Generate accurate MLA citations for free

  • Knowledge Base
  • A complete guide to MLA in-text citations

MLA In-text Citations | A Complete Guide (9th Edition)

Published on July 9, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on May 19, 2022.

An MLA in-text citation provides the author’s last name and a page number in parentheses.

If a source has two authors, name both. If a source has more than two authors, name only the first author, followed by “ et al. ”

If the part you’re citing spans multiple pages, include the full page range. If you want to cite multiple non-consecutive pages at the same time, separate the page numbers with commas.

Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text.

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

upload-your-document-ai-proofreader

Table of contents

Where to include an mla in-text citation, citing sources with no author, citing sources with no page numbers, citing different sources with the same author name, citing sources indirectly, frequently asked questions about mla in-text citations.

Place the parenthetical citation directly after the relevant quote or paraphrase , and before the period or other punctuation mark (except with  block quotes , where the citation comes after the period).

If you have already named the author in the sentence, add only the page number in parentheses. When mentioning a source with three or more authors outside of parentheses, use “and others” or “and colleagues” in place of “et al.”

  • MLA is the second most popular citation style (Smith and Morrison 17–19) .
  • According to Smith and Morrison , MLA is the second most popular citation style (17–19) .
  • APA is by far “the most used citation style in the US” (Moore et al. 74) , but it is less dominant in the UK (Smith 16) .
  • Moore and colleagues state that APA is more popular in the US than elsewhere (74) .

Combining citations

If a sentence is supported by more than one source, you can combine the citations in a single set of parentheses. Separate the two sources with a semicolon .

Livestock farming is one of the biggest global contributors to climate change (Garcia 64; Davies 14) .

Consecutive citations of the same source

If you cite the same source repeatedly within a paragraph, you can include the full citation the first time you cite it, then just the page number for subsequent citations.

MLA is the second most popular citation style (Smith and Morrison 17–19) . It is more popular than Chicago style, but less popular than APA (21) .

You can do this as long as it remains clear what source you’re citing. If you cite something else in between or start a new paragraph, reintroduce the full citation again to avoid ambiguity.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

For sources with no named author , the in-text citation must match the first element of the Works Cited entry. This may be the name of an organization, or the title of the source.

If the source title or organization name is longer than four words, shorten it to the first word or phrase in the in-text citation, excluding any articles ( a, an, and the ). The shortened title or organization name should begin with the word the source is alphabetized by in the Works Cited.

Follow the general MLA rules for formatting titles : If the source is a self-contained work (e.g. a whole website or an entire book ), put the title in italics; if the source is contained within a larger whole (e.g. a page on a website or a chapter of a book), put the title in quotation marks.

If a source does not have page numbers but is divided into numbered parts (e.g. chapters, sections, scenes, Bible books and verses, Articles of the Constitution , or timestamps), use these numbers to locate the relevant passage.

If the source does not use any numbering system, include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source.

Note that if there are no numbered divisions and you have already named the author in your sentence, then no parenthetical citation is necessary.

If your Works Cited page includes more than one entry under the same last name, you need to distinguish between these sources in your in-text citations.

Multiple sources by the same author

If you cite more than one work by the same author, add a shortened title to signal which source you are referring to.

In this example, the first source is a whole book, so the title appears in italics; the second is an article published in a journal, so the title appears in quotation marks.

Different authors with the same last name

To distinguish between different authors with the same last name, use the authors’ initials (or, if the initials are the same, full first names) in your in-text citations:

Sometimes you might want to cite something that you found quoted in a secondary source . If possible, always seek out the original source and cite it directly.

If you can’t access the original source, make sure to name both the original author and the author of the source that you accessed . Use the abbreviation “qtd. in” (short for “quoted in”) to indicate where you found the quotation.

In these cases, only the source you accessed directly is included in the Works Cited list.

You must include an MLA in-text citation every time you quote or paraphrase from a source (e.g. a book , movie , website , or article ).

Some source types, such as books and journal articles , may contain footnotes (or endnotes) with additional information. The following rules apply when citing information from a note in an MLA in-text citation :

  • To cite information from a single numbered note, write “n” after the page number, and then write the note number, e.g. (Smith 105n2)
  • To cite information from multiple numbered notes, write “nn” and include a range, e.g. (Smith 77nn1–2)
  • To cite information from an unnumbered note, write “un” after the page number, with a space in between, e.g. (Jones 250 un)

If a source has two authors, name both authors in your MLA in-text citation and Works Cited entry. If there are three or more authors, name only the first author, followed by et al.

If a source has no author, start the MLA Works Cited entry with the source title . Use a shortened version of the title in your MLA in-text citation .

If a source has no page numbers, you can use an alternative locator (e.g. a chapter number, or a timestamp for a video or audio source) to identify the relevant passage in your in-text citation. If the source has no numbered divisions, cite only the author’s name (or the title).

If you already named the author or title in your sentence, and there is no locator available, you don’t need a parenthetical citation:

  • Rajaram  argues that representations of migration are shaped by “cultural, political, and ideological interests.”
  • The homepage of The Correspondent describes it as “a movement for radically different news.”

Yes. MLA style uses title case, which means that all principal words (nouns, pronouns , verbs, adjectives , adverbs , and some conjunctions ) are capitalized.

This applies to titles of sources as well as the title of, and subheadings in, your paper. Use MLA capitalization style even when the original source title uses different capitalization .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2022, May 19). MLA In-text Citations | A Complete Guide (9th Edition). Scribbr. Retrieved February 20, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/in-text-citations/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to format your mla works cited page, block quoting in mla style, how to cite a book in mla, what is your plagiarism score.

MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition

  • MLA Style, 9th Edition
  • In-text citations
  • Books - Multiple Authors
  • Books - with editors, translators, etc.
  • Book - Essay, Short Story, Poem, etc
  • Books - later editions
  • Articles - Multiple Authors
  • Articles - from scholarly journals
  • Articles - from newspapers
  • Articles - from magazines
  • YouTube Video
  • Television Shows
  • Images from the Web
  • Works Cited: Websites
  • Works Cited: Social Media / Informal Communication
  • Don't See an Example for Your Source?!
  • Report an Error / Question

Films (Movies & Documentaries) - General Guidelines

Citing films will not always be uniform, depending on your focus.

For example, a film you discuss generally will be cited like so (Netflix example):

You may also list actors and actresses, if relevant:

To emphasize a specific performer or director, you will place them as the author:

Film from a Streaming Service

Film from a dvd.

  • << Previous: Podcasts
  • Next: Images from the Web >>
  • Last Updated: Aug 24, 2023 9:54 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.uwf.edu/mla9

Works-Cited-List Entries

How to cite a movie, video, or television show.

To create a basic works-cited-list entry for a movie, list the title of the movie. Then in the Contributor element, list the name of the director. Next, in the Publisher element, provide the name of the company that produced the movie, followed by the release date. You might include other elements, such as additional contributors if they are pertinent to your discussion, and website information if you accessed the movie online. Below are sample entries for movies along with links to posts containing many other examples, including podcasts, radio programs, television shows, and videos.

A Movie Viewed in Person

Opening Night. Directed by John Cassavetes, Faces Distribution, 1977. 

A Movie Viewed Online

Richardson, Tony, director. Sanctuary . Screenplay by James Poe, Twentieth Century Fox, 1961. YouTube , uploaded by LostCinemaChannel, 17 July 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMnzFM_Sq8s .

A Television Show Viewed on Physical Media

“Hush.” 1999. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fourth Seaso n, created by Joss Whedon, episode 10, Mutant Enemy / Twentieth Century Fox, 2003, disc 3. DVD.

More Examples

Radio Programs

Television Shows

  • Previous Example
  • Next Example

Citation guides

All you need to know about citations

How to cite a film in MLA

MLA film citation

To cite a film in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:

  • Contributor(s) name, label: Start with the action of the key contributor (Directed by, Performed by, Produced by, etc.), follow with the name.
  • Title of the film: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
  • Contributor(s) name: Start with the action of the key contributor (Directed by, Performed by, Produced by, etc.), follow with the name.
  • Publishing studio: If the name of an academic press contains the words University and Press, use UP e.g. Oxford UP instead of Oxford University Press. If the word "University" doesn't appear, spell out the Press e.g. MIT Press.
  • Year of release: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a film in MLA style 9th edition:

Contributor(s) name, label . Title of the film . by Contributor(s) name , Publishing studio , Year of release .

Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:

Films are commonly produced by many people performing different parts. If your research focuses on the contribution of one particular person, e.g. the performance of an actress or the ideas of the screenwriter, begin the entry with their name, followed by a descriptive label.

Otherwise, if you are discussing a film without focusing on an individual's contribution, start with the title. You can add information about key participants after the title.

A film with focus on the main performer

Thurman, Uma, performer . Kill Bill: Volume 1 . Miramax , 2003 .

A film with its director as key contributor

Kill Bill: Volume 1 . Directed by Quentin Tarantino , Miramax , 2003 .

MLA in-text citation of a film

Audio-visual material uses the specific time of the audio/video for in-text citations.

(Last name time) or (Short form of title time) .

The following scene exemplifies the performers physical abilities (Thurman 00:15:43-00:20:07) .

The style of recording resembles the director's previous movies (Kill Bill 00:35:40) .

mla cover page

This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9 th edition).

More useful guides

  • MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources
  • Citation Help for MLA, 8th Edition: Film
  • MLA Citation Guide (8th Edition): Videos & DVDs

More great BibGuru guides

  • Chicago: how to cite a documentary
  • Harvard: how to cite a film
  • MLA: how to cite an online report

Automatic citations in seconds

Citation generators

Alternative to.

