Introduction

Citation is an essential aspect of academic writing as it enables you to properly acknowledge the contributions of other individuals or sources used in your work. This, in turn, helps to maintain scholarly integrity and avoid plagiarism. Modern Language Association (MLA) style is a widely-used citation format in the humanities, where movies are often utilized as primary or secondary sources. To help you understand how to properly cite a movie using MLA style, here are three ways that cover different aspects of movie citation.

1. Citing a Movie in the Works Cited Page

When citing a movie on your Works Cited page, you should follow this general format:

Title of the Movie. Directed by First Name Last Name, performances by First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, Production Company, Year of Release.

For instance:

The Shawshank Redemption. Directed by Frank Darabont, performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1994.

In case some information is not available for your source, such as director or performers’ names, exclude that part from the citation.

2. Citing a Movie In-Text

When referencing a movie within your paper, you should include an in-text citation using the format: (Title of Movie).

For example:

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), director Frank Darabont explores themes of hope and redemption through the characters and their respective experiences.

Note that you should italicize the title when creating an in-text citation.

3. Citing a Movie Quote

If you use a direct quote from a movie within your paper, you need to cite it using both an in-text citation and an entry in the Works Cited page. To properly cite a quote from a movie, follow this format along with specific time codes:

“Quote.” Title of the Movie. Directed by First Name Last Name, performances by First Name Last Name, First Name Last Name, Production Company, Year of Release, Exact Time code(s).

For example:

“Get busy living, or get busy dying.” The Shawshank Redemption. Directed by Frank Darabont, performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Castle Rock Entertainment, 1994, 2:12:37-2:12:41.

In your in-text citation, simply refer to the quote and include the time code(s) within parentheses:

Andy Dufresne famously says in The Shawshank Redemption (2:12:37-2:12:41), “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

Conclusion

Citing movies using MLA style is an essential skill for any student or academic who relies on film as a source in their research. By following these three methods for citing a movie, you’ll be able to accurately and consistently document film sources within your work and maintain the highest possible standards of academic integrity.