How to Cite a Film or Movie in MLA 9 Format

MLA 9 film citations, what you are trying to accomplish

An MLA 9 film citation helps a reader identify a film quickly and locate the exact version you used. Films often exist in multiple cuts, releases, and formats, such as theatrical release, director’s cut, DVD, Blu ray, and streaming. MLA’s structure makes your citation consistent and searchable in a Works Cited list.

In MLA 9, you build a film entry using the same core elements used for most sources. You include the title, key contributors (often the director), the production or distribution company, the release date, and the format or platform when it helps the reader find what you watched.

The basic MLA 9 format for a film (Works Cited)

Common template (director is the “author”)

Title of Film. Directed by First Name Last Name, Production Company, Year.

This is the most common approach when you are discussing the film as a whole, especially its style, meaning, or choices made by the director.

Optional elements you may add when helpful

Title of Film. Directed by First Name Last Name, performances by First Name Last Name and First Name Last Name, Production Company, Year.

If you are writing about acting, casting, or performance, listing key performers can help. If you watched the film on a platform, MLA 9 allows you to include the container, such as Netflix, and a URL if needed.

How your “author name” rules apply to films

Your rules about author names matter most when you choose to begin the citation with a person, such as a director, screenwriter, or other primary creator. MLA 9 is flexible about which contributor you treat as the main author, but once you choose, the name formatting must be consistent.

Name formatting rules you gave, applied to film citations

• Use full first names, not initials.
  Example, use “Christopher Nolan,” not “C. Nolan.”

• First author name is inverted.
  If you start the citation with a person, format it as: Last, First Middle.

• Two authors use “and,” second name is not inverted.
  Example: “Russo, Anthony and Joe Russo.”

• Three or more authors use “et al.” after the first author only.
  Example: “Coen, Joel et al.”

• No author, start with the title.
  For films, this is often the simplest and most standard approach anyway, because many film entries begin with the film title.

These rules matter because your Works Cited list is alphabetized. Inverting the first author’s name keeps the list consistent and easy to scan.

Choosing who to list first for a film

When to start with the title (often best)

Start with the film title when you are writing about the film generally, and you do not need to highlight one person’s role. This is common in MLA.

When to start with a person (useful for specific arguments)

Start with a person when your discussion centers on that contributor’s work, such as:
- comparing several films by the same director
- analyzing a screenwriter’s patterns across films
- focusing on cinematography, editing, or composing across multiple works

If you start with a person, your author name rules become essential.

Example 1, standard film citation starting with the title

Works Cited entry

Get Out. Directed by Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures, 2017.

Why it is formatted this way

• Title in italics: A film is a complete work, so it is italicized.
• Directed by Jordan Peele: The director is a key contributor for films, and “Directed by” clearly labels the role.
• Universal Pictures, 2017: Company and year help readers identify the release.

Practical tip

If your instructor does not require a platform, this version is usually enough. Add a platform only if it helps someone locate the exact version you watched.

Example 2, starting with the director as the author (shows your name rules)

Works Cited entry

Peele, Jordan. Get Out. Universal Pictures, 2017.

Why this is useful

This format is helpful if you cite multiple films by Jordan Peele and want them grouped under his name in your Works Cited list.

How it follows your rules

• Full first name used: “Jordan,” not “J.”
• First author inverted: “Peele, Jordan.”
• The film title remains italicized, and the company and year still appear.

Common pitfall

Do not write “Peele, J.” or “J. Peele.” Your rule requires full first names for clarity and identity.

Example 3, two directors (two authors) and how to format them

Some films are credited to more than one director. If you decide to treat the directors as the authors, apply the two author rule.

Works Cited entry

Daniels, Daniel and Daniel Kwan. Everything Everywhere All at Once. A24, 2022.

Why it is formatted this way

• First director inverted: “Daniels, Daniel”
• Second director normal order: “Daniel Kwan”
• “and” between names: MLA uses “and,” not an ampersand
• The title is italicized, then the distributor, then the year

Practical tip

Make sure you are using the names as they appear in the film’s credits or in an official listing. For accuracy, check the film’s title card, end credits, or a reliable database entry.

Adding a streaming platform (when it matters)

If you watched the film on a streaming service, you can add the platform as a container. This helps when the version is not easy to locate, or when access depends on the service.

Common streaming format

Title of Film. Directed by First Name Last Name, Production Company, Year. Streaming Service, URL.

Tip about URLs

Use a stable URL when possible. If the service uses a long tracking link, look for a cleaner share link. Some instructors also accept omitting the URL if the platform is enough.

