How to Cite a Film in MLA: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever found yourself captivated by a film, its ideas weaving into your own research or arguments? Whether it’s a documentary shedding light on a social issue or a fictional narrative illustrating a complex theme, movies can be valuable sources of information and inspiration. However, just like books, articles, and websites, films need to be properly cited to give credit to their creators and avoid plagiarism.

Accurately citing films in your academic work demonstrates your commitment to intellectual honesty and strengthens the credibility of your arguments. It allows your readers to locate the source material themselves, verifying your claims and potentially exploring the film further. Mastering MLA film citations ensures that you are presenting your research professionally and respecting the artistic and intellectual property of filmmakers and their collaborators.

What are the most common questions about citing films in MLA style?

How do I cite a film with multiple directors in MLA?

When citing a film in MLA format with multiple directors, list all directors in the “Director” element of your Works Cited entry, separated by commas and the word “and” before the final name. Follow the format: Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name, directors.

To elaborate, the Modern Language Association (MLA) style prioritizes clarity and accuracy in crediting sources. When a film has multiple directors, it’s crucial to acknowledge all of them. Listing all directors ensures proper attribution of creative responsibility. The core template for citing a film in MLA is: Director. *Title of Film*. Distributor, Year. If there are multiple directors, this changes slightly. For example, if Jane Doe and John Smith co-directed a film, the “Director” element would read: Doe, Jane, and John Smith, directors. Consider that consistency in citation style is vital for academic integrity. Whether you are writing a research paper, an essay, or any other academic work, following the MLA guidelines helps your readers easily locate and verify your sources. If the film has a unique identifying element after the title (e.g., theatrical release), this should be included after the title, before the Distributor. Always consult the official *MLA Handbook* for the most up-to-date guidelines and specific nuances.

What’s the correct format for citing a film viewed online via streaming in MLA?

The correct MLA format for citing a film viewed online via a streaming service is as follows: *Title of Film*. Directed by Director’s Name, performance by Main Actors, Production Company, Year of Release. *Streaming Service*, URL.

This format prioritizes providing the essential information needed to identify the film and locate it. The film’s title is italicized, followed by the director’s name (preceded by “Directed by”), a concise list of key actors (preceded by “performance by”), the production company, and the year the film was released. Crucially, because you viewed the film online, the name of the streaming service is italicized and followed by the direct URL where the film can be accessed. Including the URL ensures that your reader can find the exact version you viewed, as streaming libraries and content can vary.

For example, a citation might look like this: *Parasite*. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, performance by Song Kang-ho, Neon, 2019. *Hulu*, www.hulu.com/movie/parasite-2f67f0d8-bbfb-4923-8e1b-b6bf13c778a4. If the director is unknown, that element can be omitted. Similarly, if the streaming service doesn’t provide a stable URL for the specific film, you can omit the URL. It’s important to note that MLA 9th edition emphasizes accessibility, so always try to provide as much information as possible to help your reader find the source.

Do I include the actors in an MLA film citation?

Generally, you do not include actors in a standard MLA film citation unless their performance is directly relevant to your analysis. The focus is usually on the film as a whole or the contributions of the director and other key creative personnel.

If, however, you are specifically discussing or analyzing an actor’s performance in the film, then including the actor’s name is appropriate. In this case, you would list the actor’s name after the director and other key contributors, prefaced by the word “Performance by.” For instance, you might cite a film if you are focusing on a particular acting choice or the impact of a specific actor’s portrayal of a character within your analysis. In most cases, this is the *exception* to the rule, not the standard practice.

Remember that MLA prioritizes providing the reader with the information necessary to locate the source material. If the actor’s name is not essential for understanding the film itself or the argument you are making about the film, it’s best to omit it from the citation. By keeping the citation concise and focused on the core elements of the film, you ensure clarity and prevent unnecessary clutter.

How do I cite a film from a DVD in MLA?

To cite a film from a DVD in MLA format, you’ll need the following information: the film’s title, the director’s name, the distributor, the year of distribution, and the medium (DVD). The basic format is: *Title of Film*. Directed by Director’s Name, Distributor, Year.