  • NoodleTools
  • Getting started

From our blog

  • 📚 How to write a book report
  • 📝 APA Running Head
  • 📑 How to study for a test

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources

OWL logo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (8 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

Several sources have multiple means for citation, especially those that appear in varied formats: films, DVDs, television shows, music, published and unpublished interviews, interviews over e-mail, published and unpublished conference proceedings. The following section discusses these sorts of citations as well as others not covered in the print, periodical, and electronic sources sections.

Use the following format for all sources:

Author. Title. Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2 nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

An Interview

Interviews typically fall into two categories: print or broadcast published and unpublished (personal) interviews, although interviews may also appear in other, similar formats such as in e-mail format or as a Web document.

Personal Interviews

Personal interviews refer to those interviews that you conduct yourself. List the interview by the name of the interviewee. Include the descriptor Personal interview and the date of the interview.

Smith, Jane. Personal interview. 19 May 2014.

Published Interviews (Print or Broadcast)

List the interview by the full name of the interviewee. If the name of the interview is part of a larger work like a book, a television program, or a film series, place the title of the interview in quotation marks and place the title of the larger work in italics. If the interview appears as an independent title, italicize it. For books, include the author or editor name after the book title.

Note: If the interview from which you quote does not feature a title, add the descriptor, Interview by (unformatted) after the interviewee’s name and before the interviewer’s name.

Gaitskill, Mary. Interview with Charles Bock. Mississippi Review , vol. 27, no. 3, 1999, pp. 129-50.

Amis, Kingsley. “Mimic and Moralist.” Interviews with Britain’s Angry Young Men , By Dale Salwak, Borgo P, 1984.

Online-only Published Interviews

List the interview by the name of the interviewee. If the interview has a title, place it in quotation marks. Cite the remainder of the entry as you would other exclusive web content. Place the name of the website in italics, give the publisher name (or sponsor), the publication date, and the URL.

Note: If the interview from which you quote does not feature a title, add the descriptor Interview by (unformatted) after the interviewee’s name and before the interviewer’s name.

Zinkievich, Craig. Interview by Gareth Von Kallenbach. Skewed & Reviewed , 27 Apr. 2009, www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/1056940-skewed-%2526-reviewed-interviews-craig. Accessed 15 May 2009.

Speeches, Lectures, or Other Oral Presentations (including Conference Presentations)

Start with speaker’s name. Then, give the title of the speech (if any) in quotation marks. Follow with the title of the particular conference or meeting and then the name of the organization. Name the venue and its city (if the name of the city is not listed in the venue’s name). Use the descriptor that appropriately expresses the type of presentation (e.g., Address, Lecture, Reading, Keynote Speech, Guest Lecture, Conference Presentation).

Stein, Bob. “Reading and Writing in the Digital Era.” Discovering Digital Dimensions, Computers and Writing Conference, 23 May 2003, Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. Keynote Address.

Panel Discussions and Question-and-Answer Sessions

The MLA Handbook makes a distinction between the formal, rehearsed portion of a presentation and the informal discussion that often occurs after. To format an entry for a panel discussion or question-and-answer session, treat the panel members or speakers as authors by listing them first. If these people are formally listed as panelists, indicate this by following their names with a comma and the title "panelist(s)." Follow with the title of the discussion, or, if there is no title, a simple description. In the latter case, don't capitalize the description. Follow this with the title of the conference or event. End with the date and the location.

Bavis, Jim and Stein, Tammi, panelists. Panel discussion. Dawn or Doom Conference, 4 Nov. 2018, Stewart Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Treat recorded discussions as instances of the appropriate medium (e.g., if you want to cite a recording of a panel discussion hosted on YouTube, cite it the same way you would cite an ordinary online video ).

Published Conference Proceedings

Cite published conference proceedings like a book. If the date and location of the conference are not part of the published title, add this information after the published proceedings title.

Last Name, First Name, editor. Conference Title , Conference Date and Location, Publisher, Date of Publication.

To cite a presentation from published conference proceedings, begin with the presenter’s name. Place the name of the presentation in quotation marks. Follow with publication information for the conference proceedings.

Last Name, First Name. “Conference Paper Title.” Conference Title that Includes Conference Date and Location , edited by Conference Editor(s), Publisher, Date of Publication.

A Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph

Provide the artist's name, the title of the artwork in italics, and the date of composition. Finally, provide the name of the institution that houses the artwork followed by the location of the institution (if the location is not listed in the name of the institution, e.g. The Art Institute of Chicago).

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid.

If the medium and/or materials (e.g., oil on canvas) are important to the reference, you can include this information at the end of the entry. However, it is not required.

For photographic reproductions of artwork (e.g. images of artwork in a book), treat the book or website as a container. Remember that for a second container, the title is listed first, before the contributors. Cite the bibliographic information as above followed by the information for the source in which the photograph appears, including page or reference numbers (plate, figure, etc.).

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Gardener's Art Through the Ages , 10 th ed., by Richard G. Tansey and Fred S. Kleiner, Harcourt Brace, p. 939.

If you viewed the artwork on the museum's website, treat the name of the website as the container and include the website's publisher and the URL at the end of the citation. Omit publisher information if it is the same as the name of the website. Note the period after the date below, rather than the comma: this is because the date refers to the painting's original creation, rather than to its publication on the website. Thus, MLA format considers it an "optional element."

Goya, Francisco.  The Family of Charles IV . 1800 . Museo del Prado,  museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.

A Song or Album

Music can be cited multiple ways. Mainly, this depends on the container that you accessed the music from. Generally, citations begin with the artist name. They might also be listed by composers or performers. Otherwise, list composer and performer information after the album title. Put individual song titles in quotation marks. Album names are italicized. Provide the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date.

If information such as record label or name of album is unavailable from your source, do not list that information.

Morris, Rae. “Skin.” Cold, Atlantic Records, 2014. Spotify , open.spotify.com/track/0OPES3Tw5r86O6fudK8gxi.

Online Album

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.” Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind , Geffen, 1991.

Films or Movies

List films by their title. Include the name of the director, the film studio or distributor, and the release year. If relevant, list performer names after the director's name.

Speed Racer . Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski, performances by Emile Hirsch, Nicholas Elia, Susan Sarandon, Ariel Winter, and John Goodman, Warner Brothers, 2008.

To emphasize specific performers or directors, begin the citation with the name of the desired performer or director, followed by the appropriate title for that person.

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope . Twentieth Century Fox, 1977.

Television Shows

Recorded Television Episodes

Cite recorded television episodes like films (see above). Begin with the episode name in quotation marks. Follow with the series name in italics. When the title of the collection of recordings is different than the original series (e.g., the show Friends is in DVD release under the title Friends: The Complete Sixth Season), list the title that would help researchers to locate the recording. Give the distributor name followed by the date of distribution.

"The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends: The Complete Sixth Season , written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, directed by Kevin Bright, Warner Brothers, 2004.

Broadcast TV or Radio Program

Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series or program in italics. Also include the network name, call letters of the station followed by the date of broadcast and city.

"The Blessing Way." The X-Files . Fox, WXIA, Atlanta, 19 Jul. 1998.

Netflix, Hulu, Google Play

Generally, when citing a specific episode, follow the format below.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21, NBC, 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/70152031.

An Entire TV Series

When citing the entire series of a TV show, use the following format.

Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation . Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2015.

A Specific Performance or Aspect of a TV Show

If you want to emphasize a particular aspect of the show, include that particular information. For instance, if you are writing about a specific character during a certain episode, include the performer’s name as well as the creator’s.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler, season 2, episode 21, Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2010.

If you wish to emphasize a particular character throughout the show’s run time, follow this format.

Poehler, Amy, performer. Parks and Recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2009-2015.

Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series in italics. Then follow with MLA format per usual.

“Best of Not My Job Musicians.” Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! from NPR, 4 June 2016, www.npr.org/podcasts/344098539/wait-wait-don-t-tell-me.

Spoken-Word Albums such as Comedy Albums

Treat spoken-word albums the same as musical albums.

Hedberg, Mitch. Strategic Grill Locations . Comedy Central, 2003.

Digital Files (PDFs, MP3s, JPEGs)

Determine the type of work to cite (e.g., article, image, sound recording) and cite appropriately. End the entry with the name of the digital format (e.g., PDF, JPEG file, Microsoft Word file, MP3). If the work does not follow traditional parameters for citation, give the author’s name, the name of the work, the date of creation, and the location.

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Moonlight Sonata . Crownstar, 2006.

Smith, George. “Pax Americana: Strife in a Time of Peace.” 2005. Microsoft Word file.

Council of Writing Program Administrators, National Council of Teachers of English, and National Writing Project. Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing . CWPA, NCTE, and NWP, 2011, wpacouncil.org/files/framework-for-success-postsecondary-writing.pdf.

Bentley, Phyllis. “Yorkshire and the Novelist.” The Kenyon Review , vol. 30, no. 4, 1968, pp. 509-22. JSTOR , www.jstor.org.iii/stable/4334841.

  • Link to facebook
  • Link to linkedin
  • Link to twitter
  • Link to youtube
  • Writing Tips

How to Cite a Film or Documentary in MLA Referencing

How to Cite a Film or Documentary in MLA Referencing

3-minute read

  • 4th December 2020

If you’re writing an essay, you may need to cite a film or documentary. But how does this work in MLA style ? In this post, we’ll show you how to format both in-text citations and the Works Cited list entry for a film.

How to Cite a Film in MLA Referencing

When citing a film or documentary as a whole in MLA style , simply cite its title. This can be either in the text or in parentheses. For instance:

Another crime film, Goodfellas , depicts the making of a mafia boss.

The film depicts the making of a mafia boss ( Goodfellas ).

However, if you’re focusing on a particular contributor to the film, such as the director or an actor, you should cite the surname of that contributor:

Scorsese’s direction is notably dynamic.

The film is directed with great dynamism (Scorsese).