Why these rules matter in academic writing

They support credibility

A consistent citation tells your reader you are careful with evidence. It also shows you respect creators by naming them correctly, which connects directly to your full first name rule.

They help readers locate the exact source

Films can have similar titles, remakes, and multiple releases. Listing the company and year reduces confusion.

They keep your Works Cited list easy to navigate

Inverting the first author name is not just a style choice. It is what makes alphabetical sorting work smoothly.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Mixing up italics and quotation marks

• Films are italicized because they are complete works.
• Quotation marks are for shorter works, such as an episode of a TV series or a short video within a larger site.

Using initials instead of full first names

Your rule requires full first names. This is a frequent mistake when students copy citations from databases that shorten names.

Forgetting the role label

If you list a person after the title, include a label such as “Directed by.” Without it, the reader may not know why that person is included.

Listing too many contributors

MLA does not require you to list everyone. Choose the contributors that match your focus. If you are analyzing directing, list the director. If you are analyzing acting, add performers.

Incorrect handling of three or more authors

If you start with creators and there are three or more, follow your rule: first author only, then “et al.” Do not list additional names before “et al.”

Quick checklist before you submit

• Is the film title italicized?
• Did you choose the right lead element, title or person, based on your argument?
• If you started with a person, did you invert the first author name and use full first names?
• Did you use “and” for two authors, and “et al.” for three or more?
• Did you include company and year?
• If streaming, did you add the platform, and a URL if needed?

If you tell me whether your film was watched in theaters, on DVD, or on a specific streaming service, and whether you want to emphasize the director or the film itself, I can format 2 to 3 citations that match your exact sources.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Film Citation Mla Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Overview, what counts as a “film” in MLA

In MLA 9, a film citation usually describes a complete motion picture that you watched in a theater, on a streaming platform, on DVD, or through a library database. The core idea is simple: you name the work, then you name the container that delivered it (a streaming service, a DVD set, a database), then you add details that help a reader find the exact version you used.

A basic film entry often looks like this shape:

Title of Film. Directed by Director Name, Production Company, Year.

However, real research often involves special cases. Films can have multiple versions, multiple major contributors, uncertain dates, translations, or they can appear inside a larger container like a streaming platform or a database. The edge cases below show how to handle those situations while keeping MLA formatting clear and consistent.

Special case 1, choosing the “author” when films have many contributors

When to list the director first

MLA commonly begins a film citation with the title, not a person. Still, you may start with a person when that person is the focus of your discussion, or when your instructor prefers it. In film writing, the director is the most common “author like” choice.

If you start with a person, your rules for names apply:

• First listed person is inverted: Last, First Middle.
• Two people: connect with “and,” second name is not inverted.
• Three or more people: first person only, then “et al.”
• Use full first names, not initials.

Practical tip: Only put a person first if it helps your Works Cited list match your paper’s emphasis. If you are comparing multiple films by the same director, starting with the director can make your list easier to scan.

Common pitfall

Do not try to list every major contributor (director, writers, producers, actors) in the “author” position. Pick the role that matches your purpose, then include other contributors after the title using “Directed by,” “Written by,” “Performances by,” and similar labels.

Special case 2, films with multiple versions (director’s cut, extended edition, restored edition)

Films often exist in different cuts and restorations. In MLA, the version matters because scenes, pacing, and even endings can change. You should identify the version you watched if it is not the standard theatrical release.

What to add:
- A version label such as “Director’s Cut,” “Extended Edition,” or “Restored 4K Edition.”
- Optional but useful, the release year of that version if it differs from the original.
- If you watched it on a platform, include the platform as a container.

Practical tip: If the version label appears on the screen, on the disc packaging, or in the platform description, use that wording. Consistency helps readers locate the same cut.

Common pitfall: Citing the original release year when you actually watched a later cut that is meaningfully different. If you discuss a scene that exists only in the extended edition, your citation should reflect that edition.

Special case 3, streaming platforms and databases (containers)

When you watch a film on Netflix, Max, Disney+, Kanopy, or a library database, the platform is a container. MLA 9 treats containers as important because they tell the reader where the film can be found.

What to include for streaming:
- The title of the film.
- Key contributors (often the director) if relevant.
- The original distributor or production company if known.
- The release year.
- The streaming service name as the container.
- A URL, especially if it is a database or a stable link is available. MLA allows URLs, and they can help.

Practical tips:
- Use a stable URL when possible, especially for library databases. If a stable link is not available, you can omit the URL and rely on the container name.
- If the platform lists an “added to platform” date, MLA usually does not require it for films. Prioritize the film’s release year and the container.

