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How to Cite a Movie on a Reference Page

Like texts, documentaries and interviews, movies will often inform a paper, essay or article and must be cited when they do so. Whether you borrow an idea or quote from a movie, evaluate its message or discuss its storyline to exemplify a point, you must properly cite and give credit to the movie you mention in your writing. Learn how to cite a movie on a reference page in accordance with two major formatting styles.

Instructions

  1. MLA Style

    • 1

      Begin the entry with the title of the movie, followed by a period. Underline or italicize the title.

    • 2

      List the director, first name first, immediately after the movie title, using the abbreviation “Dir.” For example, write “Dir. Peter Jackson.” Place a period at the end of the director’s name.

    • 3

      List the performer names after the director, if relevant, using the “Perf.” abbreviation. For example, “Perf. Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Orlando Bloom.” Place a period at the end of the last performer’s name.

    • 4

      List the studio or distribution company immediately after the performers or the director, if no performers are included, followed by a comma, the release year, and a period. For example, “New Line Cinema, 2001.”

    • 5

      Conclude the entry with the medium of publication -- for movies in theatres or not yet released for home viewing, this will be “film.” Simply write “Film” followed by a period at the end of the entry, after the release year.

    APA Style

    • 6

      Begin the entry with the director’s last name, followed by a comma, the first initial and a period. Place the word “Director” in parenthesis after the name, followed by a period. For example, “Jackson, P. (Director).”

    • 7

      Begin a new set of parenthesis, insert the release year, close the parenthesis and place a period at the end. For example, “Jackson P., (Director). (2001).

    • 8

      List the film title immediately after the release year. Underline or Italicize the film title. Do not include a period at the end.

    • 9

      List the medium or format, in brackets, immediately after the film title, followed by a period. For example, “[film].” or “[DVD].”

    • 10

      List the location of the studio or production company, followed by a colon and the name of the studio or production company. End the entry with a final period. For example, “Los Angeles: New Line Cinema.”

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