In addition, if you are referring to a particular scene, you may want to include a time stamp with the timing or range of times for the scene cited:

The scene in this version of the film shows us the brutality of mafia life, but arguably risks glamorizing it ( Goodfellas 00:58:06-01:08:21).

Here, for instance, the time stamp shows us that the citation is for a scene that lasts from 58 minutes and 6 seconds to 1 hour, 8 minutes and 21 seconds into the film. The reader will then know exactly where to look for it.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Films in an MLA Works Cited List

The entry for a film in an MLA Works Cited list should include all the information required for readers to find the version cited. When citing the film as a whole, this will usually include the following core elements :

Title . Contribution by Main Contributor’s Name (usually the director or creator), other contributors (if relevant to your discussion), version (if more than one version is available), publisher, year.

You won’t always need to include all this information (e.g., if there is only one version of a film available, you can ignore the ‘version’ section), but make sure to include as much detail as needed to identify the exact source.

In practice, for instance, we could reference Goodfellas as follows:

Goodfellas. Directed by Martin Scorsese, performance by Paul Sorvino, Warner Bros., 1990.

If you have cited the name of a contributor – rather than the film title – in your essay, start the entry with the surname of that contributor:

Scorsese, Martin, director. Goodfellas . Performance by Paul Sorvino, Warner Bros., 1990.

This ensures that readers can match the citations to the full reference.

Expert MLA Proofreading

We hope this explains how to cite a film or documentary in MLA style! If you’d like an expert to make sure your MLA referencing is clear, consistent and error free, though, why not upload a document for proofreading today ?

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

How to come up with newsletter ideas.

If used strategically, email can have a substantial impact on your business. In fact, according...

4-minute read

Free Online Peer Review Template

Having your writing peer-reviewed is a valuable process that can showcase the strengths and weaknesses...

How to Embed a Video in PowerPoint

Including a video in your PowerPoint presentation can make it more exciting and engaging. And...

What Is a Patent?

A patent is a form of intellectual property that restricts who can copy your invention....

How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint

Adding speaker notes to your PowerPoint allows you to present with confidence while avoiding information...

How to Download a PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint is Microsoft’s presentation software. It’s frequently used by families, students, and businesses to create...

Logo Harvard University

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

MLA 9th Edition Citation Style Guide

  • Getting Started with MLA

Film or video

Ted talk or youtube video, podcast episode, artwork on a museum website.

  • Books & Chapters
  • Reference Works
  • Legal Documents
  • Course & LMS Resources
  • Personal Communications
  • Social Media
  • Webpages & News Sites
  • Indigenous Knowledge Keepers
  • Formatting Your Paper

In MLA Style, formats that are time based such as video and audio recordings, instead of citing a page number in your in-text citation you would include a time stamp when you are quoting from it. You will need to provide the hours, minutes, and seconds as it displays on whatever device and platform you are using, separating each number with a colon.

For your Works Cited list you don't need to include a time stamp.

" ... begged for forgiveness."  Never Have I Ever,  season 2, episode 7, Kaling International, Inc., 2021.  Netflix ,  www.netflix.com. 

(" ... begged" 00:20:26)

Otherwise you can just provide the title of the media, and/or the main contributor you are referring to such as the director, actor etc.

EXAMPLE - DVD

My American Cousin . Directed by Sandy Wilson, Twentieth Century Fox, 1985.

Parenthetical in-text citation : ( American Cousin 0:05:36)

Narrative in-text citation without time stamp : In  My American Cousin  the trials and tribulations of youth is set against the backdrop of Penticton, British Columbia.

EXAMPLE - Viewed through the Library

Shrek the Third . Universal Studies, 2007. Audio Cine Films Inc. https://digitalcampus-swankmp-net.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/audiocine/play/3b336e41babae86e. 

Without Timestamps (when referring just to the film and not a specific quote or dialogue)

Parenthetical in-text citation : ( Shrek )

Narrative in-text citation : In the film  Shrek the Third  the nuances of Shrek's life become even more pronounced. 

With Timestamps

Parenthetical in-text citation : ( Shrek 0:25:11)

Narrative in-text citation : At one point in  Shrek the Third , Shrek tells Donkey "when have you ever heard the phrase as sweet as an ogre" when discussing his concern with having children (0:25:11). 

EXAMPLE - Streaming (Netflix) on a website

Bird  Box . Bluegrass Films, 2018.  Netflix,  https://www.netflix.com/title/80196789.

Parenthetical in-text citation : ( Bird Box )

Narrative in-text citation : In the film  Bird Box ...

EXAMPLE - TED Talk on TED website

Croft, Darren. "Inside the Killer Whale Matriarchy."  TED , Dec. 2018,  https://www.ted.com/talks/darren_croft_inside_the_killer_whale_matriarchy.

Parenthetical in-text citation : (Croft(

Narrative in-text citation : In Croft's talk about the matriarchal structure of killer whale pods ... 

EXAMPLE - TED Talk on YouTube

"Climate Change is a Social Justice Issue."  YouTube , uploaded by Tedx Talks, 31 May 2018, https://youtu.be/NRmHp0VC4K4.

Parenthetical in-text citation : ("Climate")

Narrative in-text citation : In a video about how "Climate Change is a Social Justice Issue" ... 

"Cleo's Letters."  Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo,  hosted by Connie Walker, podcast ed., CBC , 7 Mar. 2018. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/148-missing-murdered-finding-cleo/episode/15524967-s2-episode-1-stolen.-murdered.-missing. 

Parenthetical in-text citation : ("Cleo's)

Narrative in-text citation : In the first episode of season 2, "Cleo's Letter", Connie Walker describes ... 

Ashoona, Shuvinai.  Untitled from The Polar World.  2017.  The Art Gallery of Toronto,  https://ago.ca/collection/object/2017/59.2.

Parenthetical in-text citation : (Ashoona)

Narrative in-text citation : Ashoona's piece  Untitled from The Polar World  depicts ... 

EXAMPLE: Viewed online

Gowen Sutton Company. Chinatown, Vancouver, B.C.  1928. Open Collections: The Chung Collection,  http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0355122.

Parenthetical in-text citation : (Gowen Sutton Company)

Narrative in-text citation : The Gowen Sutton Company's image of Chinatown in Vancouver, B.C. shows ...

  • << Previous: Articles
  • Next: Books & Chapters >>
  • Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023 1:22 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.ubc.ca/MLAHome

University of Portland Clark Library

Thursday, February 23: The Clark Library is closed today.

MLA Style (9th Edition) Citation Guide: Videos/DVDs/TV Shows

  • Introduction to MLA Style
  • Journal Articles
  • Magazine/Newspaper Articles
  • Books & Ebooks
  • Government & Legal Documents
  • Biblical Sources
  • Secondary Sources
  • Videos/DVDs/TV Shows
  • How to Cite: Other
  • 9th Edition Updates
  • Additional Help

Table of Contents

Movie/Film: On DVD or Viewed in Theater

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

Streaming Video From a Subscription Media Website (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.)

Streaming video from a library database, television series episode.

Note: For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

Who to Credit?

DVD or Film

Many people can be involved in the production of a video and not all need to be listed in the citation. Typically the director, producer and/or writer are the names that are used. To clarify what role the person has in the production, their job title such as Director is put after their name in round brackets if the job title is known.

Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use that followed by the person's user name in square brackets. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, just use their user name without brackets.

Expressing Timestamps

Format the start and end times of relevant sections as

Two-digit hour:Two-digit minutes:Two-digit seconds

For example:

01:15:15-01:20:03

00:03:30-00:04:16

Movie/Film: DVD or Viewed in Theater

Title of Movie . Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of Release. 

Works Cited List Example:

The Usual Suspects.  Directed by Bryan Singer, performances by Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, and Benicio Del Toro. Polygram, 1995. 

In-Text Citation Example:

( Title of Movie  Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

( The Usual Suspects  01:15:15-01:20:03)

 No te : Cite the relevant hour, minute and seconds as displayed in your media player.

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, etc.)

"Title of Video."  Title of the Hosting Website , uploaded by First Name Last Name of video creator or Username of Creator, Day Month Year of Publication, URL of video. Accessed Day Month Year video was viewed.

Include as much descriptive information as necessary to help readers understand the type and nature of the source you are citing. If the author’s name is the same as the uploader, only cite the author once. If the author is different from the uploader, cite the author’s name before the title.

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.”  YouTube,  uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

("Shortened Version of Title" Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

("8 Hot Dog Gadgets" 00:03:30-00:04:16)

Movie Title . Contributor(s), Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service , URL.

Note: It isn’t always necessary to include the director and performer’s name(s). Include the names of any individuals who the research focuses on or names of individuals to help the reader locate the exact source themselves. It is acceptable to include producers, writers, creators, narrators, and other positions.

Coraline. Directed by Henry Selick, screenplay by Henry Selick and Neil Gaiman, Laika, 2009. Netflix , https://www.netflix.com/title/70105599.

( Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

( Coraline 00:24:00-00:26:10) 

Looking for Infinity: El Camino . Directed by Aaron Leaman. ACL Creative Studio, 2017.  Kanopy , up.kanopy.com/video/looking-infinity-el-camino-0.

In-Text Quote:

( Shortened Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

( Looking for Infinity 00:29:01-00:29:45)

"Title of Episode."  Title of TV Series,  Contributors Name(s), season, episode, Production Company, Year of Release.

"The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends: The Complete Sixth Season , written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, directed by Kevin Bright, Warner Brothers, 2004.

 ("Title of Episode"   Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Sectionr)

Example: ("The One Where Chandler Can't Cry" 00:15:00-00:17:22)

Television Series Episode Viewed on a Subscription Media Website 

"Title of Episode."  Title of TV Series,  Contributors Name(s), season, episode, Production Company, Year of Release. Name of Streaming Service , URL.

Note: Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the movie title, list the contributors most relevant to your project after the move title. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Note: Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list if available.

