When citing a movie in MLA format, it is essential to follow the guidelines set by the Modern Language Association. The MLA style is widely used in the humanities, such as literature, language, and cultural studies. Citing a movie in MLA involves including the title of the movie, the director, the distributor, and the year of release.
Basic Citation Format
The basic citation format for a movie in MLA is as follows: Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of the Movie, Distributor, Year of Release. For example: Spielberg, Steven, director. Jaws, Universal Pictures, 1975.
In-Text Citation
When citing a movie in the text, you can use the director’s last name and the title of the movie. For example: (Spielberg, Jaws) or (Spielberg). If the movie has no director, you can use the title of the movie: (Jaws). If the source has multiple directors, you can separate their names with “and”: (Spielberg and Lucas, Indiana Jones).
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Director's Name | Director's Last Name, First Name |
| Movie Title | Italicized title |
| Distributor | Name of the distributor |
| Year of Release | Year the movie was released |
Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page is where you list all the sources you have cited in your paper. The format for citing a movie on the Works Cited page is similar to the in-text citation, but it includes more information. For example: Spielberg, Steven, director. Jaws, Universal Pictures, 1975.
Special Cases
There are some special cases to consider when citing a movie in MLA. For example, if the movie is based on a book, you can include the author of the book in the citation. If the movie has multiple versions, such as a director’s cut, you can include the version in the citation.
- Movie based on a book: Include the author of the book in the citation
- Multiple versions: Include the version in the citation
- No director: Use the title of the movie
How do I cite a movie with multiple directors in MLA?
+To cite a movie with multiple directors in MLA, separate their names with “and”: (Director1 and Director2, Movie Title).
What if the movie does not have a director?
+If the movie does not have a director, use the title of the movie in the citation: (Movie Title).
How do I cite a movie based on a book in MLA?
+To cite a movie based on a book in MLA, include the author of the book in the citation: (Author’s Last Name, Book Title, director. Movie Title, Distributor, Year of Release).
