citing movies in essay

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APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Films/Videos/TV Shows

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Film or Video

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

Streaming video from a subscription media website (netflix, amazon prime, hulu, etc.), streaming video from a library database, television series episode.

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

Who to Credit - Film or Video

The director should be credited as the author of a film. If the director is unknown, someone in a similar role, such as a producer and/or writer, can be credited. To clarify what role the person has in the production, their job title such as Director is put after their name in round brackets if the job title is known.

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use that followed by the person's user name in square brackets. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, just use their user name without brackets.

Note : It is not necessary to specify how you watched a film or video (e.g. motion picture, DVD, streaming online). 

In the Body of a Paper

Books, Journals, Reports, Webpages, etc.: When you refer to titles of a “stand-alone work,” as the APA calls them on their APA Style website, such as books, journals, reports, and webpages, you should italicize them. Capitalize words as you would for an article title in a reference, e.g., In the book Crying in H Mart: A memoir , author Michelle Zauner (2021) describes her biracial origin and its impact on her identity.

Article or Chapter: When you refer to the title of a part of a work, such as an article or a chapter, put quotation marks around the title and capitalize it as you would for a journal title in a reference, e.g., In the chapter “Where’s the Wine,” Zauner (2021) describes how she decided to become a musician.

The APA Sample Paper below has more information about formatting your paper.

• APA 7th ed. Sample Paper

Film or Video

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is known:

Director/Producer/Writer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title). (Year film was produced).  Title of film: Subtitle if any  [Film]. Production Company.

Note: For other countries, list the city name and the country.

Hallam, J. (Producer, Writer), & Lam, K. (Producer, Director). (2010).  Staff relations in healthcare: Working as a team  [Film]. Insight Media.

• When you have more than one producer, writer and/or writer to credit, separate the names with a comma and put an ampersand (&) before the last person's last name.
• Serling, R. (Executive Producer). (1959–1964). The twilight zone [TV series]. Cayuga Productions; CBS Productions.

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Producer/Director/Writer's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Hallam & Lam, 2010)

Note: This example has two people to credit, so both last names are given)

In-Text Quote:

(Producer/Director/Writer's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Hallam & Lam, 2010, 2:30)

Note: Because the timestamp serves the same purpose in a video as page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, you include it in the in-text citation. Include only the beginning timestamp.

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is not known:  Start the citation with the film title.

Title of film: Subtitle if any  [Film]. (Year film was produced). Production Company if Known.

Era of viruses  [Film]. (2006). Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

( Title of Film , Year)

Example: ( Era of Viruses , 2006)

Note: Italicize the title of the film and capitalize the words for the in-text citation.

( Title of Film , Year, Timestamp)

Example: ( Era of Viruses , 2006, 40:00)

When the Poster's Name is known: 

Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video]. (Year video was posted, Month Day).  Title of video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8).  Bill Nye the science guy on energy  [Video]. YouTube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo

(Creator's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Nye, 2009)

(Creator's Last Name, Year, timestamp)

Example: (Nye, 2009, 0:55)

When the Poster's Name is not known: 

User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day).  Title of video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

All Aces Media. (2012, January 19).  Often awesome the series  [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255

(User name, Year)

Example: (All Aces Media, 2012)

Example: (All Aces Media, 2012, timestamp)

Producer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Producer). (Year of Publication).  Title of Video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

Note:  When you have one producer (Producer) is used after the producer's name. If you have more than one producer use (Producers) instead.

Allen, T., et. al. (Producers). (2017). The story of Diana  [Video]. Netflix. http://www.netflix.com

(Producer Last name, Year)

Example: (Allen, et. al., 2017)

(Producer Last name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Allen, et. al., 2017, 6:45)

Name of Company/Organization that Provided Content or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. if known. (Year video was created, Month Day if known).  Title of video  [Video]. Database Name.

National Film Board of Canada. (2014).  Making movie history: The women  [Video]. NFB Campus. 

(Name of Company/Organization, Year)

Example: (National Film Board of Canada, 2014)

(Name of Company/Organization, Year, Timestamp)

Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired). Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer) if known,  Television series name . Production Company.

Young, R. (Writer, Producer, Director). (2010). Flying cheap (Season 2010, Episode 2) [TV series episode]. In  Frontline . American University School of Communication's Investigative Reporting Workshop.

(Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Young, 2010)

(Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Young, 2010, 15:38)

Television Series Episode Viewed on a Subscription Media Website 

Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired). Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer) if known,  Television series name . Streaming Video Site. URL

Attenborough, D. (Writer). (2001). Ocean world (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In A. Fothergill (Executive producer),  Blue planet: A natural history of the oceans . Netflix. http://www.netflix.com

Example: (Attenborough, 2001)

 (Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Attenborough, 2001, 10:12)

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• Last Updated: Mar 11, 2024 3:40 PM
• URL: https://libguides.up.edu/apa

Works-Cited-List Entries

How to cite a movie, video, or television show.

To create a basic works-cited-list entry for a movie, list the title of the movie. Then in the Contributor element, list the name of the director. Next, in the Publisher element, provide the name of the company that produced the movie, followed by the release date. You might include other elements, such as additional contributors if they are pertinent to your discussion, and website information if you accessed the movie online. Below are sample entries for movies along with links to posts containing many other examples, including podcasts, radio programs, television shows, and videos.

A Movie Viewed in Person

Opening Night. Directed by John Cassavetes, Faces Distribution, 1977. 

A Movie Viewed Online

Richardson, Tony, director. Sanctuary . Screenplay by James Poe, Twentieth Century Fox, 1961. YouTube , uploaded by LostCinemaChannel, 17 July 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMnzFM_Sq8s .

A Television Show Viewed on Physical Media

“Hush.” 1999. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fourth Seaso n, created by Joss Whedon, episode 10, Mutant Enemy / Twentieth Century Fox, 2003, disc 3. DVD.

More Examples

Radio Programs

Television Shows

• Previous Example
• Next Example

• Bibliography Answers

How to cite a movie in APA, MLA, or Harvard style

It’s not often that you need to cite a movie, but it’s actually straightforward to do so. Our guide below details how to cite a movie in APA, MLA, or Harvard format.

 How to cite a movie automatically

If you want to skip the tedium of writing a movie citation out by hand then we’ve made a citation generator to do it for you. Simply select Film/Movie from the More dropdown below, complete the form, and we’ll put everything in the right order.

 How to cite a movie manually

To cite a movie yourself just follow the instructions below. For the 3 most popular styles–APA, MLA 8, and Harvard–this is as follows:

 In APA style

You need to locate these details for the movie: director, movie title (duh!), release date, distributor, distributor location, and medium (or format) .

• The director can usually be found in the credits for the movie, or on the IMDb or Wikipedia page for the movie.
• The movie title should be pretty straightforward – it’s the name of the movie you’re citing.
• The release date is the date that the movie was first released or published. This can also be found on the IMdb or Wikipedia page.
• The distributor is the company that handled publishing of the movie. For example, the movie Avengers 2: Age of Ultron was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
• The distributor location is the city or state that the distributor is located in. You can find this by looking up the distributor on Wikipedia.
• The medium is the format that you watched the movie in. This could be something like DVD, internet stream, or cinema.

Then use this template, replacing the colored placeholders with the information you found on the page:

Author last name , Author first name initial . ( release date year , release date month and day ). Page title [ medium ]. Distributor location : Distributor .

The final formatted citation should look like this:

Whedon, J. (2015). Avengers 2: Age of Ultron [DVD]. California: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

 In MLA 8 style

You need to locate these details for the movie: director, movie title, release date, and distributor .

Then use this template:

Director last name , Director first name . Movie title . Distributor , Year published .

Whedon, Joss. Avengers 2: Age of Ultron . Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2015.

 In Harvard style

Harvard format is very similar to APA. First, locate these details for the movie: director, movie title, release date, distributor, distributor location, and medium (or format) .

Author last name , Author first name initial . ( release date year ) Movie title . Distributor location : Distributor .

Whedon, J. (2015) Avengers 2: Age of Ultron . California: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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MLA Film Citation

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Website Book Journal Movie

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How to cite a film in a bibliography using MLA

The most basic MLA entry for a film citation consists of the movie title, director, production company, and release date. You may also choose to include other contributors, such as the writer(s), performer(s), and producer(s) if they are relevant to your assignment’s discussion. You may also include the film’s original release date if you’re citing a new release or special edition.

Film Title . Directed by First Name Last Name, Production Company, Release Date.

BibMe: The Movie . Directed by John Smith, Columbia Pictures, 2009.

Foreign Language Film with Translated Title:

Begin the film citation entry with the film’s title in italics, followed by a period. If the film is dubbed in English, begin by including the English title, followed by the translated title in square brackets.

