To cite a movie, start with the film itself rather than the page where you happened to find it. Record the director, release year, film title, production company, and the details of the exact version you watched. Then arrange those facts for APA 7, MLA 9, or Chicago 18. This guide gives a separate template for each style, shows how to add a timestamp, and explains when a streaming platform belongs in the citation.
Movie citation formats at a glance
| Style | Reference or Works Cited template | In-text form |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of film [Film]. Production Company. | (Director, Year, timestamp) |
| MLA 9 | Title of Film. Directed by First Last, Production Company, Year. | (Shortened Title timestamp) |
| Chicago 18, notes and bibliography | Title of Film. Directed by First Last. Production Company, Year. | Footnote keyed to the title; add a timestamp for a specific moment |
These are base patterns. Add a platform, URL, format, edition, or other contributor only when that information identifies the version you actually used or helps the reader retrieve it.
What information do you need to cite a film?
Check the title card and closing credits of the version you watched. They are better evidence for that version than a third-party database entry. Gather:
- Director or directors: use the credited names and preserve the spelling shown in the film.
- Release year: normally the year that version of the film was released.
- Full film title: include the subtitle when there is one.
- Production company or companies: do not substitute a streaming service for a production company just because you watched the film there.
- Version details: note a restored edition, commentary track, dub, or other feature when your analysis depends on that specific version.
- Access details, when relevant: record the platform, uploader, date, and stable URL for a specific online copy.
- Timestamp: write down the start time of the scene or quotation you discuss.
The examples below use the same fictional film so that the differences between styles are easy to see: The Long Road Home, directed by Jane Smith, released by Horizon Pictures in 2019.
How to cite a movie in APA 7th edition
APA puts the director in the author position and identifies the role in parentheses. Put the release year next, write the film title in sentence case and italics, add [Film], and end with the production company. A producer is not normally added as a second author in an APA 7 film reference.
APA reference template
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of film [Film]. Production Company.
APA movie example
Smith, J. (Director). (2019). The long road home [Film]. Horizon Pictures.
Parenthetical citation: (Smith, 2019)
Narrative citation: Smith (2019)
Specific moment: (Smith, 2019, 1:14:32)
For two directors, join their names with an ampersand and use the plural role label: Director, A. A., & Director, B. B. (Directors). When there are multiple production companies, separate the company names with semicolons.
APA movie on Netflix or another streaming service
Watching a widely available film on a streaming service does not, by itself, turn the platform into the author or production company. Cite the film and its production company. If your analysis depends on material unique to a particular edition, record that edition’s exact details and check the current APA film-reference guidance rather than inventing a platform or version label. For an online-only work with a public URL, first confirm whether APA treats the source as a film or as an online video, then follow the matching official example; do not append a URL merely because an ordinary commercial film was streamed.
For the wider reference-list and paper rules, see the APA format guide and APA in-text citation guide.
How to cite a movie in MLA 9th edition
MLA normally begins a movie entry with the film title. List the director as a contributor, followed by the production company and release year. Use title case for the film title. If your argument focuses specifically on the director’s work, MLA also permits you to begin with the director.
MLA Works Cited template
Title of Film. Directed by First Last, Production Company, Year.
MLA movie example
The Long Road Home. Directed by Jane Smith, Horizon Pictures, 2019.
Title not named in your sentence: (Long Road Home)
Specific dialogue after naming the film in your sentence: (1:22:13–18)
If you put the director first, the entry and matching in-text citation change together:
Smith, Jane, director. The Long Road Home. Horizon Pictures, 2019.
In-text citation when the director is not named in your sentence: (Smith)
The first element of the Works Cited entry must match the name or shortened title that leads readers from your prose or parentheses to that entry.
MLA movie viewed online
When you cite a particular online copy and the website information helps identify it, add the website as a second container. Include the platform, uploader when useful, online publication or upload date, and URL. For a complete film hosted on YouTube, for example, retain the film’s original production details first and then add the YouTube container. This is different from citing an ordinary creator-uploaded clip; use the YouTube video citation guide for that source type.
For more on containers, punctuation, and hanging indents, see the MLA format guide and MLA in-text citation guide.
How to cite a movie in Chicago 18th edition
Chicago has two citation systems. Notes and Bibliography is common in humanities courses; Author-Date is used in some sciences and social sciences. Confirm which system your instructor requires. The 18th edition covers video and film recordings in section 14.165 and online videos in section 14.167.