"The Gathering."  Outlander,  developed by Ronald D. Moore, performances by Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, season 1, episode 4, Left Bank Picture/Sony Pictures Television Production, 2014.  Netflix , www.netflix.com/watch/80103586?trackId=13752289.

("Title of Episode"   Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

("The Gathering" 00:05:34-00:05:56)

  • << Previous: Secondary Sources
  • Next: How to Cite: Other >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 20, 2024 3:07 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.up.edu/mla

intext citation mla movie

The Plagiarism Checker Online For Your Academic Work

Start Plagiarism Check

Editing & Proofreading for Your Research Paper

Get it proofread now

Online Printing & Binding with Free Express Delivery

Configure binding now

  • Academic essay overview
  • The writing process
  • Structuring academic essays
  • Types of academic essays
  • Academic writing overview
  • Sentence structure
  • Academic writing process
  • Improving your academic writing
  • Titles and headings
  • APA style overview
  • APA citation & referencing
  • APA structure & sections
  • Citation & referencing
  • Structure and sections
  • APA examples overview
  • Commonly used citations
  • Other examples
  • British English vs. American English
  • Chicago style overview
  • Chicago citation & referencing
  • Chicago structure & sections
  • Chicago style examples
  • Citing sources overview
  • Citation format
  • Citation examples
  • College essay overview
  • Application
  • How to write a college essay
  • Types of college essays
  • Commonly confused words
  • Definitions
  • Dissertation overview
  • Dissertation structure & sections
  • Dissertation writing process
  • Graduate school overview
  • Application & admission
  • Study abroad
  • Master degree
  • Harvard referencing overview
  • Language rules overview
  • Grammatical rules & structures
  • Parts of speech
  • Punctuation
  • Methodology overview
  • Analyzing data
  • Experiments
  • Observations
  • Inductive vs. Deductive
  • Qualitative vs. Quantitative
  • Types of validity
  • Types of reliability
  • Sampling methods
  • Theories & Concepts
  • Types of research studies
  • Types of variables
  • MLA style overview
  • MLA examples
  • MLA citation & referencing
  • MLA structure & sections
  • Plagiarism overview
  • Plagiarism checker
  • Types of plagiarism
  • Printing production overview
  • Research bias overview
  • Types of research bias
  • Example sections
  • Types of research papers
  • Research process overview
  • Problem statement
  • Research proposal
  • Research topic
  • Statistics overview
  • Levels of measurment
  • Frequency distribution
  • Measures of central tendency
  • Measures of variability
  • Hypothesis testing
  • Parameters & test statistics
  • Types of distributions
  • Correlation
  • Effect size
  • Hypothesis testing assumptions
  • Types of ANOVAs
  • Types of chi-square
  • Statistical data
  • Statistical models
  • Spelling mistakes
  • Tips overview
  • Academic writing tips
  • Dissertation tips
  • Sources tips
  • Working with sources overview
  • Evaluating sources
  • Finding sources
  • Including sources
  • Types of sources

Your Step to Success

Plagiarism Check within 10min

Printing & Binding with 3D Live Preview

How To Cite A Movie In MLA – Format, Styles & Examples

How do you like this article cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

How-to-Cite-a-Movie-in-MLA-Definition

Following the MLA style guide in essays provides a structure to integrate citations from various sources, including films or movies. MLA was created to be adaptable to handle many platforms and versions. With the container system, you can highlight the most critical details in your citations, ensuring they are always accurate. Thus, whether referencing a basic text or the latest blockbuster movie, MLA’s comprehensive and flexible approach underpins effective academic writing .

Inhaltsverzeichnis

  • 1 How to Cite a Movie in MLA – In a Nutshell
  • 2 Definition: MLA movie citation
  • 3 MLA movie citation: Format
  • 4 MLA movie citation: Online
  • 5 MLA movie citation: In-Text

How to Cite a Movie in MLA – In a Nutshell

  • In-text citations should refer to their Works Cited entry.
  • If a film is listed by its title, reference it in your text or cite it in parentheses.
  • The director must be discussed or cited if a film is included under the director’s name.
  • In-text citations do not require the complete title.

Definition: MLA movie citation

To cite a film in MLA format , add the title, director, any other contributors, production or distribution firm, and release year. If a film has many versions, you must specify which one you’re referring to.

England. Directed by Terrence William, performances by Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev, director’s cut, Universal Pictures, 1985.

To reference a movie from Netflix (or other online streaming services), including the website or app’s name (e.g., “Netflix app”). If you watched the film on an unauthorized site or video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, include the website name, uploader, upload date, and URL.

The Vampire Diaries. Directed by J. Miller Tobin, Image Ten, 1968. YouTube, uploaded by 20th Century Studios, 26 Sept. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZy6P72Uu3Y.

In the MLA in-text citation , provide the title (or a truncated version of the title) and the time.

( England 29:45–32:37)

( Night 18:25–40)

MLA movie citation: Format

You construct an MLA Works Cited entry by entering the pertinent information. Typically, an MLA movie citation begins with the author’s name, but because numerous people develop films, you should begin the citation with the movie’s title. The director appears as a contributor following the title.

How-to-Cite-a-Movie-in-MLA-Example

Other contributors

As with television programs, you may also include other contributors if necessary. If your paper discusses specific performances, you can cite the performers; if you examine the film’s graphics, you could include the cinematographer. Identify and separate the roles of each contributor with commas.

Legacies. Directed by Julie Plec, performance by Danielle Rose Russell, music by Michael Luca, BGI / Film4, 2013.

Suppose your film discussion concentrates primarily on one contributor (such as the director or a performer). In that case, you may insert that person’s name at the beginning of the citation in place of the author. In this instance, ensure that the identical name appears in the in-text citation.

Danielle, Russell, performer. Legacies . Directed by Julie Plec, BGI / Film4, 2013.

If there are multiple film versions, you must specify the one used for the reader to locate the appropriate source. If the version was released after the original, you must also provide the release year after the title. This isn’t mandatory, although providing historical context for the source is typically helpful.

Maze Runner. 1982. Directed by Ridley Wesley, final cut, Columbia Pictures., 2008.

Films are frequently produced and distributed by multiple firms, making it challenging to identify the publisher. Determine the organization primarily responsible for the production or distribution of the film. If there are multiple production companies or distributors involved, use a forward slash to separate them.

Twilight . Directed by Barry Johnson, A24 / Plan B Entertainment, 2016.

MLA movie citation: Online

Suppose you stream a video on an official distribution site like Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Netflix. In that case, if necessary, you may include pertinent information about the platform in the Works Cited section.

E.O. the Extra-Ordinary. Directed by Mike Ahern, Universal Studios, 1982. Netflix app.

Suppose the movie was republished on a site unaffiliated with the film’s makers (like YouTube, where anybody can post a copy of a film). In that case, this information should generally be included in the citation. Add the website’s name, the uploader’s name, the release date, and the URL after describing the film in detail.

Note: This format is only applicable to YouTube-uploaded full-length films. Follow the standard for citing a YouTube video when referencing a clip or other YouTube content.

Vincenzo . Directed by Kim Hee-won, performance by Song Joong-ki, Global Film, 1923. YouTube , uploaded by Paramount Pictures Studio, 9 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC6jFoYm3xs.

MLA movie citation: In-Text

The in-text citation should match the first phrase of the entry in the Works Cited section. This is typically the title italicized when citing a movie. If the title is more than a few words, only the first word should be used.

Add the time frame of the section you are citing or referencing to instead of the page number.

( Twilight 01:01:23–05:31)

The time frame must be included in the parenthetical citation if the title is already given in the sentence.

The opening shot of Vincenzo introduces the town of Seoul with a school in the foreground (2:18–25).

When referring to the entire film, it can only cite the title without a time frame.

Danielle’s performance in Legacies gives an eerie sense of displacement.

Using the same name in the in-text citation as the contributor’s name in the Works Cited entry will help the reader easily identify it in the alphabetized list.

(Danielle 25:53–27:13)

Ireland

MLA movie citation style?

Movie Title. Contributor(s), Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service, URL.

MLA movie citation from a website?

Creator or writer. “The Video’s Title.” Name of Website Where You Found the Film, the name of the individual or organization that submitted the film [if different from the author/creator], publish date on the website, and the URL. Date of Access [optional, but suggested]

Do you italicize movie titles in MLA?

In MLA movie citation format, source titles are italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. Italicize the title of a self-sufficient unit. If the title is part of more extensive work, it should be enclosed with quotation marks.

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential, while others help us to improve this website and your experience.

  • External Media

Individual Privacy Preferences

Cookie Details Privacy Policy Imprint

Here you will find an overview of all cookies used. You can give your consent to whole categories or display further information and select certain cookies.

Accept all Save

Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.

Show Cookie Information Hide Cookie Information

Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website.

Content from video platforms and social media platforms is blocked by default. If External Media cookies are accepted, access to those contents no longer requires manual consent.

Privacy Policy Imprint

Banner

MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Videos & DVDs

  • What Kind of Source Is This?
  • Advertisements
  • Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
  • Book Reviews
  • Class Handouts, Presentations, and Readings
  • Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
  • Government Documents
  • Images, Artwork, Charts, Graphs & Tables
  • Interviews and Emails (Personal Communications)
  • Journal Articles
  • Magazine Articles
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Primary Sources
  • Religious Texts
  • Social Media
  • Videos & DVDs
  • In-Text Citation
  • Works Quoted in Another Source
  • No Author, No Date etc.
  • Works Cited List & Sample Paper
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Powerpoint Presentations

On This Page: Videos & DVDs

  • Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

Streaming Video From a Library Database (Criterion, Kanopy, NFB Education, etc.)

Dvd or film, film from a streaming video service (netflix, hulu, amazon prime, etc.), television series episode from a streaming video service (netflix, crave, amazon prime, etc.), television series episode viewed as a broadcast or on dvd, abbreviating months.