Citing a film on DVD requires focusing on the core aspects of the cinematic work and the specific version you viewed. The director is the key creative force, hence their inclusion. The distributor and year relate directly to the specific DVD release you consulted, differentiating it from theatrical releases or streaming versions. If you are citing a specific performance, you may include the actor’s name after the director, preceded by “perf. by”. If the DVD includes supplemental material you are citing, that information is incorporated after the initial film details. For example, if you were citing the film *Casablanca* from a DVD released by Warner Home Video in 2008, directed by Michael Curtiz, the citation would look like this: *Casablanca*. Directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Home Video, 2008. To cite Humphrey Bogart’s performance, it would be: *Casablanca*. Directed by Michael Curtiz, perf. by Humphrey Bogart, Warner Home Video, 2008. Remember to italicize the film title, separate the elements with commas, and end with a period. If you are citing a specific feature, such as director’s commentary, you would cite the film as above and then add the feature. For example: *Casablanca*. Directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Home Video, 2008. Director’s Commentary by Roger Ebert.

What year do I use when citing a film in MLA: release or original?

When citing a film in MLA style, you should use the **original release year** of the film in theaters, not the year of any subsequent releases, like DVD, streaming, or a re-release.

The Modern Language Association emphasizes the importance of identifying the work as it was initially presented to the public. This means prioritizing the year the film first premiered in cinemas. Using the original release year helps readers accurately locate information about the film’s historical context, critical reception at the time of its debut, and its place within the director’s or actors’ filmography.

Even if you accessed the film through a later release (e.g., a streaming platform or a special edition DVD), the citation should still reflect the original theatrical release year. Subsequent releases might add commentary, new footage, or remastered visuals, but the core creative work remains tied to its initial unveiling. This ensures consistency and avoids confusion regarding the film’s actual creation and initial impact.

For example, even if you streamed Citizen Kane in 2023, your citation should use its original release year of 1941:

Citizen Kane. Directed by Orson Welles, RKO Radio Pictures, 1941.

What if the director of the film is unknown when citing in MLA?

If the director of the film is unknown or unavailable, omit the director from the citation and begin with the title of the film. The citation should then proceed with the other relevant elements, such as the principal performers, distributor, and year of release.

MLA prioritizes providing as much information as possible to help readers locate the source. While the director is typically a key element in a film citation, its absence doesn’t invalidate the need to cite the work. By starting with the title, you ensure that the citation is still easily searchable and allows readers to identify the film being referenced. Remember to italicize the title of the film, as is standard practice in MLA.

For example, a film citation without a director would look like this: *The Matrix*. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Warner Bros., 1999. This format ensures that you are adhering to MLA guidelines while still providing all available and relevant information about the film to your audience. When including additional contributors like writers, composers, or cinematographers and the director is unknown, focus on those most pertinent to your argument or analysis.

Where does the medium of publication (e.g., Film, DVD) go in an MLA film citation?

In an MLA film citation, the medium of publication (e.g., Film, DVD, Blu-ray, Streaming, etc.) is placed after the title of the film and the director’s name, enclosed in parentheses. This indicates the format you used to view the film, which is essential for readers who may need to locate the same version.

The MLA format emphasizes clarity and accessibility, so including the medium helps the reader understand the context of your citation. For instance, a film viewed on DVD might have different features (commentary, deleted scenes) or even a slightly altered runtime compared to a streaming version. Providing the medium allows readers to verify your sources more accurately. If you watched the film in a theater, simply use “Film” as the medium. Common mediums include DVD, Blu-ray, Streaming, and Film. Here’s a basic template showing where the medium fits: Director, Director’s Name. *Title of Film*. Medium, Production Company, Year of Release. For example: Fincher, David. *The Social Network*. DVD, Columbia Pictures, 2010.

And that’s a wrap on citing films in MLA! Hopefully, this has cleared things up and made the process a little less daunting. Thanks for sticking around, and feel free to come back anytime you need a refresher on citations or any other writing questions. We’re always happy to help you tell your story, properly cited, of course!