BibMe: The Movie [BibMe: La Película ]. Directed by John Smith, Columbia Pictures, 2009.

Cite the director’s name after the movie title by writing “Directed by” with the director’s first and last name in normal order.

Film with Other Contributors:

If relevant, you may also choose to include the names of other key contributors in the author element, including writer(s), performer(s), and/or producer(s). Group different types of personnel together and separate each personnel group by a period. Write these personnel names in normal order – do not reverse the first and last names. Write these additional contributions according to the role of the person or group. For instance, “produced by,” “screenplay by,” or “performance by.” If you can’t describe the role using a phrase with “by,” include the role using a noun or noun phrase. Use commas to separate the name of the person (in normal order) from their role (Larry David, general editor).

BibMe: The Movie . Directed by John Smith, performances by Mike Jones and Jim Jones. Columbia Pictures, 2009.

If you would like to emphasize the contributions of a specific person because you focus on their role or contribution, include their role and name with contributors, not with authors. If you include the author, in the case of film, the director and their name, you style the entry as shown above. However, if you omit the director role and name, you start the film citation as above with the film title, followed by a period, and instead of a director, include the role and name of another contributor. For example, “Performances by Sharon Stone and Meryl Streep. List the film’s distribution company, followed by a comma, the year released, and a period.

BibMe: The Movie . Performances by Sharon Stone and Meryl Streep, Columbia Pictures, 2009.

Film with Alternate Original Release Date:

If the film’s original year of release differs from the year of release for the copy of the film you viewed, include the original year of release after film title, and place the year of release for the copy of the film you viewed after the film’s distribution company at the end of the entry. Usually, when citing a film with an original release date and a new release date, there has been a special update. You may also include details in the version element, such as “Director’s cut” or “Digitally enhanced edition.” Include those details after the original release date.

BibMe: The Movie . 2007. Director’s cut, Columbia, 2009.

Film Viewed on an App or Website:

If you viewed the film on an app or a website, include specific location details if it will help readers locate the specific copy you viewed. Capitalize and italicize the app or site name.

BibMe: The Slide Program . Columbia Pictures, 2009. Netflix app.

BibMe: The Slide Program . Columbia Pictures, 2009. Netflix , www.netflix.com.

If you viewed the film in person in a theater, cite the film without any additional format or location details.

Film Viewed on Physical Media:

If you viewed the film on physical media, such as a DVD, follow the release date with a comma and a disc number, followed by a period. End the entry with “DVD.”

BibMe: The Movie . 2007. Director’s cut, Columbia, 2009, disc 1. DVD.

If there is no disc number, simply include “DVD.”

BibMe: The Movie . 2007. Director’s cut, Columbia, 2009. DVD.

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How to Cite a Movie: MLA, APA, and Chicago Style

• Posted on January 28, 2022

Writing a research paper doesn’t mean limiting your sources to books and articles. You might use a movie, and if you do, you need to know how to cite it properly. Since there are different citation guides , you must follow the directions specific to your paper style.

The most popular formats are MLA style, APA format, and Chicago style. Each style guide has unique, yet very specific guidelines for spacing, punctuation, italics, and more.

Creating a movie citation for a motion picture you’re referencing protects you against plagiarism. When you’re using other people’s ideas or words, you have to credit them in your work. Otherwise, it looks like you’re passing the information off as your own. If you write anything that isn’t an original idea, you need to credit the person who said it first or you are plagiarizing.

Referencing a movie in your paper can take many different forms. You might mention the film in passing. You might compare it to other films or works of literature. You could also dedicate a whole paper to discussing one specific movie and its impact on popular culture.

You can quote lines from films in your paper just as you’d quote a researcher. Put the sentence in quotation marks and include an in-text citation. You’ll find out how to do that when you learn how to cite a movie in MLA, APA, and Chicago Style.

Common Movie Citation Formats

To cite a motion picture, you’ll need some basic information. Having these details on hand will help whether you’re using MLA, APA, or Chicago style for the film citation. All citation guides require information like:

• Title of the movie
• Name of the director
• Production company
• Film distributor
• Year of release

There are certain instances to use each format, so below are citation examples for MLA style, APA style, and Chicago style.

The  Modern Language Association  created MLA style. The handbook has undergone many changes over the years and is now in its ninth edition. It’s updated as technology and research change. The original handbook had information about citing books and papers, yet the modern edition tells you how to cite song lyrics, social media posts, and more.

