The Basics

A film citation typically includes the director (treated as the primary creator), the release year, the title in italics, a format indicator like [Film], the production company, and optionally the streaming platform or format you used.

The director is typically cited as the "author" because they're considered the primary creative force. For some analyses, you might instead cite producers, writers, or studios—but director is the default.

Quick Reference by Major Style

APA (7th Edition):

Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of film [Film]. Production Company.

Example:

Gerwig, G. (Director). (2023). Barbie [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures.

In-text: (Gerwig, 2023)

MLA (9th Edition):

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

Example:

Barbie. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023.

In-text: (Barbie)

Note: MLA leads with the title unless your analysis focuses specifically on the director's work.

Chicago (Notes-Bibliography):

Director, dir. Title. Production Company, Year.

Note format:

Greta Gerwig, dir., Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023).

Citing From Streaming Services

If you watched the film on a streaming platform, include that information:

APA:

Gerwig, G. (Director). (2023). Barbie [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures. Netflix.

MLA:

Barbie. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023. Netflix.

The streaming platform replaces or supplements the production company depending on your style guide's preference.

Citing Specific Scenes or Quotes

When referencing a particular moment, include a timestamp:

In-text: (Gerwig, 2023, 1:23:45)

For dialogue quotes, transcribe carefully and include the timestamp so readers can verify.

"I'm just Ken" (Gerwig, 2023, 0:47:32).

Director vs. Other Contributors

Default to director for most citations.

Cite the producer if you're discussing production decisions or if the producer is the notable creative force (common for certain studios).

Cite the screenwriter if your analysis focuses on the script or dialogue.

Cite the studio for institutional analysis or when no individual creator is relevant.

You can include multiple roles:

APA:

Gerwig, G. (Director), & Baumbach, N. (Writer). (2023). Barbie [Film].

Foreign Films

Include the original title and English translation:

Bong, J. (Director). (2019). Gisaengchung [Parasite] [Film]. Barunson E&A.

Or:

Parasite [Gisaengchung]. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, Barunson E&A, 2019.

Follow your style guide's preference for which title comes first.

Documentaries

Same format as fiction films, with the director:

Guggenheim, D. (Director). (2006). An inconvenient truth [Documentary]. Paramount Classics.

If the documentary has a notable narrator or presenter, you might include them:

Attenborough, D. (Narrator). (2022). Frozen planet II [Documentary]. BBC Studios.

Classic or Historical Films

For older films, the year is the original release date, not when you watched a restoration:

Hitchcock, A. (Director). (1958). Vertigo [Film]. Paramount Pictures.

If you're citing a specific restored version and that matters to your analysis, note it:

Hitchcock, A. (Director). (1958). Vertigo [Film; 2012 restoration]. Paramount Pictures.

Films With No Clear Director

Some films (especially early cinema or collaborative projects) lack a clear director. Use the production company or lead with the title:

Walt Disney Productions. (1937). Snow White and the seven dwarfs [Film].

Italics and Formatting

Film titles are italicized in all major styles. Episode titles within a series use quotation marks (see TV show citation guide).

The exact formatting for film citations depends on your required citation style. Check the specific guide for your discipline below.