In your works cited list, abbreviate months as follows: 

January = Jan. February = Feb. March = Mar. April = Apr. May = May June = June July = July August = Aug. September = Sept. October = Oct. November = Nov. December = Dec.

Spell out months fully in the body of your paper. 

Who to Credit - Films and TV Series

Many people can be involved in the production of a video and not all need to be listed in the citation. To clarify what role the person has in the production, precede each name (or each group of names, if more than one person performed the same function) with a description of the role. MLA style emphasizes finding this information whenever possible in the video itself, such as in the opening credits. Some common contributor roles that can be included in the citation are

  • directed by
  • performance by
  • created by 
  • narrated by

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Social Media Website

For videos from social media websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, how you cite depends on the type of uploader. If the video was uploaded by an organization you can begin the citation with the title of the video and credit the organization with "uploaded by username" (eg "uploaded by ProvinceofBC). If it is a personal upload, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use it. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, credit their username. 

Time stamps in audio and video recordings

As there are no page numbers in audio and video recordings, include a timestamp instead. Time stamps are given in the following format: 

(Author's Last Name hours:min:seconds-hours:min:seconds) 

If you are citing something that is less than an hour long, you can start minutes. 

Examples: 

(Smith 01:15-02:20)

(Jones 01:20:15-01:22:22) 

Note : For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, etc.)

Last Name, First Name of video creator or Username of Creator. "Title of Video."  Title of the Hosting Website , uploaded by Username, Day Month Year of Publication, URL of video. Accessed Day Month Year video was viewed.

For more information on citing videos found online, check out the MLA website . 

Title of Video . Contributor(s), Publisher/Production Company, Date. Title of Library Database .

 Note: Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Title of Movie. Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of Release. 

 Note: Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Title of Movie.  Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of Release.  Name of Streaming Service .

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series,  Contributors Name(s), season, episode,  Production Company, Year of Release. Name of Streaming Website, URL. 

 Note : Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

 Note : Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list. If the episode is untitled, omit this element and begin the citation with the title of the show. 

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series,  Contributors Name(s), season, episode,  Production Company, Year of Release. DVD if viewed on DVD. 

 Note : Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the title, list the contributors most relevant to your project. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

 Note : Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list if available. If the episode is untitled, omit this element and begin the citation with the title of the show. 

  • << Previous: Statistics
  • Next: Websites >>
  • Last Updated: Jan 5, 2024 1:52 PM
  • URL: https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/MLA9

In-text citation

  • Works Cited
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Audiovisual
  • Encyclopaedias and dictionaries
  • Government and organisation publications
  • Interviews / speeches
  • Journals / periodicals
  • Live performances
  • Music scores / recordings
  • Online communication / social media
  • Other sources
  • Print this page
  • Other styles AGLC4 APA 7th Chicago 17th (A) Notes Chicago 17th (B) Author-Date Harvard MLA 9th Vancouver
  • Referencing home

The MLA 9th style uses author-date in-text citations, used when quoting or paraphrasing people’s work. 

Two types of in-text citations

1. author prominent format .

Use this format if you want to emphasise the author. Their name becomes part of your sentence.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," wrote Charles Dickens of the eighteenth century (5).

2. Information prominent format

Use this format if you want to emphasise the information. It cites the author’s name, typically at the end of a sentence.

as demonstrated in the opening line, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" (Dickens 5).

Examples of in-text citations

Less than three lines of text.

If a prose quotation is no more than four lines and does not require special emphasis, put it in quotation marks and incorporate it into the text. Include the page number(s) in brackets.

"It was the best of times it was the worst of times" wrote Charles Dickens of the eighteenth century (5).

  • See Plays and Poetry sections below for how to cite these in-text.

More than three lines of text

If a quotation is longer than three lines, set it off from your text by beginning a new line, indenting half an inch from the left margin. Quotation marks around the text are not required. Introduce the quotation with a colon. Place the parenthetical reference after the last line. For example, the above discusses John Corner in his book, The Art of Record: A Critical Introduction to Documentary , which refers to Brian Winston's revaluation of the documentary tradition in the writings of John Grierson.

Winston's reassessment of Grierson finds the play-off between creativity and realness unconvincing: Grierson's taxonomic triumph was to make his particular species of non-fiction film, the non-fiction genre while at the same time allowing the films to use the significant fictionalising technique of dramatisation. (Winston 103)

This is a usefully provocative point, though agreement with it will largely rest on certain, contestable ideas about 'fictionalisation' and 'dramatisation'. The issue is dealt with directly in Chapter Two, as part of considering the debate around drama-documentary forms, and it occurs in relation to specific works throughout this book.

Two authors

In prose, the first time the two authors are mentioned, use both first and second names. In a parenthetical citation use 'and', not '&' to connect the two surnames.

Others, like Cheryl Brown and Laura Czerniewicz argue that the idea of a generation of ‘digital natives’ is flawed (359). The Brown and Czerniewicz article focuses on…

(Brown and Czerniewicz 359)

Three or more authors

When citing a source with three or more authors in prose you only refer to the first coauthor and can follow the additional authors by “and others“ or “and colleagues.” A parenthetical citation requires the first author's surname, followed by et al.

Laura Czerniewicz and colleagues argue…

(Czerniewicz et al. 53)

Different authors, same surname

If you use works from more than one author with the same last name, eliminate any ambiguity by including the author's first initial as well (or if the initial is also the same, the full first name).

(N. Palmer 45)

(N. Palmer 45; M. Palmer 102)

Citing more than one author

If you are citing more than one source at the same point, place them in the same parentheses, separated by a semi-colon.

(Jackson 41; Smith 150)

Same author, two or more works

If you cite multiple works by the same author, include a shortened title in each in-text citation to establish which work you are referring to. To avoid overly lengthy in-text citations, shorten the title to a simple noun phrase, or a few words.

The first example references Said's book, so the title is italicised. The second example references Said's journal article, so it is in quotation marks.

For more tips on how to abbreviate titles of sources, see 6.10 of the MLA Handbook .

..."the Orient was a scholar's word, signifying what modern Europe had recently made of the still peculiar East" (Said, Orientalism 92).

..."there is something basically unworkable or at least drastically changed about the traditional frameworks in which we study literature" (Said, "Globalizing Literary Study" 64).

Anonymous or no author

For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation (do not list the author as "anonymous", nor as "anon.").

It has been argued that the hat symbolised freedom (Wandering Merchant 157).

Corporate author

Abbreviate terms that are commonly abbreviated (e.g. Department becomes Dept.), so as to not disrupt the flow of your text with overly long in-text citations.

If the corporate author is identified in the works-cited list by the names of administrative units separated by commas, give all the names in the parenthetical citation.

The Australian Research Council found that there are limited policies and procedures in place to manage foreign interference (4).

(Monash University 176)

Citing an author within another source

An indirect source is a source that is cited in another source. To quote this second-hand source, use “qtd. in” (quoted in), and then include the information of the source you actually consulted. Similarly, for the reference list use the source that you actually consulted (i.e. the indirect source). Keep in mind that it is good academic practice to seek out and use the original source, rather than the second-hand one, however this is not always possible.

For the below example, the student is using Petrarch's quote which is found in Hui. The page number refers to the source actually consulted (Hui), and the reference list would only list Hui, as shown below:

Hui, Andrew. The Poetics of Ruins in Renaissance Literature. Fordham UP, 2016.

For more information, see section 6.77 of the MLA Handbook .

Petrarch laments that Cicero’s manuscripts are “in such fragmentary and mutilated condition that it would perhaps have been better for them to have perished” (qtd. in Hui 4).

Author in a translation

If you think your audience would require a translation for your quoted material, then provide one. Give the source of the translation, as well as the source of the quote.

If you did the translation yourself, then insert my trans. where you would usually put the translation source, as shown in the example above.

If you're quoting in a language that does not use the Latin alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, etc.), then consistently use the original writing system for your quotes or romanisation. Note that proper nouns are usually romanised.

For more information, see 6.75 Translations of Quotations in the MLA Style Guide .

Mme d'Aulnoy's heroine is "la chatte blanche" ("the white cat"; my trans.; 56)

Poetry - Short quotations

Quotations from poetry from part of a line up to three lines in length, which do not need particular emphasis, may be added, placed in quotation marks, within your text as part of a sentence. Use a slash with a space on either side ( / ) to indicate a new line of poetry.

If the poem you are referencing has line numbers, then omit page numbers all-together and cite by line number instead. Do not use the abbreviation l. or ll. , but instead in your first citation, use the word line, or lines as shown in the example below. After the first citation, it can be assumed that the numbers refer to lines, so you can include the numbers alone.

More's distress that she had not written about the problems of the slave trade earlier are expressed in the poem: "Whene'er to Afric's shores I turn my eyes, / Horrors of deepest, deadliest guilt arise" (line 5).

Poetry - Block quotations

When quoting a block of poetry, introduce it in the same manner as a prose block quotation, i.e. begin the quote on a new line and indent each line as below. There is no need to add quotation marks. A reference to the page or line number should be included in parenthesis at the end of the last line. If the original text is creatively spaced or indented, then try to replicate the original as best you can.

Judith Wright 's poetry explores the Australian environment:

And have we eaten in the heart of the yellow wheat the sullen unforgetting seed of fire? And now, set free by the climate of man's hate, that seed sets time ablaze (14)

If you quote the lines of more than one actor or if the piece you are quoting is long, the quotation should not be integrated into your text. The rules in MLA for presenting this text are:

  • Leave a line between your text and the quotation
  • Begin each part of the dialogue with the character's name, indented half an inch from the margin, in upper case and with a full-stop, e.g. BODYGUARDS.
  • Start dialogue after full-stop or match spacing shown in original source
  • Indent all dialogue an additional amount, as shown below
  • End each piece of dialogue with a full-stop
  • End the last line of the quotation with a full-stop and then add the section and line numbers in parentheses.

