Citing Movie Trailers in MLA: A Definitive Guide

Movie trailers, those bite-sized slices of cinematic anticipation, are increasingly valuable resources for academic research, offering insights into film marketing, audience expectations, and cultural trends. Citing them accurately in Modern Language Association (MLA) style ensures academic integrity and gives credit to the creators. In short, a movie trailer MLA citation follows the general format for citing a web video, emphasizing the trailer’s specific function and the platform where it’s hosted. This article provides a comprehensive guide to crafting impeccable movie trailer citations, along with answers to common questions.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Core Elements of an MLA Citation

The core principle of MLA citation is to provide enough information for your reader to locate the source independently. When citing a movie trailer, several key elements are crucial:

Title of the Trailer: This is usually the official title of the movie itself.
Director (or Studio): Depending on the source, you may cite the director of the film (if known) or the studio that released the trailer.
Source/Website Name: Identify the platform where you found the trailer (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, official movie website).
Publication Date: Note the date the trailer was uploaded or published on the platform.
URL: Include the direct link to the trailer.

Following this structure guarantees clarity and accessibility for anyone seeking to verify your sources. Remember that MLA 9th edition prioritizes common sense and clarity above rigid adherence to templates. Use the following pattern and adjust as needed to your specific situation:

“Title of Trailer.” Source/Website Name, Publication Date, URL.

Example Citation

“Oppenheimer | Official Trailer.” YouTube, Universal Pictures, 8 May 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK6ldnjE3Y0.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Citation

Follow these steps to construct a proper MLA citation for a movie trailer:

Identify the Trailer: Determine the exact title of the movie. This is usually prominently displayed.
Locate the Source: Note where you found the trailer (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, specific studio website).
Find the Publication Date: This is usually located near the video or in the video description.
Determine the Publisher/Creator: This might be the film’s director, the production studio, or the channel name on the platform. If a director’s name is readily available, use it; otherwise, default to the studio.
Obtain the URL: Copy the direct link to the trailer.
Assemble the Citation: Following the template mentioned above, combine all the gathered information into a properly formatted citation.

Handling Missing Information

Sometimes, all the necessary information may not be readily available. In such cases:

Omit Missing Information: If you can’t find the publication date, omit it. However, avoid deliberately obscuring information that you can find.
Use Abbreviations: If you don’t know the full name of the publisher, use an abbreviation (e.g., “Universal Pictures” can be abbreviated to “Universal”).
“n.d.” for No Date: If you absolutely cannot find the publication date, use “n.d.” (for “no date”) in place of the date.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Several common errors can detract from the credibility of your citations:

Incorrect Date Format: MLA uses a day-month-year format (e.g., 8 May 2023).
Missing Punctuation: Pay careful attention to commas and periods in the citation.
Incorrect URL: Double-check that the URL is accurate and leads directly to the trailer.
Misidentifying the Publisher: Ensure you’re citing the actual publisher or creator of the trailer, not just the website it’s hosted on. (e.g., cite Universal Pictures, not YouTube.)
Citing the Movie Instead of the Trailer: The citation should reflect that you are citing the trailer specifically, not the entire movie.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are twelve frequently asked questions about citing movie trailers in MLA, designed to clarify common points of confusion:

How do I cite a movie trailer if I only know the studio that released it, not the director?
- If you only know the studio, list the studio as the creator instead of the director. For example: “Avengers: Endgame | Official Trailer.” YouTube, Marvel Entertainment, 7 Dec. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcMBFSGVi1c.
What if the movie trailer is on the official movie website and not on YouTube or Vimeo?
- Cite the official movie website as the source. For example: “Dune: Part Two | Official Trailer.” Dune Movie Official Website, Warner Bros. Pictures, n.d., dunemovie.com/videos/. Replace “n.d.” with the actual publication date if available.
Should I include the time stamp of the trailer section I’m referencing in my citation?
- No, you typically don’t include the timestamp in the Works Cited entry. However, you can include it within the text of your paper when directly discussing a specific moment in the trailer. For example: “As seen in the trailer for The Batman, the Riddler’s riddles are a key element of the film’s mystery (0:45-0:50).”
What if the movie trailer has multiple versions or sequels? How do I differentiate them in my citation?
- Include additional descriptive information in the trailer title to distinguish it from other trailers. For example: “Spider-Man: No Way Home | Official Trailer 1.” YouTube, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 23 Aug. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfVOs4VSpmI.
Do I need to italicize the movie title in the trailer citation?
- Yes, italicize the movie title just as you would when referring to the movie itself in your paper.
How do I cite a movie trailer that is part of a larger compilation video?
- If the trailer is part of a larger video, cite the entire video, but be sure to mention the trailer within your prose. For example, cite the full video “New Movie Trailers – Week 48, 2024,” and then in your paper write: “The trailer for Argylle, featured in ‘New Movie Trailers – Week 48, 2024,’ showcases…”
Is it necessary to include the access date for online movie trailers in my citation?
- MLA 9th edition generally does not require access dates unless the source material is likely to change (like a Wiki page). For most movie trailers hosted on stable platforms like YouTube, the access date is not needed.
What if the publisher and the website name are the same? Do I need to repeat the information?
- No, if the publisher and website name are the same, simply list the website name once. For example: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Official Trailer.” Nintendo, 9 Oct. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGl01FkMMo.
Can I use a shortened citation or “ibid.” in subsequent citations of the same movie trailer?
- No, MLA style does not use “ibid.” Instead, continue to use the standard citation format for each instance the trailer is cited. If you are citing it very frequently, consider a shortened in-text citation referring back to the full citation in your Works Cited.
What about citing a trailer I saw on television?
- Citing a trailer seen on television is rare, but if you do need to cite it, focus on the broadcast information. It’s tricky, because trailers are often re-edited for TV, but the citation format is: “Title of Trailer.” Name of TV Program, Network, Date of Broadcast. For example: “Oppenheimer | Official Trailer.” Good Morning America, ABC, 9 May 2023.
Does the length of the trailer affect how I cite it?
- No, the length of the trailer does not change the citation format.
If a movie trailer is removed from the platform, do I need to update my citation?
- If a trailer is removed, it’s ideal to try and find it on another platform and update your citation accordingly. If that’s not possible, include a note such as “no longer available online” after the URL, or simply remove the URL if including it serves no purpose.

By following these guidelines and addressing these common questions, you can confidently and accurately cite movie trailers in MLA style, enhancing the credibility and clarity of your academic work.