Chicago notes and bibliography
For a straightforward film, lead with the title, identify the director, and give the production company and year. Add the version, format, platform, or URL only when it helps identify the source you used.
Bibliography: The Long Road Home. Directed by Jane Smith. Horizon Pictures, 2019.
First note: 1. The Long Road Home, directed by Jane Smith (Horizon Pictures, 2019), 1:14:32.
Shortened note: 2. Long Road Home, 1:18:06.
Do not copy a city or other publication fact from an older, generic movie template without checking the version you used. Chicago 18 treats video and film recordings in its own section (14.165), so film-specific guidance—not the separate rule for books—controls which publication and version details belong in the entry.
Chicago author-date
Chicago’s public Author-Date quick guide places the identifying creator and year first for audiovisual works. When a course treats the director as that identifying creator, the film entry can follow this adapted pattern; use the exact ordering required by your instructor or institution when it supplies a film-specific model.
Reference list: Smith, Jane, dir. 2019. The Long Road Home. Horizon Pictures.
In-text citation: (Smith 2019)
Specific moment: (Smith 2019, 1:14:32)
The official Chicago and Turabian quick guides show the ordering differences between notes-bibliography and author-date entries. For broader guidance, see the Chicago style guide and Chicago footnotes guide.
How streaming changes a movie citation
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| A standard commercial film watched on a subscription service | Cite the film’s director, title, year, and production company according to the selected style. Do not automatically replace the production company with the platform. |
| A special cut, commentary track, restoration, or dubbed version | Add enough version or format detail to distinguish the source your analysis depends on. |
| A complete film uploaded to YouTube or another open website | Preserve the original film details and add the hosting page, uploader, upload date, and URL when the style calls for them. |
| A short online clip, trailer, review, or creator video | Do not force it into the movie template; use the guide for an online video or YouTube video. |
Common movie-citation mistakes
- Using the producer as an APA coauthor: APA 7 normally credits the director or directors in the author position.
- Making the streaming service the production company: the platform is usually only where you watched the film.
- Using Chicago 17 templates: label the section Chicago 18 and remove legacy place-of-publication details that are not needed.
- Mixing title capitalization: APA uses sentence case; MLA and Chicago use title case.
- Breaking the in-text-to-entry match: if an MLA entry begins with the title, the in-text citation should key to that title, not suddenly to the director.
- Citing a page number for a film: use a timestamp when the reader needs to locate a scene or line.
- Citing the wrong source type: a TV episode, documentary, or online clip needs the template for that specific work.
Can you generate this movie citation automatically?
This site’s current citation forms do not include a dedicated Film source type. Use the verified templates on this page for a movie rather than entering film data into unrelated book or webpage fields. The APA, MLA, and Chicago guides can help you check capitalization, italics, and the final reference-list layout.
Related audiovisual citation guides
- How to cite a documentary — for a standalone nonfiction film.
- How to cite a TV show — for a whole series or a specific episode.
- How to cite a video — for general online clips and hosted videos.
- How to cite a YouTube video — for platform-specific uploader, channel, date, and URL details.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the author of a movie citation?
It depends on the style. APA 7 puts the director in the author position. MLA 9 usually begins with the film title but can begin with the director when the director’s contribution is your focus. Chicago notes-bibliography commonly begins with the title; a Chicago author-date entry may begin with the director so the in-text citation can use the director and year.
How do I cite a movie from Netflix?
Start with the film’s own credits: director, title, release year, and production company. Do not automatically treat Netflix or another streaming service as the production company. Add platform or version details only when they identify the specific copy you used or are needed for retrieval.
How do I cite a specific scene or quote from a movie?
Add a timestamp to the in-text citation or note, such as 1:14:32. For a short range, show the beginning and ending time, such as 1:22:13–18. The full reference still describes the film; the timestamp is the locator for the exact moment.
Should I use the movie, documentary, TV show, or video guide?
Use this movie guide for a standalone feature film. Use the documentary guide for a nonfiction film, the TV guide for a series or episode, and the video or YouTube guide for an online clip or creator-uploaded video. Choose by the work itself, not simply by the device or platform where you watched it.
Official style sources
- APA Style: Film and television references
- MLA Style Center: How to cite a movie, video, or television show
- MLA Style Center: In-text citations for films
- MLA Style Center: Quoting film or TV dialogue with timestamps
- The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition: Chapter 14 contents
- The Chicago Manual of Style: What’s new in the 18th edition
- Turabian: Notes and bibliography citation quick guide
- Turabian: Author-date citation quick guide