How to cite a movie

Imagine you’re working on a research paper or a film analysis for your college course. As you dive into the subject, your professor emphasizes the importance of proper citations to avoid plagiarism and lend credibility to your work. You’re excited to include your favorite film as a reference, but suddenly, the uncertainty sets in: How exactly do you cite a movie? This question is not only a concern for students but also for anyone who wants to discuss movies critically and responsibly.

To cite a movie, you generally need to include the title, director’s name, production company, and the release year. For example: *Inception*. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Warner Bros., 2010.

Citing a movie can vary depending on the citation style you’re using, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.

In the APA format, you would structure the citation as follows:

Format: Director’s Last Name, Initials. (Director). (Year). *Title of the film*. Production Company.

Example: Nolan, C. (Director). (2010). *Inception*. Warner Bros.

In MLA format, it would look like this:

Format: *Title of Film*. Directed by Director’s Name, Production Company, Year.

Example: *Inception*. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Warner Bros., 2010.

If you’re using the Chicago style, it can be formatted like this:

Format: Director’s Last Name, First Name, dir. *Title of Film*. City of Production: Production Company, Year.

Example: Nolan, Christopher, dir. *Inception*. Burbank: Warner Bros., 2010.

Regardless of the format, remember to italicize the film title and ensure you have all relevant details for correct attribution. Always check your institution’s guidelines, as they may have specific requirements for citing films.