Citing a movie in your Works Cited page follows specific formatting guidelines, depending on the citation style you’re using. In essence, you need to provide enough information for your reader to locate the film you referenced, including its title, director, and relevant contributors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to citing movies, covering different citation styles and addressing common questions.
Understanding the Core Elements of Movie Citations
Citing a movie correctly is vital for academic integrity and allows readers to verify your sources. The exact elements required vary between citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.), but certain pieces of information are consistently necessary. These include the movie’s title, the director(s), and the year of release. Depending on your specific needs, you might also include information about the principal performers, the production company, and the format (e.g., DVD, streaming).
Knowing your audience and the specific citation style guidelines set forth by your instructor or publication is the first step. Neglecting these details can lead to a loss of credibility and affect the quality of your scholarly work. Always double-check your citations against an official style guide or a reliable online resource.
Citing Movies in Different Citation Styles
MLA (Modern Language Association)
The MLA style emphasizes the work itself and its creators. A basic MLA citation for a film typically follows this format:
Director’s Last Name, Director’s First Name, director. Title of Movie. Production Company, Year of Release.
Example:
Spielberg, Steven, director. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Paramount Pictures, 1981.
If you want to highlight a specific performer, you can include their name after the title:
Spielberg, Steven, director. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Starring Harrison Ford, Paramount Pictures, 1981.
When citing a film viewed online, add the website name and the date you accessed the film:
Spielberg, Steven, director. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Starring Harrison Ford, Paramount Pictures, 1981. Amazon Prime Video, Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.
APA (American Psychological Association)
APA style focuses on the author and the publication date. The basic format for an APA movie citation is:
Director’s Last Name, First Initial. (Director). (Year). Title of motion picture [Motion picture]. Production Company.
Example:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1981). Raiders of the lost ark [Motion picture]. Paramount Pictures.
If the director is unknown, you can use the executive producer(s) or someone responsible for the film’s overall direction. When citing a specific performer, include their name after the title:
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1981). Raiders of the lost ark [Motion picture]. Starring H. Ford. Paramount Pictures.
For streaming services, include the specific service and URL (if easily available):
Spielberg, S. (Director). (1981). Raiders of the lost ark [Motion picture]. Paramount Pictures. Amazon Prime Video.
Chicago Style
Chicago style offers two formats: Notes-Bibliography (NB) and Author-Date.
Notes-Bibliography Format:
Director’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Movie. Year of Release. City of Production: Production Company.
Example:
Spielberg, Steven. Raiders of the Lost Ark. 1981. Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures.
Author-Date Format (in Works Cited):
Director’s Last Name, First Name. Year of Release. Title of Movie. City of Production: Production Company.
Example:
Spielberg, Steven. 1981. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures.
For streaming services, indicate the platform:
Spielberg, Steven. 1981. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures. Amazon Prime Video.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Citing Movies
Here are twelve frequently asked questions about citing movies in your academic work:
1. How do I cite a movie if the director is unknown?
If the director is unknown, identify the individual or group most responsible for the film’s direction. This could be the executive producer or the production company. State this role in your citation (e.g., “Executive Producer, Name,” or “Production Company”). If no responsible party can be identified, omit the director information.
2. What if a movie has multiple directors?
For movies with multiple directors, list all directors in the order they are credited on the film. Use “and” or commas to separate their names, depending on the specific style guide. For example, in MLA: “Director 1, Name, and Director 2, Name, directors.”
3. How do I cite a documentary?
Citing a documentary is similar to citing a feature film. The main difference is that you should identify the type of film in brackets after the title in APA style: Title of Documentary [Documentary]. All other details, such as director, year, and production company, remain the same.
4. What if a movie has been re-released?
When a movie has been re-released, cite the original release year followed by the re-release year. For example, in MLA, you might state: “Year of Original Release/Year of Re-Release.” This is most relevant when the re-release contains significantly altered content.
5. How do I cite a movie trailer?
To cite a movie trailer, treat it as a short video clip. Include the title of the trailer, the phrase “Trailer,” the movie title, the production company, and the year. For example: Trailer for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Paramount Pictures, 1981. Accessed via [platform, e.g., YouTube].
6. What if I’m citing a specific scene from a movie?
Citing a specific scene from a movie is generally not necessary in a standard Works Cited. Instead, describe the scene in your text and provide the overall movie citation. If you must cite a scene, include the timestamp or scene name (if available) after the movie title in your in-text citation.
7. How do I cite a movie that I watched on a streaming service?
When citing a movie watched on a streaming service, include the name of the streaming service after the production company. If the URL is easily accessible and relevant, include it as well. Be sure to include the date you accessed the film.
8. Should I italicize the title of a movie?
Yes, the title of a movie should be italicized in most citation styles, including MLA, APA, and Chicago. This is a standard convention for indicating the title of a major work.
9. What information do I need to cite a foreign film?
For foreign films, cite the original title and, if applicable, provide the English translation in brackets after the original title. Also, include the country of origin in the citation.
10. How do I cite a movie from a DVD or Blu-ray?
Citing a movie from a DVD or Blu-ray is similar to citing any other film format. Include the phrase “DVD” or “Blu-ray” after the title, indicating the medium on which you viewed the movie.
11. Is it necessary to include the running time of the movie?
In most cases, including the running time of the movie is not required. However, some instructors or publications may request it. If required, include it after the year of release or after indicating the format (e.g., DVD).
12. How do I cite a movie review?
To cite a movie review, cite it as you would any other type of review, including the reviewer’s name, the title of the review, the name of the publication, the date of publication, and any relevant page numbers or URL. It is not necessary to cite the movie itself in addition to the review in this case; the review citation should stand on its own.
By following these guidelines and addressing these common questions, you can confidently and accurately cite movies in your academic works. Always consult the relevant style guide for the most up-to-date and specific instructions. Accurate and thorough citation is essential for maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism.