Citing movies correctly in MLA format is crucial for academic integrity, ensuring proper attribution and allowing readers to easily locate the sources you’ve used. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of MLA movie citation, covering everything from the basics to more complex scenarios.
The Foundation: Core Elements of an MLA Movie Citation
At its core, an MLA movie citation, whether for your Works Cited page or within your text as a parenthetical citation, aims to provide enough information for a reader to identify and find the film you referenced. The fundamental structure focuses on these elements, presented in a specific order:
- Title of the Movie: This is the most important element. Use the original title, capitalizing all principal words.
- Director: Provide the director’s name, preceded by “Directed by.”
- Distributor: List the company or companies responsible for distributing the film.
- Year of Release: Include the year the movie was initially released in theaters.
This structure forms the basis for most MLA movie citations. However, depending on your specific needs, you might need to include additional information.
Building Your Works Cited Entry
Creating a flawless Works Cited entry for a movie requires meticulous attention to detail. Here’s a step-by-step guide, followed by examples demonstrating common variations:
- Start with the Movie Title: Write the full title of the movie in italics. Capitalize all principal words according to MLA style.
- Indicate the Director: Provide the director’s name, using the phrase “Directed by” before their name. For instance, “Directed by Christopher Nolan.”
- List the Distributor(s): Identify the company (or companies) that distributed the film. If multiple distributors are involved, separate them with a comma.
- Include the Year of Release: Add the year the movie was originally released theatrically.
Here are a few examples demonstrating common citation scenarios:
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Basic Citation:
- Oppenheimer. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Universal Pictures, 2023.
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Multiple Distributors:
- Everything Everywhere All at Once. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, A24 / IAC Films / Ley Line Entertainment, 2022.
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Streaming Service:
- Roma. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Netflix, 2018.
The inclusion of streaming services as distributors is a growing trend, accurately reflecting how many viewers now consume films.
In-Text Citations: Bridging the Gap
In-text citations, also known as parenthetical citations, are brief references within your text that point readers to the full entry in your Works Cited list. For movies, the general format is the movie title, enclosed in parentheses. If the movie’s title is mentioned in the sentence, you do not need a parenthetical citation.
Here’s how it works:
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Title in Parentheses: Place the title of the movie in parentheses at the end of the sentence or clause referencing the film. Example: The film’s exploration of quantum physics is groundbreaking (Oppenheimer).
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Title in the Sentence: If you already mention the title in your sentence, no parenthetical citation is needed. Example: Oppenheimer skillfully portrays the ethical dilemmas of scientific advancement.
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Multiple Works by the Same Title: If you are citing multiple movies with the same title, include the year of release in the parenthetical citation to differentiate them. Example: (Hamlet 1948).
These concise in-text citations ensure that your readers can quickly and easily find the corresponding entry in your Works Cited list.
FAQs: Addressing Common Citation Concerns
Here are 12 FAQs that provide further clarification and address potential challenges related to citing movies in MLA format:
1. What if a movie has multiple directors?
If a movie has multiple directors, list them all, separated by “and.” For instance: Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski.
2. How do I cite a DVD or Blu-ray version of a movie?
Include the media type (DVD or Blu-ray) after the year of release. For example: Directed by Christopher Nolan, Warner Bros., 2008. DVD.
3. What if I watched the movie on a streaming platform like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video?
Treat the streaming platform as the distributor. For example: Directed by Greta Gerwig, Warner Bros., 2023. Netflix.
4. How do I cite a scene from a movie?
MLA generally does not require citing specific scenes unless you are quoting dialogue. If quoting dialogue, you can use the movie title in the in-text citation. It is not generally recommended to cite specific scenes only.
5. How do I cite a documentary film?
Treat a documentary film like any other movie. Include the director, distributor, and year of release.
6. What if the movie is a foreign film?
Use the original title of the movie if available. If you are using an English-dubbed version, cite the version you viewed.
7. How do I cite a movie review?
Cite the movie review as you would cite any other article from a website or journal. The author, title of the review, publication, date, and URL (if applicable) should be included.
8. What if the movie doesn’t have a clearly identifiable director?
This is rare. If you cannot find a director, omit that element from the citation.
9. How do I format the title of the movie in my writing?
Movie titles should be italicized in both the Works Cited entry and within the body of your paper.
10. What if I’m citing a specific edition of a movie (e.g., a collector’s edition)?
Include information about the edition after the year of release, if relevant. For example: Directed by Christopher Nolan, Warner Bros., 2008. Special Edition.
11. How do I cite a movie screenplay?
Cite the screenplay as you would a book, including the author (screenwriter), title, publisher, and year of publication. If it is an online screenplay, include the website and access date.
12. What if the movie has been re-released in a different year?
Use the original release year, not the re-release year. You can add information about a re-release after the original year if it’s pertinent to your analysis.
Conclusion: Achieving Citation Excellence
Mastering MLA movie citation involves understanding the core elements and applying them consistently. By following the guidelines outlined in this article and addressing common concerns through the FAQs, you can ensure your citations are accurate, reliable, and contribute to the overall credibility of your academic work. Remember, the goal is clarity and precision, allowing your readers to easily trace your sources and engage with your analysis.