Common pitfall: Treating the streaming service as the publisher. It is usually the container, not the original publisher of the film.

Special case 4, films with no clear author or no credited director

Sometimes a film does not clearly identify a director, or you are citing a short film, compilation, or corporate video where authorship is unclear. Under your rules, if there is no author, start with the title. Do not write “Anonymous” or “n.d.”

Practical tip: Many films still have a director even if it is not obvious on the platform page. Check the film’s credits, the distributor site, or a reputable database entry. If you truly cannot confirm a director, omit the director and begin with the title.

Common pitfall: Guessing a director or using a platform’s “creator” field without verification.

Special case 5, translated titles, alternate titles, and non English films

If you watched a film with an English title that differs from the original, you have two common options:
- Cite the title as it appears in the version you watched.
- If the original title is important for your reader, you can include it as an alternate title in your discussion, or sometimes in the citation as additional information.

Practical tip: Use the title shown on the screen or on the platform listing for the version you accessed. That is the title your reader is most likely to search.

Common pitfall: Mixing titles, for example using the original language title in the Works Cited but referring to the English release title in your paper, without clarifying that they are the same film.

Special case 6, citing a specific scene or time range

MLA allows you to cite a whole film in the Works Cited, then give a time range in your in text citation when you discuss a specific moment. This is especially useful for close analysis.

Practical tip: Record the time stamp while watching. Use the format your instructor prefers, but keep it consistent, for example 01:12:35 to 01:14:10.

Common pitfall: Putting time stamps in the Works Cited entry. In MLA, time stamps usually belong in the in text citation or in your notes, not in the Works Cited.

Examples with correct formatting and explanations

Example 1, director first, streaming container, version information

Works Cited entry
Cuaron, Alfonso. Roma. Netflix, 2018.

Why this works
- The entry starts with a person because the director is the focus, and it helps alphabetize all Cuaron films together.
- The first author name is inverted, and the full first name is used, which matches your rule.
- The title is italicized because it is a complete film.
- Netflix is treated as the container where the film was accessed.
- The year is included to identify the release.

Practical tip
If you are not emphasizing the director, you could start with the title instead. Starting with the director is most useful when your paper compares multiple works by the same filmmaker.

Example 2, title first, physical media, multiple contributors listed by role

Works Cited entry
Get Out. Directed by Jordan Peele, Universal Pictures, 2017.

Why this works
- The citation starts with the title, which is the most common MLA approach for films.
- The director is included after the title with a clear label, “Directed by.”
- The company and year help readers identify the exact film.
- This format avoids overloading the citation with too many names, while still giving a key contributor.

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not write “Peele, J.” Your rule requires full first names. Also, do not list actors unless their performances are central to your argument and your instructor expects them.

Example 3, three or more creators, using “et al.” correctly under your rules

Sometimes you cite a film like a collaborative documentary where multiple credited directors are central, or your instructor asks you to list directors as authors. Under your rules for three or more authors, list only the first, then “et al.”

Works Cited entry
DuVernay, Ava et al. 13th. Kandoo Films, 2016.

Why this works
- The first listed creator is inverted and uses the full first name, which supports clear identification and correct alphabetizing.
- Because there are three or more credited directors or creators in this scenario, “et al.” keeps the entry readable and consistent.
- The title is italicized, and the production company and year help locate the film.

Practical tip
Only use this approach if multiple directors are explicitly credited and relevant to your citation plan. If one director is clearly credited, it is usually better to list that director alone rather than inventing a multi author structure.

Why these rules matter (clarity, findability, and consistency)

These film citation edge cases are not just formatting exercises. They matter because:
- Clarity: Full first names reduce confusion between people with similar initials.
- Findability: Version labels and containers help readers locate the same cut and the same access point.
- Consistency: Inverting the first author name standardizes alphabetizing in Works Cited, and it helps readers scan your sources quickly.
- Academic honesty: Correctly naming the version you watched prevents accidental misrepresentation, especially when different cuts change content.

Quick checklist, practical tips and common pitfalls

Practical tips

• Write down the platform, version label, and year before you start taking notes.
• If you will quote or analyze a scene, record time stamps as you watch.
• Use the title exactly as shown in the version you accessed.
• Decide early whether you will start film entries with the title or with the director, then stay consistent unless your purpose changes.

Common pitfalls

• Using initials instead of full first names.
• Listing the second author inverted in a two author entry.
• Listing multiple authors for a three plus author work instead of using “et al.”
• Treating a streaming service as the producer or distributor.
• Citing the wrong version year when you watched a director’s cut or restored edition.

