How to Cite a Movie in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 02/25/2025

Citing a movie in Modern Language Association (MLA) format requires listing specific details about the film, including the title, the director’s name, relevant contributors, the production or distribution company, and the release year. If the film exists in multiple versions, the citation should specify the version used. This guide provides detailed instructions on how to cite a movie in different contexts.

BASIC FORMAT FOR CITING A MOVIE 

• Film Title – The official title of the movie should be italicized to distinguish it from other types of sources.
• Directed by Director’s Name – The director’s name is a crucial component because they are responsible for the film’s overall vision and execution.
• Performances by Key Performers (if relevant) – The names of notable actors or performers can be included if relevant to the discussion or citation.
• Version (if applicable) – If citing a specific version of the film, such as a director’s cut or an extended edition, this information should be included.
• Production Company/Distributor – The company responsible for producing or distributing the film should be listed, as it identifies the official source.
• Year of Release – The release year provides context and helps distinguish between different adaptations or remakes of the same film.

Citation	Casablanca. Directed by Michael Curtiz, performances by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Warner Bros., 1942.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Key Performers (if relevant), Production Company, Year of Release.

Citation	The Godfather. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, performances by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, Paramount Pictures, 1972.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Key Performers (if relevant), Production Company, Year of Release.

CITING A MOVIE FROM AN ONLINE STREAMING SERVICE

If a movie is accessed through an online streaming service, the citation should include the platform name. The basic format is:

• Film Title – The title of the film should be italicized.
• Directed by Director’s Name – The director’s name should be included as the primary creator of the work.
• Production Company – The company responsible for producing or distributing the film should be listed.
• Year of Release – The release year of the film should be included.
• Streaming Service – The name of the streaming platform where the movie was accessed should be italicized.
• URL (if applicable) – If available, the direct URL to the movie should be included.

Citation	Roma. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Esperanto Filmoj, 2018. Netflix.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service.

Citation	Nomadland. Directed by Chloé Zhao, Searchlight Pictures, 2020. Hulu.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service.

If the film is available on a website such as YouTube, include the uploader’s name (if different from the production company), the upload date, and the URL.

Citation	Nosferatu. Directed by F. W. Murnau, Prana Film, 1922. YouTube, uploaded by Classic Horror Films, 5 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?s=312A098rtB.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service, uploaded by Uploader’s Name, Upload Date, URL.

CITING A MOVIE WITH MULTIPLE VERSIONS

Some films have multiple versions, such as theatrical releases, director’s cuts, or extended editions. If citing a specific version, include it in the citation.

Citation	Apocalypse Now. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Redux Version, Zoetrope Studios, 2001.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, Version, Production Company, Year of Release.

Citation	Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Directed by Peter Jackson, Extended Edition, New Line Cinema, 2001.
Structure	Film Title. Directed by Director’s Name, Version, Production Company, Year of Release.

CITING A MOVIE WITH A FOCUS ON A CONTRIBUTOR

If a specific contributor, such as a screenwriter or composer, is the primary focus of discussion, their name may be included at the beginning of the citation.

Citation	Tarantino, Quentin, director. Pulp Fiction. Miramax, 1994.
Structure	Contributor’s Name, role. Film Title. Production Company, Year of Release.

Citation	Spielberg, Steven, director. Schindler’s List. Universal Pictures, 1993.
Structure	Contributor’s Name, role. Film Title. Production Company, Year of Release.

Include Subtitles if Relevant: If a film has an official subtitle, it should be included after the main title, separated by a colon. This ensures accuracy and clarity when referencing movies with multiple titles or regional variations. Cite Dubbing or Translations When Necessary: If citing a dubbed version of a foreign-language film, specify the language version. This is especially important for films available in multiple languages, as translations may differ slightly from the original. Indicate a Specific Scene or Time Stamp: When citing a particular scene or moment in a film, it is useful to provide a time stamp in parentheses. This allows readers to locate the exact point being referenced, which is particularly helpful for in-depth analysis. Citing a Film in a Scripted Format: If referencing a film within a screenplay or script, ensure that the citation format reflects its script form. This is important when discussing films in the context of screenwriting, production analysis, or adaptation studies. Use Timestamps for In-Text Citations: Since movies do not have page numbers, timestamps should be used to specify the exact moment being referenced. Timestamps follow the format (Author’s Last Name hours:min:seconds-hours:min:seconds). If the film is shorter than an hour, minutes and seconds are sufficient. This ensures accuracy when citing a specific scene. (Director’s Last Name 01:12:30-01:14:15) – Refers to content from 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 30 seconds to 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 15 seconds.(Director’s Last Name 05:30-07:45) – Refers to content from 5 minutes, 30 seconds to 7 minutes, 45 seconds. Acknowledge Different Contributors for Accuracy: Films involve multiple contributors aside from the director. When relevant, other roles such as “performance by,” “narrated by,” “created by,” or “edited by” should be included. This adds clarity to the citation and ensures proper credit is given to key contributors.