How to Cite Movies in MLA

Movies by Title

• 1

  List films in theaters or not yet released on DVD by the title in italics. List movies on DVD, VHS, Blu-Ray and other recorded formats the same way. Example: Platoon (ITALICS).

• 2

  Include the name of the director behind the abbreviation, "dir." Example: Dir. Oliver Stone.

• 3

  List the names of relevant performers if it makes sense for your research or lends clarity to the movie cited. You may want to distinguish a remake of an older movie with at least one actor's name. These follow the abbreviation, "perf." Example: Perf. Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen.

• 4

  Name the film studio or distributor that produced the film and the year the film was released, separated with a comma. Example: MGM, 1986.

• 5

  List the medium of publication. For movies in theaters or not yet released, use "Film." For recorded movies, use "DVD," "VHS," etc.

• 6

  Format the citation as follows: Platoon (ITALICS). Dir. Oliver Stone. Perf. Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen. MGM, 1986. DVD.

By Director or Performer

• 7

  Begin the citation with the name of the director or performer you wish to emphasize followed by the proper abbreviation. Example: Ryan Reynolds, perf.

• 8

  Include the title of the movie in italics. Example: Green Lantern (ITALICS).

• 9

  List the film studio or distributor and the year of release, separated with a comma. Example: Warner Brothers, 2011.

• 10

  Include the medium of publication. Example: Film.

• 11

  Format the citation as follows: Ryan Reynolds, perf. Green Lantern (ITALICS). Warner Brothers, 2011. Film.