Citing media sources correctly can make or break the credibility of a research paper, especially in academic environments. You might be referencing a documentary, analyzing a film, or quoting a scene for an assignment. But once you realize MLA format has specific rules for movies and video content, it’s easy to get stuck. In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about how to cite a movie in MLA.
Part 1: What Is MLA Style?
MLA, or Modern Language Association, style is one of the most commonly used formats for academic writing, especially in the humanities, such as literature, film studies, and language arts. It’s designed to create a consistent way of crediting sources, whether you're referencing a book, journal article, website, or film. In MLA, movie citations usually include:
Example Format (Works Cited):
Inception. Directed by Christopher Nolan, performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Warner Bros., 2010.
You’ll use MLA anytime you're writing a research paper that calls for evidence or examples, and that includes films, especially in cultural analysis or visual media assignments.
How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style
When citing a movie, the format you use depends on where the movie was accessed, even if it was streamed online, watched on DVD, or viewed in theaters, and how you're referencing it in your writing. MLA, APA, and Chicago styles each have specific rules for citing films, especially regarding directors, production companies, and release years. You’ll also need to decide whether you're citing the entire film or just a specific scene or contributor, like an actor or cinematographer. In this section, I’ll walk you through how to handle both in-text citations and full Works Cited entries. Knowing how to cite a movie in MLA examples, makes it so much easier to manage.
Situation 1: In-Text Citation
In-text citations are brief and are placed right after the sentence that uses information from the source. You usually just need the movie title in parentheses, especially if you didn’t mention it in the sentence itself. Here’s how to cite a movie in MLA in-text
Example 1: Video From a Website
The film explores subconscious manipulation in the dream world (Inception).
Example 2: DVD or Physical Format
The performance brings out themes of isolation and resilience (Cast Away).
If the movie title is long or confusing, I find it helpful to shorten it to the first key words:
(Lord of the Rings) instead of (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)When quoting dialogue, I try to keep in-text citations short and use full citations in the bibliography to provide context. On the other hand you can also use citation in MLA generator
Situation 2: Works Cited Entry
This is the full reference you’ll place at the end of your paper under “Works Cited.” Here’s where MLA gets a bit more structured. Here’s the Format for a Works cited entry for movie in MLA:
Movie Title. Directed by First Last, performances by Actor Names, Production Company, Year. Platform or format.
Example 1: From a Streaming Platform
Everything Everywhere All at Once. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, performances by Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu, A24, 2022. Amazon Prime Video.
Example 2: DVD or Blu-ray
The Grand Budapest Hotel. Directed by Wes Anderson, performances by Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori, Fox Searchlight, 2014. DVD.
I usually double-check the spelling of directors and production companies on IMDb, it’s more accurate than copying from memory or random blogs.
Citations Best Helper – WPS Office
Once you’ve figured out the MLA formatting rules, the next challenge is consistency. That’s where WPS Office has saved me time and frustration, especially with citations and formatting in longer papers. WPS Office works across platforms (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS), and the browser version runs smoothly even on older devices. It's free and comes with a surprising number of features, including tools for inserting citations and managing references. Here’s how to Insert MLA Citations in WPS Writer. If you're using WPS Writer, here’s how you can easily manage citations while staying focused on your writing:
Step 1: Open WPS Writer
Step 2:Click on “References.” The References tab includes all citation tools.
Step 3: Add your source manually. Click “Add New Source,” then fill in the fields like Title, Director (as Author), Production Company (as Publisher), and Year.
Step 4: Input Movie Details. Enter the director, release year, movie title, production company, and distribution platform. WPS AI can auto-fill some of this information from online databases.
Step 5: Insert the Citation, click “OK” to add the citation to your document and bibliography, properly formatted in your selected citation style.
Step 6: Proofread with AI, use WPS AI’s proofreading to check for errors in citation accuracy and formatting, ensuring compliance with your style.
FAQs
Q1: How do I cite a movie that has no named director?
Use the title first, then skip the director and go straight to the production company and year.
Q2: Can I cite a YouTube video like a movie?
Yes. Include the creator or channel name, title of the video in quotes, site name (YouTube), upload date, and URL.
Example:
CrashCourse. “The Cold War.” YouTube, 14 May 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsIC8on2VjQ.
Q3: How do I cite a movie with multiple versions or releases?
Specify the version if it's relevant, like “Director’s Cut” or “Anniversary Edition.”
Q4: Is it okay to cite a streaming platform like Netflix or Amazon?
Absolutely. Just add the platform at the end of the citation to show where the movie was accessed.