For more information, see section 6.40 of the MLA 9th Handbook .

TARTUFFE. Yes, my brother, I am a sinner, a guilty man. An unhappy sinner full of iniquity. (III. vi.)

In-text citation general checklist

  • << Previous: Getting started
  • Next: Works Cited >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 15, 2024 11:03 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.monash.edu/mla9

Quetext

How to Cite a Movie: MLA, APA, and Chicago Style

  • Posted on January 28, 2022

Writing a research paper doesn’t mean limiting your sources to books and articles. You might use a movie, and if you do, you need to know how to cite it properly. Since there are different citation guides , you must follow the directions specific to your paper style.

The most popular formats are MLA style, APA format, and Chicago style. Each style guide has unique, yet very specific guidelines for spacing, punctuation, italics, and more.

Creating a movie citation for a motion picture you’re referencing protects you against plagiarism. When you’re using other people’s ideas or words, you have to credit them in your work. Otherwise, it looks like you’re passing the information off as your own. If you write anything that isn’t an original idea, you need to credit the person who said it first or you are plagiarizing.

Referencing a movie in your paper can take many different forms. You might mention the film in passing. You might compare it to other films or works of literature. You could also dedicate a whole paper to discussing one specific movie and its impact on popular culture.

You can quote lines from films in your paper just as you’d quote a researcher. Put the sentence in quotation marks and include an in-text citation. You’ll find out how to do that when you learn how to cite a movie in MLA, APA, and Chicago Style.

Common Movie Citation Formats

To cite a motion picture, you’ll need some basic information. Having these details on hand will help whether you’re using MLA, APA, or Chicago style for the film citation. All citation guides require information like:

  • Title of the movie
  • Name of the director
  • Production company
  • Film distributor
  • Year of release

There are certain instances to use each format, so below are citation examples for MLA style, APA style, and Chicago style.

The  Modern Language Association  created MLA style. The handbook has undergone many changes over the years and is now in its ninth edition. It’s updated as technology and research change. The original handbook had information about citing books and papers, yet the modern edition tells you how to cite song lyrics, social media posts, and more.

You’re likely to use MLA style when writing papers for the humanities, such as language arts or cultural studies. Writing a film critique or using movies to comment on society falls under the humanities umbrella, and you are likely to use MLA style for such projects.

MLA Style Movie Citations

Citing a movie in MLA style is very similar to citing other sources. Start with the movie title in italics, then identify the director or directors. You can list a few stars if you mention them in your paper. This level of detail helps readers find the exact citation in your MLA Works Cited page.

Most of the punctuation in a movie citation using MLA format is a comma. This punctuation differs from other MLA citations that use a lot of periods or put information in parenthesis. Here is an example of a movie formatted for an MLA citation:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, performances by Ima Star, Big Name, and Too Famous, Movie Studios, 2020.

It’s a straightforward process with room to specify what version you’re referencing if there are multiple versions of the film. In that case, you would add the version after the director’s name. For example:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, extended version, Movie Studios, 2020.

If you watched the movie on a streaming service, you should indicate that information. Just as when you’re citing journal articles found online with a URL or DOI, the streaming service helps the reader find the exact film.

Most streaming services upload the regular version of the movie, but including this detail erases all doubt.  Netflix  and other streaming services change up their inventory periodically, so cover your bases by including the date you watched the movie. Otherwise, a reader might think you’re making up information because the film isn’t currently available through the service.

Maybe the service censored the line you quoted, and people who own the DVD know the real language. They might think you got the information wrong in your paper. When they go to your reference page, they’ll see where you accessed the movie and understand how your experience could differ. Here is an example of a movie formatted for an MLA citation if it was on a streaming service:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, Movie Studios, 2020. Netflix, 13 May 2021.

You can also cite movies you watched on  YouTube . The format is similar to that of a streaming service, except you include the name of the user who uploaded the film and the specific URL. For example:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, Movie Studios, 2020. Movie. Directed by Bob Action, performances by Ima Star, Big Name, and Too Famous, Movie Studios, 2020. YouTube, uploaded by Film Appreciation Community, 13 May 2021, http://www.youtube.com/specificvideo .

When you compile your works cited list, you’ll put the movie citation in alphabetical order according to the movie title.

MLA Style In-text Citations

You need to include an in-text citation whenever you mention the film in your paper. If you paraphrase anything from the movie, you need to show the reader what you’re referencing. Text citations are easy to figure out once you have the reference completed for your works cited page.

Use parentheses to signal that you’re citing a source in the body of your paper. After the opening parenthesis, put the movie title in italics. For example:

However, there are other times when you’ll need in-text citations. If you use a direct quote from the movie, close the quotation marks of the passage, and include the text citation before the ending punctuation. This citation will include the title of the movie and the timestamp of when the character speaks the specific line. You still put the movie title in italics inside of the parenthesis. Follow the title with the timestamp and duration of the line using a semicolon to show the time. For example:

(Movie 15:10-35)

If the quote goes beyond one minute, clarify the time range with more details, such as:

(Movie 15:10-16:07)

You can also mention the movie title in your text using general context without needing an in-text citation. For example:

In Movie, the viewer goes on a wild adventure that spans just two hours.

If you mention a specific part of the movie, you’ll need to add an in-text citation with the time stamp. For example:

In Movie, the viewer first visits the graveyard at night (1:03-50).

If the movie title is long, you can shorten it to the first few words, so your in-text citations are concise.

The  American Psychological Association  created the APA style guide. It has detailed parameters for academic and research papers. You use the APA format when working in the social sciences, like psychology, sociology, economics, and related fields.

APA Style Movie Citations

While a movie citation in MLA style is very basic, there is more specific formatting for an APA citation. Instead of starting with the movie title, you list the director starting with the last name, then the first initial. Specify that the person is the director in parentheses. Documentaries would have a producer instead of a director, so you’d use that job title instead.

Next, you put the year the company produced the movie, then the title. In square brackets, specify that it’s a film because TV shows use a similar style, and last is the name of the production company. Here is an example of a movie formatted for an APA citation:

Action, B. (Director). (2020). Movie [Film]. Movie Studios.

You might refer to the special features included on a DVD version of the film, so you’ll add this information to your citation. For example:

Action, B. (Director). (2020). Movie [Film; DVD release]. Movie Studios.

If you watched the film on a streaming service, the citation includes those details as well. For example:

Action, B. (Director). (2020). Movie [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.netflix.com

When you compile your reference list, you’ll put the movie citation in alphabetical order according to the director’s last name.

APA Style In-text Citations

In-text citations for APA format are similar to those of MLA style. As always, you use parentheses to offset the information from the body of your paper and the citation goes inside of the ending punctuation of a sentence.

While MLA uses the movie title, APA calls for the director’s last name and the year of the movie. For example:

(Action, 2020)

If you’re quoting the film or mentioning a specific scene, include the timestamp after the director’s name and year. For example:

(Action, 2020, 0:15:10)

Chicago Style

The University of Chicago created  Chicago Style  for use in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. This format differs from both MLA and APA by having a bibliography instead of works cited or reference pages. Some papers using Chicago Style ask for you to create endnotes as well.

Chicago Style Movie Citations

Chicago Style has two options: author-date or notes-bibliography. Your professor will tell you what to use for a student paper. If you’re writing an article to submit to a journal, the submission guidelines will clarify which format you need to use.

The author-date format is similar to APA citations. You start with the director’s last name, then their first name, then the job title of the director. This detail is to clarify the person’s role in the movie because a documentary would have a producer instead of a director.

Next is the year the production company released the movie, followed by the movie’s title in italics. Check out this citation example to see how similar it is to APA format:

Action, Bob, director. 2020. Movie. Movie Studios.

If you watched the movie online, you would add the streaming service and direct URL to the movie. Here is an example:

Action, Bob, director. 2020. Movie. Netflix. http://www.netflix.com/movieaddress

If you’re using the notes-bibliography style instead of author-date, you need all the same information but the order is different. Here is an example:

Action, Bob, director. Movie. Movie Studios, 2020.

If you watched the movie online through a streaming service, you add that information in slightly different places as well. For example:

Action, Bob, director. Movie. Netflix, 2020. http://www.netflix.com/movieaddress

Chicago Style In-text Citations

The author-date in-text citation format is also similar to APA’s text citation, without a comma. In Chicago Style, an author-date in-text citation example is:

(Action 2020)

If you’re referencing a specific quote or scene, you’d include the timestamp of the duration. Instead of using a dash like in MLA format, you write the word “to.” Here is an example:

(Action 2020 0:15:10 to 0:15:35)

The in-text citations for author-date style are the same whether you watched the movie on DVD or on Netflix. The reader can find that information when they look for the citation in your bibliography.

When you’re using the notes-bibliography style, in-text citations are understandably different. You number the note and include all the information from the bibliography citation for the first note. Later, you can use a shortened note to reference each movie version because you’ve already given the entire information in the first note.

Considerations for Citing Movies

Citing a movie isn’t too different from citing a book across various style guides, but you must pay attention to the details. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu  changed the TV industry . It’s very simple to access movies and TV series you might not find otherwise.

When you watch movies online, make sure to cite if it came from Netflix or if it’s a YouTube video. While this article focused on movie citations, there are also differences when citing a TV show or podcast.

Easy Ways to Cite a Movie

Once you learn the basic information needed for a citation, it’s relatively simple to follow the specific formats for MLA, APA, or Chicago Style.

Doing large amounts of research can make it hard to focus on your references. Using the  Quetext citation generator  simplifies the process for you. Whether you’re working on an academic paper, a professional article, or checking your students’ work, Quetext helps with the citations while also checking for any sign of plagiarism.

