How to Cite a Movie in MLA Format
This guide explains how to cite a movie in MLA format and also covers related source types you’ll often encounter in academic writing. Whether you’re citing a theatrical release, a streaming film, a DVD, or a clip from a site like YouTube, this article gives step-by-step instructions and clear examples you can apply immediately.
Who uses MLA and why this matters
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used in literature, languages, and the humanities. It emphasizes authorship and page location when available, and it treats films and other audiovisual materials with a clear, consistent structure.
When you need a quick formatted citation, use Rephrasely’s free citation generator at Rephrasely Citation Generator to create correctly styled entries and export them into your Works Cited list.
General Rules for MLA Citations
- Use the author or creator first (if applicable), then title, contributors (director, performers), production company, year, and location or platform.
- Italicize titles of full works (books, movies, journals). Put article or episode titles in quotation marks.
- Use a hanging indent for each Works Cited entry and double-space the list. In HTML you can’t enforce spacing, but follow these rules in your document editor.
- Include URLs for online sources. Omit http:// or https:// only if your instructor prefers; MLA allows full URLs.
- When citing films, list the title first if the director is not the primary focus. Include “Directed by” before the director’s name when the director is central to your analysis.
How to Cite by Source Type
Below are step-by-step examples for common source types. Each example uses MLA 9-style order. Use the template, then replace details with your source’s metadata.
1. Film (Theatrical release)
Format: Title. Directed by Director First Last, performances by Performer Names (optional), Production Company, Year.
Example:
Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, performances by Song Kang-ho, CJ Entertainment, 2019.
Actionable tip: If you quote dialogue, include a parenthetical in-text citation that uses the film title or director (see In-Text Citations below).
2. Film (Streaming platform)
Format: Title. Directed by Director First Last, performances by Performer Names (optional), Production Company, Year. Streaming Platform, URL.
Example:
The Irishman. Directed by Martin Scorsese, performances by Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, Netflix, 2019, www.netflix.com/watch/XXXXXXXX.
Actionable tip: Provide the stable URL or DOI if available. If streaming platform restricts access to subscribers, include the platform name and a URL if your instructor requires it.
3. DVD or Physical Disc
Format: Title. Directed by Director First Last, performances by Performer Names (optional), Production Company, Year. DVD.
Example:
Moonlight. Directed by Barry Jenkins, A24, 2016. DVD.
4. YouTube or Online Video Clip
Format: “Video Title.” Website Name, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
“The Making of Blade Runner 2049.” YouTube, uploaded by Warner Bros Pictures, 10 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXXXX.
5. Book (MLA quick template)
Format: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.
Example:
Smith, John. Understanding Film Narratives. Academic Press, 2018.
6. Journal Article
Format: Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal Name, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. xx–xx.
Example:
Lee, Maria. “Cinematic Space and Viewer Perception.” Journal of Film Studies, vol. 34, no. 2, 2020, pp. 45–67.
7. Website Page
Format: Last Name, First Name. “Page or Article Title.” Website Name, Publisher (if different), Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
Garcia, Luis. “How Movies Shape Cultural Memory.” FilmCulture, 12 Mar. 2021, www.filmculture.org/articles/memory.
In-Text Citations
MLA in-text citations use the author-page format when applicable: (Last Name page). For sources without page numbers—like films—use the title or director.
- If you mention the director in your sentence: Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Parasite shows ... (no parenthetical needed for the director as author).
- If not mentioned in text: Use a short title or director name in parentheses. Example: (Parasite) or (Bong).
- For multiple works with the same title, add a short subtitle or year to avoid confusion: (Parasite 2019).
Examples:
Dialogue in the film reveals social tensions (Parasite).
Scorsese’s editing choices heighten suspense (The Irishman).
Actionable tip: When quoting a timestamped segment of a movie, include the time range in the sentence rather than in the parenthetical: In the film’s climax (1:45:00–1:47:30), the protagonist chooses reconciliation.
Works Cited / Reference List
MLA labels the list “Works Cited.” Center the title at the top of a new page. Use double spacing throughout and a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each entry.
Example Works Cited section that includes a film, a book, and a website entry:
Works Cited
Bong, Joon Ho, director. Parasite. CJ Entertainment, 2019.
Smith, John. Understanding Film Narratives. Academic Press, 2018.
Garcia, Luis. “How Movies Shape Cultural Memory.” FilmCulture, 12 Mar. 2021, www.filmculture.org/articles/memory.
Actionable formatting checklist before submitting:
- Alphabetize entries by author or title (if no author).
- Use hanging indents and double spacing throughout the Works Cited page.
- Italicize titles of full works; use quotation marks for shorter works.
- Include access dates only if the source may change over time or your instructor asks for it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Mixing MLA with APA elements. Each style has its own order and punctuation. Double-check you’re following MLA rules: author, title, container, contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, location.
2. Forgetting the director for films. Many students omit the director; include “Directed by” when the director is central or include the director as the main contributor if the film analysis focuses on direction.
3. Incorrect title formatting. Full works (films, books, journals) must be italicized. Do not use quotation marks around movie titles.
4. Missing URLs or incorrect URLs. For streaming or online video, provide the full, stable URL. If you used a subscription platform and your instructor doesn’t want a URL, at least name the platform.
Actionable tip: Use Rephrasely’s plagiarism checker (/plagiarism-checker) to verify original text and our AI detector (/ai-detector) if you want to check machine-generated passages. For drafting citations and bibliographies quickly, try Rephrasely’s citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation or create polished writing with the Composer tool (/composer).
Practical Example: Citing a Documentary Clip from an Online Archive
Step 1: Identify the title, director/producer, year, and the hosting site.
Step 2: Use this format — Title. Directed by Director Name, Production Company, Year. Website, URL.
Example:
13th. Directed by Ava DuVernay, Kandoo Films, 2016. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/80091741.
Actionable tip: When analyzing a short clip, include time stamps in your in-text citation or describe the segment in your sentence.
Quick Troubleshooting
- Don’t know the director? Start the entry with the film title and include the production company and year.
- Short on bibliographic details? Use trusted databases or the film’s official page to retrieve production credits.
- Need a formatted Works Cited page fast? Paste your metadata into Rephrasely’s citation generator to get MLA entries instantly: Rephrasely Citation Generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a movie in MLA if there is no director listed?
Start the Works Cited entry with the movie title, followed by other contributors if available, the production company, and the year. Example: Unknown Film Title. Production Company, 2020. In-text, use a shortened title in parentheses.
Should I include the time stamp when quoting a movie?
Yes. Include the timestamp in your sentence to direct readers to the exact moment (e.g., “At 1:12:30, the narrator reveals...” ). MLA does not require time stamps in the parenthetical citation, so place them in the text for clarity.
Can Rephrasely help format multiple citation types?
Yes. Rephrasely’s citation generator supports MLA and other styles and can format movies, books, journal articles, websites, and more. Use it at https://rephrasely.com/citation. For writing help, try the Composer (/composer), and validate originality using the plagiarism checker (/plagiarism-checker) and AI detector (/ai-detector).