a free check can help you verify that your citations are following the correct format.
- Check for errors: Mistakes can easily occur when manually creating citations. Running a free check can help you identify any spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, or missing information in your citations.
- Save time: Running a free check can save you time and effort in manually double-checking all your citations. These tools can quickly analyze your citations and provide feedback on any issues.
How to Run a Free Check
- Find a reliable online service or tool that offers plagiarism checking and citation verification. The Purdue OWL is a widely used and trusted resource.
- Visit the website and navigate to the section or tool that allows you to check citations.
- Copy and paste your citations into the provided text box or upload your document.
- Click on the “Check” or “Submit” button to start the citation analysis.
- Review the results and make any necessary changes to your citations based on the feedback provided.
By running a free check on your citations, you can ensure that you have properly formatted and accurate citations for your movie sources. This will help you avoid any issues with plagiarism and maintain the integrity of your research.
FAQ
How do I cite a movie in MLA style?
To cite a movie in MLA style, you need to include specific information about the movie in your citation. The basic format for citing a movie in MLA style is as follows: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Movie.” Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.
Are there different citation formats for different types of movies?
No, the citation format for all types of movies remains the same. However, depending on whether you are citing a DVD, a streaming video, or a movie in a theater, you will need to provide different information in the “Title of Container” section of the citation.
Do I need to include the names of the actors and director in the citation?
No, you do not need to include the names of the actors and director in the citation. However, if their names are relevant to your analysis or discussion, you may mention them in your paper.
Do I need to include the running time of the movie in the citation?
No, you do not need to include the running time of the movie in the citation. The running time is not relevant to the citation, and it is not a required piece of information.
Where can I find more detailed information about citing movies in MLA style?
You can find more detailed information about citing movies in MLA style on the Purdue OWL website. They provide examples and explanations for the different elements of a movie citation, as well as information on how to cite movies in both in-text citations and works cited entries.