Take out the stress and confusion of punctuation and parentheses, and let Quetext do the work for you.

Sign Up for Quetext Today!

Click below to find a pricing plan that fits your needs.

intext citation mla movie

You May Also Like

intext citation mla movie

Revolutionizing Education: The Role of AI Detection in Academic Integrity

  • Posted on February 15, 2024

intext citation mla movie

How Reliable are AI Content Detectors? Which is Most Reliable?

  • Posted on February 8, 2024 February 8, 2024

intext citation mla movie

What Is an Article Spinner?

  • Posted on February 2, 2024 February 2, 2024

Woman writing in her notebook near computer

Recognizing & Avoiding Plagiarism in Your Research Paper

  • Posted on January 26, 2024 January 26, 2024

Close up of a person's hand writing a letter with an ink pen.

How to Cite a Letter: APA, MLA, and Chicago Style

  • Posted on January 18, 2024 January 18, 2024

intext citation mla movie

Is Using AI Content Plagiarism?

  • Posted on January 10, 2024 January 10, 2024

Image of CD resting on top of a stack of newspapers.

Famous Plagiarism Cases (And How They Could’ve Been Avoided)

  • Posted on January 5, 2024 January 5, 2024

intext citation mla movie

How to Write a Thesis Statement & Essay Outline

  • Posted on December 28, 2023 January 3, 2024

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

  • Plagiarism and grammar
  • School access

Cite a Film in MLA

- powered by chegg.

Worldcat logo

Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper

Consider your source's credibility. ask these questions:, contributor/author.

  • Has the author written several articles on the topic, and do they have the credentials to be an expert in their field?
  • Can you contact them? Do they have social media profiles?
  • Have other credible individuals referenced this source or author?
  • Book: What have reviews said about it?
  • What do you know about the publisher/sponsor? Are they well-respected?
  • Do they take responsibility for the content? Are they selective about what they publish?
  • Take a look at their other content. Do these other articles generally appear credible?
  • Does the author or the organization have a bias? Does bias make sense in relation to your argument?
  • Is the purpose of the content to inform, entertain, or to spread an agenda? Is there commercial intent?
  • Are there ads?
  • When was the source published or updated? Is there a date shown?
  • Does the publication date make sense in relation to the information presented to your argument?
  • Does the source even have a date?
  • Was it reproduced? If so, from where?
  • If it was reproduced, was it done so with permission? Copyright/disclaimer included?
  • EasyBib® Plus
  • Citation Guides
  • Chicago Style Format
  • Terms of Use
  • Global Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Notice
  • DO NOT SELL MY INFO
  • How to Cite
  • Language & Lit
  • Rhyme & Rhythm
  • The Rewrite
  • Search Glass

How to In-Text Cite Movies in MLA Format

Students studying film and other subjects within the humanities and liberal arts often use Modern Language Association, or MLA, style to cite their sources. MLA style uses parenthetical citations within the text to direct readers to entries in the Works Cited page. Parenthetical citations usually include the author and page number, but for some types of sources, such as films, the parenthetical citation lists the first item in the Works Cited citation.

Works Cited Entries

According to the seventh edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, the beginning of your Works Cited entry for a film or movie depends on what is relevant to your analysis. If your paper is about a movie in general, for example, begin the entry with the title of the movie. If your paper discusses the director, begin with the director's name, followed by the abbreviation "dir." If your paper focuses on an actor or actress, begin with her name and the abbreviation "perf."

In-Text Citations

To cite a movie within the text of your paper, put the first item of the Works Cited entry in parentheses at the end of the sentence. Your parenthetical citation may list the title, the director or a performer. However, if you already named the title, director or performer in the text, you don't need a parenthetical citation -- the reader can locate the corresponding Works Cited entry from the sentence. For example, if you write, "Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn, eats a pastry standing outside Tiffany & Co.," you don't need to cite Hepburn in a parenthetical citation.

Need help with a citation? Try our citation generator .

  • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Seventh Edition; Modern Language Association
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab: MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab: MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

Rebekah Richards is a professional writer with work published in the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," "Brandeis University Law Journal" and online at tolerance.org. She graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University with bachelor's degrees in creative writing, English/American literature and international studies. Richards earned a master's degree at Carnegie Mellon University.

University at Buffalo print logo

  • University Libraries
  • Research Guides
  • How to Create In-Text Citations in MLA

LAI203: How to Create In-Text Citations in MLA

  • Welcome to LAI203 Guide
  • How to Do Your Research
  • How to Create In-Text Citations in APA
  • Finding and Citing Images

MLA 9th In Text Citations

An in-text citation helps the reader of your work locate where you got the information from. Formatting an MLA 9th in-text citation can be tricky, but when you locate all the necessary information, it is quite easy.

Please use the information below to assist you in making an accurate in-text citation to ensure you are not plagiarizing borrowed information.

Basic Formatting

If a page number is provided, follow the formats below:

In-Text Citation

(Jones 378).

In-Text Citation, Two Authors

​List the two author's last names.

(Jones and Miller 378).

In-Text Citation, Three or More Authors

You will put et al. to indicate after the first author's last name to indicate  and others .

(Jones et al. 378).

When no page number is provided, please follow the formats below:

In-Text Citation, No Page Number Provided

In-Text Citation, Two Authors, No Page Number Provided

List the two author's last names.

(Jones and Miller).

In-Text Citation, Three or More Authors, No Page Number Provided

You will put et al. to indicate after the first author's last name to indicate  and others ​.

(Jones et al.).

If no author is provided, please follow the format below:

In-Text Citation, No Author. ("Use Title Instead").

If the source is titled "Clay Pot Snowman Tutorial", your in-text citation will be (“Clay Pot Snowman Tutorial”).

A Real Example

Flores-Cornejo, Fiorela, et al. “Association between Body Image Dissatisfaction and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents.” Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria , vol. 39, no. 4, Oct. 2017, pp. 316–322. Academic Search Complete, doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2016-1947.

If I were to quote a line from page 320 of the above article, it would look like this:

"Those who had ever used alcohol were 40% more likely to report depressive symptoms, while those who had ever used tobacco were 50% more likely to endorse such symptoms, after adjusting for all variables in the equation" (Flores-Cornejo et al. 320).

**REMEMBER: The In-text Citation should match the  first item  listed for that citation in the Works Cited*

Tutorial Video

  • << Previous: MLA 9th Citation Guidelines
  • Next: Finding and Citing Images >>

University Libraries

  • Contact a Librarian
  • Databases A-Z
  • Guides by Subject
  • Resources by Type
  • Find Books & Articles
  • Government Information
  • Iowa Digital Library
  • Iowa Research Online
  • Special Collections & University Archives
  • Iowa Women's Archives
  • Course Reserves
  • Office Delivery
  • Borrowing From Another Library & Document Delivery
  • Undergraduate Research Services (The SEAM)
  • Research Consultations
  • Instructional Services
  • Research Data Services
  • Open Educational Resources
  • Distance Education
  • Scholarly Publishing & Copyright
  • More services...
  • Check My Account
  • Renew My Books
  • My Interlibrary Loan
  • Recommend Library Purchase
  • EndNote Basic
  • Departments
  • Collection Management
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Publications, Plans & Reports
  • Make a Gift
  • History of the Library
  • For the Media
  • Research Guides & Tutorials
  • Directions & Maps
  • Assistance for Users with Disabilities
  • All Campus Libraries
  • Learning Commons
  • Main Library Gallery
  • Art Library
  • Business Library
  • Engineering Library
  • Health Sciences Library
  • Law Library
  • Music Library
  • Sciences Library
  • Contact a Librarian or the UI Libraries
  • Staff directory by name
  • Staff directory by organizational unit
  • Campus Libraries

CNW:3633 Personal Writing - Bonner, Spring 2024: MLA

  • Annotated Bibliography

A Brief Intro to MLA

What is it.

  • MLA style refers to a specific formatting style created by the Modern Language Association.
  • MLA is most commonly used by students and scholars in the humanities and liberal arts when writing papers and citing sources.

How does MLA work?

  • MLA Style uses a brief in-text citation and a full citation on a works cited page . 

Where can I find Examples?

  • Examples of MLA citations can be found by source in the box to the right on this page or in the print version of the handbook.
  • Modern Language Association - MLA Style
  • Ask the MLA

What you'll find in the MLA Handbook

MLA Handbook: Ninth Edition

Front cover of MLA Handbook 9th edition, featuring a white background and multi-color swirl

This section covers the basics of how to structure your research project, including margins, page numbering, and inserting lists, tables, and illustrations. These general guidelines are useful but remember to always follow specifics for your course.

Chapter 2: Mechanics of Prose

This extensive section addresses some of the most common and some not-so-common challenges of writing clearly and effectively. This section is a useful refresher on spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and other technical aspects of writing.

Chapter 3: Principles of Inclusive Language

Utilizing inclusive language in your writing demonstrates respect for the identity of individuals and groups while avoiding bias and assumptions. This section provides generalized guidelines for inclusive language use regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, and economic or social status. 

Chapter 4: Documenting Sources: An Overview

Academic writing often creates a dialogue with previously created research - make sure that you are properly giving credit to other creators and avoiding plagiarism. This chapter discusses the importance of accurately giving credit to others for their ideas, properly quoting and paraphrasing, and when documentation is not needed. A charge of plagiarism carries severe consequences for your university career. Use this chapter, along with other campus resources, to ensure your writing properly cites the work of others. 

Chapter 5: The List of Works Cited

This section delves deeply into the core elements that make up a citation in MLA style. Using a combination of text, images, and sample citations, this chapter addresses the majority of source types that you will encounter. It also guides writers through determining how to navigate web-based resources, interviews, music, television and movies, and many of the other resources you may utilize in your research.  Note: Citing Indigenous knowledge is not specifically addressed within the MLA handbook. For information on respectfully utilizing Indigenous style principles, refer to Elements of Indigenous Style: A Guide for Writing By and About Indigenous Peoples by Gregory Younging.   

