Citing movies accurately in MLA format is crucial for academic integrity and lending credibility to your research. This guide will provide a clear, step-by-step approach to citing films, covering everything from basic entries to more complex scenarios. Let’s unlock the secrets to perfect MLA movie citations.
Understanding the Core MLA Movie Citation Structure
The basic MLA citation for a movie follows a consistent structure, emphasizing the contributor most relevant to your discussion. This could be the director, writer, or actors. The structure is as follows:
Last Name, First Name of Contributor, job title. Title of Movie. Publisher/Distributor, Year of Release.
Let’s break down each element:
- Contributor: Identify the individual whose contribution is most relevant to your analysis. If you’re discussing the director’s vision, start with the director. If you’re focusing on an actor’s performance, start with the actor. Example: Nolan, Christopher, director.
- Job Title: Immediately following the contributor’s name, provide their specific role in the film. Common roles include “director,” “writer,” “performer,” “producer,” etc. Example: Nolan, Christopher, director.
- Title of Movie: The full title of the movie should be italicized. Capitalize the first letter of each major word (excluding articles, prepositions, and conjunctions). *Example: Nolan, Christopher, director. *Inception*. *
- Publisher/Distributor: Provide the name of the film’s distributor. Common distributors include Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. *Example: Nolan, Christopher, director. *Inception. Warner Bros.,
- Year of Release: Indicate the year the film was originally released. *Example: Nolan, Christopher, director. *Inception. Warner Bros., 2010.
Therefore, a complete basic MLA citation would look like this:
Nolan, Christopher, director. Inception. Warner Bros., 2010.
Citing Movies Accessed Online
With the rise of streaming services, you may be citing a movie you watched online. Here’s how to adapt the basic citation:
Last Name, First Name of Contributor, job title. Title of Movie. Publisher/Distributor, Year of Release. Platform, URL.
- Platform: Indicate the streaming service or website where you accessed the film. Examples include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, etc. Italicize the platform name. *Example: Nolan, Christopher, director. *Inception*. Warner Bros., 2010. *Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/70131342.
- URL: Include the stable URL for the movie on the platform. If a stable URL isn’t available, omit it. Make sure it is working.
In-Text Citations
When referencing a movie in your text, use a parenthetical citation that includes the contributor’s last name and the year of release.
- Example: (Nolan, 2010)
If you cite a specific scene or quote a character, you can add a timestamp to the in-text citation, if available from the source you used:
- Example: (Nolan, 2010, 0:45:12)
FAQs: Delving Deeper into MLA Movie Citations
This section addresses common questions and complex scenarios related to citing movies in MLA format.
H3: What if I want to cite the writer of the movie instead of the director?
Simply change the contributor to the writer’s name and their job title to “writer.”
Example: Sorkin, Aaron, writer. The Social Network. Columbia Pictures, 2010.
H3: How do I cite a movie if I watched it on DVD?
The citation remains similar to the basic format. Include the distributor and the year of release that’s listed on the DVD packaging. The fact you watched it on DVD is usually not included unless specifically relevant to your argument.
Example: Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas. Warner Bros., 1990.
H3: What if the movie has multiple directors?
List all directors, separated by commas and the word “and” before the final name. If there are more than three directors, you can use the first director’s name followed by “et al.”
Example:
- Sing, Bryan, and Dexter Fletcher, directors. Bohemian Rhapsody. 20th Century Fox, 2018.
- Scott, Ridley, et al., directors. Alien. 20th Century Fox, 1979.
H3: How do I cite an animated movie?
The citation format is the same as for live-action films. Focus on the director, writer, or voice actors, depending on your analysis.
Example: Lasseter, John, director. Toy Story. Walt Disney Pictures, 1995.
H3: How do I cite a foreign film?
Cite the film’s original title if that is what you used in your paper. You may add the translated title in brackets afterward, but italicize only the original title. If you are citing the dubbed or subtitled version and using that title in your paper, use the title you watched, including any translation notes (if available).
Example: Amélie [Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain]. UGC, 2001.
H3: How do I cite a specific scene from a movie?
While MLA doesn’t specifically dictate a format for citing scenes, you can adapt the in-text citation to include a timestamp. If you are citing information about a specific scene, it is best to provide the relevant timestamp.
Example: (Nolan, 2010, 1:23:45)
You could also add a descriptive note to the Works Cited entry if needed. However, consult your instructor for their preferred method.
H3: How do I cite a movie soundtrack?
To cite a song from a movie soundtrack:
Last Name, First Name of Composer/Performer. “Title of Song.” Title of Soundtrack, Publisher/Record Label, Year of Release.
Example: Zimmer, Hans. “Time.” Inception: Music from the Motion Picture, WaterTower Music, 2010.
To cite the entire soundtrack:
Title of Soundtrack. Publisher/Record Label, Year of Release.
Example: Inception: Music from the Motion Picture. WaterTower Music, 2010.
H3: How do I cite a movie trailer?
“Title of Trailer.” Title of Movie, Publisher/Distributor, Year of Release. Website, URL.
Example: “Official Trailer.” The Dark Knight, Warner Bros., 2008. YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXeTwQWrcwE.
H3: What if I don’t know the distributor of the movie?
If you cannot find the distributor information, you can omit it from the citation. However, attempt to locate this information before omitting it.
H3: How do I cite an actor’s performance in a movie?
When focusing on an actor’s performance, start the citation with the actor’s name, followed by “performer.”
Example: DiCaprio, Leonardo, performer. The Wolf of Wall Street. Paramount Pictures, 2013.
H3: How do I cite a movie review?
Last Name, First Name of Reviewer. “Title of Review.” Title of Publication, Date of Publication, URL.
Example: Ebert, Roger. “Citizen Kane Movie Review (1941) | Roger Ebert.” RogerEbert.com, 1 Jan. 1941, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-citizen-kane-1941.
H3: What if the movie is a compilation of short films?
Cite the compilation as a whole. If you are referencing a specific short film, cite the director of that short film. Include the title of the short film and the larger compilation.
Example: Wright, Edgar, director. “Don’t.” Grindhouse. Dimension Films, 2007.
By adhering to these guidelines and consulting the MLA Handbook (9th edition) for more detailed information, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in your academic work. Remember that consistency and accuracy are paramount in maintaining scholarly integrity. Happy citing!