Citing a Netflix movie in APA style requires acknowledging the streaming service as the source, as it is the distribution platform. The key is to provide enough information so that readers can reliably locate the specific version of the movie you referenced, taking into account that Netflix content can vary by region and availability.
Understanding APA Citation for Streaming Content
The American Psychological Association (APA) style guide provides specific guidelines for citing electronic sources, including content streamed from platforms like Netflix. Unlike citing theatrical releases, citing a Netflix movie necessitates referencing the streaming service as the distributor. This distinction is crucial for accuracy, as Netflix may offer versions with slight variations in content, features, or even subtitles compared to other platforms or theatrical releases. Accurate citation allows readers to pinpoint the exact version you used.
Core Components of an APA Netflix Movie Citation
The basic APA citation for a movie accessed via Netflix follows this general structure:
Director, D. (Director). (Year). Title of movie [Motion picture]. Distributor.
Let’s break down each component:
- Director, D. (Director): Provide the director’s last name, followed by a comma and their first initial. If there are multiple directors, list them in the order they are credited, separated by commas. Note that unlike some other citation styles, APA prioritizes the director over the writer when citing films.
- (Year): Include the year the movie was released, not necessarily the year you watched it on Netflix.
- Title of movie: Provide the full and exact title of the movie, italicized.
- [Motion picture]: Include this bracketed description to clarify the format of the source. This is a critical component, helping readers understand the nature of the work.
- Distributor: In this case, the distributor is Netflix.
Example:
Scorsese, M. (2019). The Irishman [Motion picture]. Netflix.
Adapting to Specific Scenarios
While the basic format provides a foundation, some scenarios require adjustments to the citation. These include citing specific scenes, dealing with multiple directors or writers, and accounting for movies with unique or complex titles. We’ll address these nuances in the FAQ section.
Mastering In-Text Citations
In addition to the reference list entry, you’ll need to include in-text citations within your paper. These citations provide brief references to the movie within the body of your text, allowing readers to quickly locate the full citation in the reference list.
Parenthetical Citations
The parenthetical in-text citation includes the director’s last name and the year of release, separated by a comma, all enclosed in parentheses.
Example:
(Scorsese, 2019)
If you are citing a specific scene or moment within the movie, you might also include a timestamp, but APA guidelines are less strict about requiring this detail for video content compared to page numbers in written works. Providing a timestamp enhances the reader’s ability to locate the exact portion you are referencing, especially in longer films.
Narrative Citations
Narrative citations integrate the director’s name directly into the sentence.
Example:
Scorsese (2019) explores themes of guilt and redemption in The Irishman.
In both cases, the year of release remains essential for linking the in-text citation to the full entry in your reference list.
FAQs: Deepening Your Understanding
Here are 12 frequently asked questions to further clarify how to cite a Netflix movie in APA style:
FAQ 1: What if there are multiple directors?
If a movie has multiple directors, list them in the order they appear in the credits, separated by commas. Use the ampersand (&) before the final director’s name.
Example:
Apatow, J., & O’Malley, S. (2012). This Is 40 [Motion picture]. Netflix.
In the in-text citation, include both last names for the first citation, then use “et al.” for subsequent citations.
Example:
(Apatow & O’Malley, 2012) – first citation
(Apatow et al., 2012) – subsequent citations
FAQ 2: What if I want to cite a specific scene in the movie?
APA generally doesn’t require pinpoint citations (like timestamps) for movies, but including one enhances clarity. You can add the timestamp to the in-text citation in parentheses, after the year.
Example:
(Scorsese, 2019, 1:22:30)
This indicates the scene begins at 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 30 seconds into the movie. While not mandatory, timestamps improve the precision of your citation.
FAQ 3: What if the movie is a foreign film?
Cite the film as you would any other movie on Netflix. The original title should be used, and you don’t need to translate it. If you are discussing specific dialogue, you might provide your own translation within the body of your paper, but the citation itself remains in the original language.
FAQ 4: What if the movie has no readily identifiable director listed?
In rare cases where the director is truly unknown or uncredited, you can use the title of the movie in place of the director’s name in both the reference list and the in-text citation.
Example (Reference List):
Title of movie [Motion picture]. (Year). Distributor.
Example (In-Text):
(Title of movie, Year)
However, this should be a last resort. Conduct thorough research to identify the director before resorting to this approach.
FAQ 5: How do I cite a documentary film on Netflix?
The citation format remains the same. Use the director’s name and the year of release, followed by the title of the documentary (italicized), the bracketed description “[Motion picture],” and the distributor (Netflix).
FAQ 6: What if the movie is a series of short films combined into one feature on Netflix?
Treat it as a single movie with a single title. Cite the overall director or directors if credited. If each short film has its own director and they are listed separately, you may need to consider citing each short film individually as a separate entity, but this is less common. Prioritize citing the entire feature film as a single unit unless your analysis focuses heavily on specific short film segments.
FAQ 7: How do I cite a TV episode available as a “movie” on Netflix?
Some TV episodes are presented as self-contained movies on Netflix. In this case, cite it as a movie, following the standard Netflix movie citation format.
FAQ 8: What if the movie is a Netflix Original?
This doesn’t change the citation. Netflix is still the distributor, so cite it as such.
FAQ 9: Is it necessary to include the URL of the movie on Netflix?
APA 7th edition generally omits URLs unless the content is unstable or difficult to find. Because Netflix content is usually readily searchable within the platform, a URL is not typically required.
FAQ 10: What if the year of release is different on Netflix than in theaters?
Always use the original theatrical release year for the citation. The fact that it’s available on Netflix doesn’t change its original creation date.
FAQ 11: What if I watched the movie on a different streaming service (e.g., Hulu, Amazon Prime Video)?
The distributor should be the streaming service you used. So, replace “Netflix” with “Hulu” or “Amazon Prime Video” in the citation. The distributor in your citation must accurately reflect where you accessed the film.
FAQ 12: Does the region I watched the movie in affect the citation?
While the citation itself doesn’t explicitly mention the region, keep in mind that content can vary geographically. If there are significant differences (e.g., different edits, added scenes not present elsewhere), it might be relevant to mention this contextually in your paper to avoid confusion. However, this doesn’t change the core citation format. Region-specific variations are typically handled through contextual notes in your writing, not modifications to the citation.