In American Psychological Association (APA) style, movie titles are italicized. This simple rule maintains clarity and professionalism within your academic writing, distinguishing movie titles from other text.
Mastering Movie Title Citation in APA Style
Writing academic papers demands precision, and correctly citing sources, including films, is paramount. Understanding how to format movie titles in APA style is a crucial skill for students and researchers alike. Incorrectly formatted citations can detract from the credibility of your work. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to accurately and consistently cite movies in your essays.
The Foundation: Italicization
The core principle when citing a movie title in APA style is italicization. This distinguishes the title as a standalone work. However, only the title itself is italicized; any accompanying words or phrases remain in standard font.
Example:
Incorrect: The Shawshank Redemption is a powerful story.
Correct: The Shawshank Redemption is a powerful story.
Beyond the Basics: Capitalization Rules
While italicization is fundamental, understanding APA’s capitalization rules is equally important. Here’s a breakdown:
- Capitalize the First Word: Always capitalize the first word of the title, regardless of its grammatical function.
- Capitalize Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, and Pronouns: These word types are typically capitalized.
- Capitalize Subordinate Conjunctions: Examples include Because, If, Since, and Although.
- Lowercase Articles (a, an, the), Coordinating Conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet), and Prepositions (of, to, in, on, at, etc.) These are generally lowercase, unless they are the first word of the title or subtitle.
- Hyphenated Words: Capitalize the first word after the hyphen if it is a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or pronoun.
Example:
Correct: To Kill a Mockingbird
Correct: Life of Pi
Correct: All Quiet on the Western Front
In-Text Citations: Keeping it Concise
When referring to a movie within the body of your essay, you should provide a brief in-text citation. This usually includes the director’s last name and the year of release.
Example:
(Spielberg, 1993) noted the importance of realistic special effects in Jurassic Park.
If you’re discussing a specific scene or element, you may need to provide more detail in the citation. However, for general references, the director’s last name and year are sufficient.
Reference List Entries: The Complete Picture
The reference list provides a comprehensive citation for each source used in your essay. For movies, the standard APA format includes:
- Director(s), Last Name, First Initial(s). (Director(s)). (Year). Title of movie [Motion picture]. Production Company.
Example:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Universal Pictures.
Note: If there are multiple directors, list them in the order they appear in the film credits.
Handling TV Series and Documentaries
The rules for citing TV series and documentaries are similar to those for movies, with slight modifications.
- TV Series: Cite the series title and the specific episode title (if applicable), italicizing both. Include the season and episode number, if relevant.
- Documentaries: Treat documentaries like movies, following the standard APA format.
FAQs: Deep Diving into Movie Title Citation in APA
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of citing movie titles in APA style:
FAQ 1: What if a movie title includes a subtitle?
Italicize both the title and the subtitle. Capitalize the first word of both the title and the subtitle.
Example: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
FAQ 2: Should I italicize the words “film” or “movie” when referring to a movie?
No, you should not italicize the words “film” or “movie.” These are generic terms, not part of the title itself.
Example: The film Casablanca is a classic example of romantic drama.
FAQ 3: How do I cite a movie if I only know the director and title?
If you only know the director and title, use the available information in your reference list entry and in-text citation. The minimum requirement is the director’s last name, year, and title.
Example: (Tarantino, 1994)
FAQ 4: What if a movie has multiple directors?
List all the directors in the reference list entry, separated by commas. Use “&” before the last director.
Example: Scott, R., & Ridley, T. (Directors). (1979). Alien [Motion picture]. 20th Century Fox.
FAQ 5: How do I cite a movie found on a streaming service?
Include the streaming service in your reference list entry after “[Motion picture].”
Example: Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Motion picture]. Universal Pictures (Available on Netflix).
FAQ 6: What if the movie title is in a foreign language?
Italicize the foreign language title. If you are providing a translation, include it in brackets after the original title.
Example: Amélie [Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain].
FAQ 7: Do I need to include the country of origin of the film?
No, the country of origin is generally not required in APA style citations for movies.
FAQ 8: How do I cite a movie that is based on a book?
Cite the movie as a movie, following the standard APA format. If you are discussing the adaptation specifically, you can mention the book in your writing.
Example: The film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel.
FAQ 9: What if I am quoting dialogue from the movie?
Follow APA guidelines for quoting spoken material. Include the director’s last name, year, and a timestamp if available and relevant.
Example: As Rick famously states, “We’ll always have Paris” (Curtiz, 1942).
FAQ 10: How do I handle a movie title that starts with “A,” “An,” or “The”?
Retain the articles “A,” “An,” or “The” in the title, and capitalize them only if they are the first word of the title or subtitle.
Example: The Godfather
FAQ 11: What if I’m citing a special feature or commentary track from the DVD/Blu-ray?
You would cite the special feature or commentary track as a separate entity. This would involve identifying the speaker, the year the commentary was recorded (if different from the movie’s release), the title of the commentary (if any), and then specifying that it is a commentary track within brackets. Include information about the DVD/Blu-ray.
Example: Scorsese, M. (2006). Commentary on Goodfellas [Commentary track]. In Goodfellas: 25th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]. Warner Bros.
FAQ 12: Is it okay to use online citation generators for APA movie citations?
While online citation generators can be helpful, they should not be relied upon solely. Always double-check the generated citation against the official APA style guidelines to ensure accuracy. Many generators contain errors.
By adhering to these guidelines and understanding the nuances of APA style, you can confidently and accurately cite movie titles in your academic essays, contributing to the overall quality and credibility of your work. Consistent application of these rules will demonstrate your attention to detail and commitment to academic rigor. Remember, precision in citation is a hallmark of scholarly writing.