MLA Film Citation
Your bibliography
0 sourcesMLA Film Citation starts with the film title in italics, then “Directed by” and the director’s name, the distributor, and the release year: Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Neon, 2019. Start with a person only when their work is your focus.
What is the basic MLA format for a film?
Cite a film by its title when you discuss the work as a whole. Put the title in italics, add “Directed by” plus the director, then the distributor or studio and the year of release. End with a period. This treats the film as the standalone source.
The default template follows the MLA core elements in order:
TemplateTitle of Film. Directed by First Last, Distributor, Year.
FilmParasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Neon, 2019.
You may add other key contributors after the director when relevant, using descriptive labels such as “performances by” or “screenplay by.” Separate each with a comma.
With castGet Out. Directed by Jordan Peele, performances by Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, Universal Pictures, 2017.
What are the parts of an MLA film citation?
- Title — the film name, italicised, followed by a period.
- Contributor — “Directed by” and the director’s name in normal order.
- Publisher — the distributor or production studio (A24).
- Date — the year of original release.
- Location — a platform, URL, or timestamp, added only for streaming or disc versions.
When do I start the citation with the director?
Begin with a person only when your paper focuses on that individual’s contribution. Put their name in inverted order, add a role label, then the title. This works for directors, screenwriters, or a lead performer whose work you analyse throughout the essay.
| Your focus | Start the entry with |
|---|---|
| The film as a whole | The film title |
| The director’s craft | Director’s name + “director” |
| A screenwriter’s script | Writer’s name + “screenwriter” |
| A specific performance | Actor’s name + “performer” |
Director focusVilleneuve, Denis, director. Dune. Warner Bros., 2021.
Performer focusBlanchett, Cate, performer. Tár. Directed by Todd Field, Focus Features, 2022.
How do I cite a film I watched on a streaming service?
Cite the streaming platform as the container. Give the title-first entry, then name the service (Netflix, Hulu, Max) in italics as the container, and finish with the URL. Do not include an access date unless the content is undated or likely to change.
StreamingThe Power of the Dog. Directed by Jane Campion, Netflix, 2021. Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/81127997.
DVD/Blu-rayBlade Runner 2049. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Warner Bros., 2017. Blu-ray, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 2018.
How do I write an MLA in-text citation for a film?
Use the first element of the Works Cited entry, shortened, in parentheses. For a title-first entry, use a short version of the title in italics. To point to a specific moment, add a timestamp range in hours, minutes, and seconds instead of a page number.
Whole filmThe film’s tension builds slowly (Parasite).
TimestampThe reveal reframes the entire plot (Parasite 01:41:20–58).
Director-firstThe camera lingers deliberately (Villeneuve 00:14:05–22).
If you name the film or director in your sentence, you can drop it from the parentheses and cite only the timestamp: (00:14:05–22).
MLA film citation examples
These cover the most common scenarios students face. Copy the pattern that matches how you accessed the film and which contributor matters to your argument.
| Scenario | Works Cited example |
|---|---|
| Theatrical film | Oppenheimer. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Universal Pictures, 2023. |
| Foreign-language film | Drive My Car. Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, Janus Films, 2021. |
| Classic film | Casablanca. Directed by Michael Curtiz, Warner Bros., 1942. |
| Animated film | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Directed by Bob Persichetti et al., Sony Pictures, 2018. |
Multiple directorsEverything Everywhere All at Once. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, A24, 2022.
DocumentaryFree Solo. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, National Geographic Documentary Films, 2018.
How accurate is this guide, and what are its limits?
Every rule here reflects the MLA Handbook, 9th edition, the edition most instructors require in 2026. MLA is deliberately flexible: the core-element system means two correct citations can differ. Use judgement about which contributors and containers your reader needs.
Watch these edge cases. Studios list differently on packaging than on screen — cite the distributor you can verify. Release years vary between festival premiere and wide release; use the year of the version you watched. For films with many directors, “et al.” after the first name is acceptable. Always confirm your instructor has not requested a specific edition or added house rules before submitting.
MLA film citation FAQ
Do I italicise film titles in MLA?
Yes. Film titles are always italicised in both the Works Cited entry and in-text citations, because a film is a self-contained whole. Episode titles within a series, by contrast, take quotation marks.
What year do I use for a film citation?
Use the original release year of the version you watched. If you cite a restored or re-released cut, give that version’s year and note the original release in your text if it matters to your analysis.
How do I cite a specific scene in MLA?
Add a timestamp range in the in-text citation using hours:minutes:seconds, such as (Dune 00:47:10–33). Timestamps replace page numbers for time-based media like film.
Should I include the actors in a film citation?
Only when a performance is relevant to your point. Add “performances by” followed by the lead actors after the director. Otherwise, the director and distributor are enough.
How do I cite a film without a listed director?
Start with the title and move to the next available contributor, such as a producer or the production company. Never invent a director; cite the roles the source actually credits.
Do I need a URL or access date for a streaming film?
Include the streaming platform as a container and its URL. Add an access date only when the film lacks a clear release date or the platform’s version may change over time.