If you tell me which access method you used (theater, Netflix, Kanopy, DVD, Blu-ray, or a database) and whether you are emphasizing the director or the film itself, I can adapt these edge cases into a mini template set you can paste into your MLA 9 guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a movie in MLA Works Cited and in-text citations?

In MLA 9, your Works Cited entry for a film usually starts with the title, followed by key contributors and publication details. A common format is: Title of Film. Directed by Director Name, performances by Lead Actor and Second Actor, Production Company, Year. Include a streaming platform and URL if you watched it online. For in-text citations, use the title in parentheses, usually italicized in your paper, for example: (Parasite). If you mention the title in your sentence, you may not need a parenthetical citation. MLA does not require timestamps, but you can add a time range for precision when quoting a scene. For detailed guidance and examples, see Purdue OWL, “MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources” https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html and the MLA Style Center https://style.mla.org/.

How do I cite a film I watched on Netflix, Hulu, or another streaming service in MLA?

Cite the film as a film, then add the streaming service as the container, plus the URL if your instructor wants it or if it helps readers locate the source. A practical scenario is a student watching a required movie on Netflix rather than DVD. Your entry can look like: Title of Film. Directed by Director Name, performances by Key Performers, Production Company, Year. Netflix, URL. If the streaming version has a different release year than the original, use the year associated with the version you watched, often the original release year is still appropriate for films. For in-text citations, use the film title: (Title). If you quote dialogue, consider adding a timestamp like 01:12:35 to help readers find the moment. More help is available at the MLA Style Center, “How do I cite a movie?” https://style.mla.org/cite-a-movie/.

Do I cite the director, the screenwriter, or the actors as the author in MLA film citations?

MLA lets you choose the entry point based on what matters for your argument. If you are analyzing directing choices, start with the film title and include “Directed by” in the description, or you can begin with the director’s name if you want to foreground that person. If your paper focuses on dialogue and narrative structure, you might emphasize the screenwriter with “Written by.” If you are discussing performance, list performers after “performances by.” A practical scenario is comparing two directors’ styles, in that case, starting with the director’s name can make your Works Cited easier to scan. Whatever you choose, keep it consistent across similar sources. MLA’s principle is to cite the contributors most relevant to your use. For examples and decision rules, consult the MLA Handbook guidance summarized at the MLA Style Center https://style.mla.org/ and Purdue OWL https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html.

How do I cite a specific scene or quote from a movie in MLA, especially without page numbers?

Films do not have page numbers, so MLA in-text citations typically use the title alone, for example: (Get Out). If you are quoting or closely analyzing a specific moment, you can add a timestamp or time range in your prose or in parentheses, such as (Get Out 00:47:10 to 00:47:45). This is especially helpful when your instructor expects precise location information or when multiple scenes support your point. A practical scenario is a film studies essay that analyzes editing in one sequence. You can introduce the scene in your sentence, then add the timestamp to guide the reader. In the Works Cited, cite the whole film version you watched. If you watched a DVD with special features, cite the main film unless you are quoting a commentary track or a deleted scene, in that case cite that feature as its own entry. See MLA Style Center guidance https://style.mla.org/ and Purdue OWL for source type examples https://owl.purdue.edu/.

How do I cite a film that is part of a DVD box set or a special edition with multiple discs in MLA?

When a film comes from a box set or special edition, treat the film as the source, then list the box set as the container if it helps identify the version. A practical scenario is citing a film from The Criterion Collection or a multi film anthology. Your entry might be: Title of Film. Directed by Director Name, Production Company, Year. Title of Box Set, edition, Distributor, Year. If you are using a specific disc, you can add “Disc 2” or similar details at the end. If you are citing bonus content like a director commentary, interview, or documentary included on the discs, cite that feature by its own title and label it, for example “Director commentary,” then list the box set as the container. For container and version details, see MLA Style Center resources https://style.mla.org/containers/.

How do I cite a YouTube movie clip or trailer in MLA, and is it different from citing the full film?

Yes, a YouTube clip or trailer is cited as an online video, not as the full film, because your source is the uploaded video and its metadata. A practical scenario is using a trailer to discuss marketing or using a short clip to analyze a single scene when you do not have access to the full movie. In Works Cited, start with the clip title, then the website as the container: “Title of Clip.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL. Include an access date if your instructor requests it. In-text citations usually use a shortened title in parentheses. If you are analyzing the full film, cite the film itself instead, even if you watched it online. For official MLA video examples, see Purdue OWL’s MLA other common sources page https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html and the MLA Style Center https://style.mla.org/.

Last Updated: 2025-12-31
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