Chapter 6: Citing Sources in the Text

MLA citation style most typically uses brief citations that appear within the text of the document inside parentheses. This chapter also addresses using block quotations, quoting poetry and dialogue, how to cite multiple works by the same author, and technical aspects of in-text citations like punctuation and capitalization.   

Chapter 7: Notes

This chapter briefly addresses the situations when end- or foot-notes may be necessary in your MLA formatted work to provide additional information for your reader, as well as how to properly include them in your writing.   

Appendix 1: Abbreviations

Abbreviations, when used consistently, can smooth the reading experience. Here you'll find lists of words that are usually abbreviated, like US states, or resource types. This appendix includes abbreviations for texts by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and books of the Bible, as well as guidelines for abbreviating the title of any work. 

Appendix 2: Works-Cited-List Entries by Publication Format

This appendix has  over 200   citation examples ! A table of contents in this appendix will help you quickly find examples of how to cite your specific resources.

MLA Citation Examples by Source

  •    Articles
  •    Audio & Video
  •    Books
  •   Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
  •   Dissertations & Theses
  •    In-text Citations
  •    Web pages & Social Media
  •    Other Source Types

Ask a Librarian

Librarians are available to help you with your questions. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have regarding citation styles, citation management, etc.

Ask a question below or contact your subject specialist librarian for more help!

Useful Resources for MLA Citation

  • MLA's Online Style Guide
  • MLA's In-text Citation Guide

intext citation mla movie

  • << Previous: Research
  • Next: Annotated Bibliography >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 19, 2024 9:20 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.uiowa.edu/cnw3663

IMAGES

  1. how to do mla citation for movie

    intext citation mla movie

  2. 3 Ways to Cite a Movie Using MLA Style

    intext citation mla movie

  3. 3 Ways to Cite a Movie Using MLA Style

    intext citation mla movie

  4. 3 Ways to Cite a Movie Using MLA Style

    intext citation mla movie

  5. In-Text Citations

    intext citation mla movie

  6. 💄 Citing a movie mla. How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style. 2022-10-11

    intext citation mla movie

VIDEO

  1. citation

  2. MLA Citation

  3. citation

  4. Citation 🤌🏻😫

  5. Citation 💗

  6. Citation 🖤

COMMENTS

  1. How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style

    MLA in-text citations for movies MLA movie citation format You build an MLA Works Cited entry by filling in the relevant elements. An MLA citation usually starts with the author's name, but because films are created by many different people, you start the citation with the film's title instead. The director appears after the title as a contributor.

  2. How do I create an in-text citation for a film?

    Directed by John Badham, Warner Bros., 1993. If you list a film under the director's name, you must discuss or cite the director: Luc Besson and John Badham approach the figure of the femme fatale differently in their films. Point of No Return (Badham), a remake of Nikita (Besson), deviates from the original French movie in several ways.

  3. MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

    MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number (s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page.

  4. How to Cite a Movie in MLA Format, with Examples

    In-text citations use only the movie title and the starting and ending time stamps for the relevant portion of the movie, like so: (Movie title hour:minute:second-hour:minute:second) You don't need to include the entire title for in-text citations, only enough to differentiate it from other sources. In practice, it should look like this:

  5. MLA In-text Citations

    Revised on May 19, 2022. An MLA in-text citation provides the author's last name and a page number in parentheses. If a source has two authors, name both. If a source has more than two authors, name only the first author, followed by " et al. " If the part you're citing spans multiple pages, include the full page range.

  6. Movies

    Directed by George Lucas, Twentieth Century Fox, 1977. Netflix, www.netflix.com/bq/title/60010932. You may also list actors and actresses, if relevant: Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Directed by George Lucas, performances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher, Twentieth Century Fox, 1977. Netflix, www.netflix.com/bq/title/60010932.

  7. How to Cite a Movie, Video, or Television Show

    To create a basic works-cited-list entry for a movie, list the title of the movie. Then in the Contributor element, list the name of the director. Next, in the Publisher element, provide the name of the company that produced the movie, followed by the release date. You might include other elements, such as additional contributors if they are ...

  8. How to Cite a Film in MLA

    A film in MLA has a simple citation format for in-text citations. The following information appears in parentheses after the text that cites the source, in what is known as a parenthetical citation: ( Title of Movie hh:mm:ss) Another form of in-text citation is the narrative citation, which incorporates the author's name into the sentence.

  9. MLA: how to cite a film [Update 2023]

    To cite a film in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements: Contributor (s) name, label: Start with the action of the key contributor (Directed by, Performed by, Produced by, etc.), follow with the name. Title of the film: Titles are italicized when independent.

  10. MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources

    MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics MLA Formatting Lists MLA Formatting Quotations MLA Endnotes and Footnotes MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format MLA Works Cited Page: Books MLA Works Cited Page: Periodicals MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources Purdue OWL Research and Citation MLA Style MLA Formatting and Style Guide

  11. How to Cite a Film or Documentary in MLA Referencing

    When citing a film or documentary as a whole in MLA style, simply cite its title. This can be either in the text or in parentheses. For instance: Another crime film, Goodfellas, depicts the making of a mafia boss. The film depicts the making of a mafia boss ( Goodfellas ). However, if you're focusing on a particular contributor to the film ...

  12. Audiovisual & Images

    Directed by Sandy Wilson, Twentieth Century Fox, 1985. Parenthetical in-text citation: ( American Cousin 0:05:36) Narrative in-text citation without time stamp: In My American Cousin the trials and tribulations of youth is set against the backdrop of Penticton, British Columbia. EXAMPLE - Viewed through the Library Shrek the Third.

  13. MLA Style (9th Edition) Citation Guide: Videos/DVDs/TV Shows

    In-Text Citation Example: ( Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section) ( The Usual Suspects 01:15:15-01:20:03) Note: Cite the relevant hour, minute and seconds as displayed in your media player. Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, etc.) "Title of Video."

  14. How To Cite A Movie In MLA ~ Format, Styles & Examples

    MLA movie citation: In-Text. The in-text citation should match the first phrase of the entry in the Works Cited section. This is typically the title italicized when citing a movie. If the title is more than a few words, only the first word should be used. Add the time frame of the section you are citing or referencing to instead of the page number.

  15. How to Cite a TV Show or Movie in MLA

    When creating an in-text citation, the information in the parentheses should always match the first item in your full Works Cited reference entry. For a TV show or movie, this will likely be the episode name or the show or the movie title. If a title is long, it can be shortened to the first noun phrase in parenthetical citations.

  16. LibGuides: MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Videos & DVDs

    In-Text Citation Example (Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section) (Coraline 1:25:15-01:40:05) Note: The title of the film is in italics in the in-text citation because that is how it appears in the Works Cited List Example. Note: Cite the relevant hour, minute and seconds as displayed in your media player. If the ...

  17. In-text citation

    In-text citation. The MLA 9th style uses author-date in-text citations, used when quoting or paraphrasing people's work. ... Grierson's taxonomic triumph was to make his particular species of non-fiction film, the non-fiction genre while at the same time allowing the films to use the significant fictionalising technique of dramatisation ...

  18. MLA In-Text Citations

    MLA In-Text Citations | Parenthetical & Narrative | EasyBib Certain features require a modern browser to function. Please use a different browser, like Firefox, Chrome, or Safari Citation Generator APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator Harvard Referencing Generator Writing Resources Grammar Guides Plagiarism Guide Writing a Paper

  19. MLA In Text Citation for a Film Example

    By Adrienne Mathewson Certified Librarian In MLA Format 2 Min read Use this MLA 8 in-text citation for a film example to help you write your school paper. MLA format is a flexible editorial style designed for formatting research papers in the humanities.

  20. MLA movie citation generator & examples

    In-text citation template and example: Narrative: Movie name (start and end time of relevant section) The Godfather (1:10:11-1:15:20) Parenthetical: ( Movie name start and end time of relevant section) ( The Godfather 1:10:11-1:15:20) Read this MLA format guide for more style basics. Works cited entry template and example: Movie name.

  21. How to Cite a Movie: MLA, APA, and Chicago Style

    In-text citations for APA format are similar to those of MLA style. As always, you use parentheses to offset the information from the body of your paper and the citation goes inside of the ending punctuation of a sentence. While MLA uses the movie title, APA calls for the director's last name and the year of the movie.

  22. MLA Film/Online Video Citation Generator

    Cite a Film in MLA - powered by Chegg Source type Film/Online Video

  23. How to In-Text Cite Movies in MLA Format

    How to In-Text Cite Movies in MLA Format. Students studying film and other subjects within the humanities and liberal arts often use Modern Language Association, or MLA, style to cite their sources. MLA style uses parenthetical citations within the text to direct readers to entries in the Works Cited page. ...

  24. How to Cite a Movie in MLA

    A movie in MLA has a simple citation format for in-text citations. The following information appears in parentheses after the text that cites the source, in what is known as a parenthetical citation: ( Title of Movie hh:mm:ss) Another form of in-text citation is the narrative citation, which incorporates the author's name into the sentence.

  25. Research Guides: LAI203: How to Create In-Text Citations in MLA

    In-Text Citation (Jones 378). In-Text Citation, Two Authors List the two author's last names. (Jones and Miller 378). In-Text Citation, Three or More Authors. You will put et al. to indicate after the first author's last name to indicate and others. (Jones et al. 378).

  26. CNW:3633 Personal Writing

    MLA citation style most typically uses brief citations that appear within the text of the document inside parentheses. This chapter also addresses using block quotations, quoting poetry and dialogue, how to cite multiple works by the same author, and technical aspects of in-text citations like punctuation and capitalization. Chapter 7: Notes