You’re likely to use MLA style when writing papers for the humanities, such as language arts or cultural studies. Writing a film critique or using movies to comment on society falls under the humanities umbrella, and you are likely to use MLA style for such projects.

MLA Style Movie Citations

Citing a movie in MLA style is very similar to citing other sources. Start with the movie title in italics, then identify the director or directors. You can list a few stars if you mention them in your paper. This level of detail helps readers find the exact citation in your MLA Works Cited page.

Most of the punctuation in a movie citation using MLA format is a comma. This punctuation differs from other MLA citations that use a lot of periods or put information in parenthesis. Here is an example of a movie formatted for an MLA citation:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, performances by Ima Star, Big Name, and Too Famous, Movie Studios, 2020.

It’s a straightforward process with room to specify what version you’re referencing if there are multiple versions of the film. In that case, you would add the version after the director’s name. For example:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, extended version, Movie Studios, 2020.

If you watched the movie on a streaming service, you should indicate that information. Just as when you’re citing journal articles found online with a URL or DOI, the streaming service helps the reader find the exact film.

Most streaming services upload the regular version of the movie, but including this detail erases all doubt.  Netflix  and other streaming services change up their inventory periodically, so cover your bases by including the date you watched the movie. Otherwise, a reader might think you’re making up information because the film isn’t currently available through the service.

Maybe the service censored the line you quoted, and people who own the DVD know the real language. They might think you got the information wrong in your paper. When they go to your reference page, they’ll see where you accessed the movie and understand how your experience could differ. Here is an example of a movie formatted for an MLA citation if it was on a streaming service:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, Movie Studios, 2020. Netflix, 13 May 2021.

You can also cite movies you watched on  YouTube . The format is similar to that of a streaming service, except you include the name of the user who uploaded the film and the specific URL. For example:

Movie. Directed by Bob Action, Movie Studios, 2020. Movie. Directed by Bob Action, performances by Ima Star, Big Name, and Too Famous, Movie Studios, 2020. YouTube, uploaded by Film Appreciation Community, 13 May 2021, http://www.youtube.com/specificvideo .

When you compile your works cited list, you’ll put the movie citation in alphabetical order according to the movie title.

MLA Style In-text Citations

You need to include an in-text citation whenever you mention the film in your paper. If you paraphrase anything from the movie, you need to show the reader what you’re referencing. Text citations are easy to figure out once you have the reference completed for your works cited page.

Use parentheses to signal that you’re citing a source in the body of your paper. After the opening parenthesis, put the movie title in italics. For example:

However, there are other times when you’ll need in-text citations. If you use a direct quote from the movie, close the quotation marks of the passage, and include the text citation before the ending punctuation. This citation will include the title of the movie and the timestamp of when the character speaks the specific line. You still put the movie title in italics inside of the parenthesis. Follow the title with the timestamp and duration of the line using a semicolon to show the time. For example:

(Movie 15:10-35)

If the quote goes beyond one minute, clarify the time range with more details, such as:

(Movie 15:10-16:07)

You can also mention the movie title in your text using general context without needing an in-text citation. For example:

In Movie, the viewer goes on a wild adventure that spans just two hours.

If you mention a specific part of the movie, you’ll need to add an in-text citation with the time stamp. For example:

In Movie, the viewer first visits the graveyard at night (1:03-50).

If the movie title is long, you can shorten it to the first few words, so your in-text citations are concise.

The  American Psychological Association  created the APA style guide. It has detailed parameters for academic and research papers. You use the APA format when working in the social sciences, like psychology, sociology, economics, and related fields.

APA Style Movie Citations

While a movie citation in MLA style is very basic, there is more specific formatting for an APA citation. Instead of starting with the movie title, you list the director starting with the last name, then the first initial. Specify that the person is the director in parentheses. Documentaries would have a producer instead of a director, so you’d use that job title instead.

Next, you put the year the company produced the movie, then the title. In square brackets, specify that it’s a film because TV shows use a similar style, and last is the name of the production company. Here is an example of a movie formatted for an APA citation:

Action, B. (Director). (2020). Movie [Film]. Movie Studios.

You might refer to the special features included on a DVD version of the film, so you’ll add this information to your citation. For example:

Action, B. (Director). (2020). Movie [Film; DVD release]. Movie Studios.

If you watched the film on a streaming service, the citation includes those details as well. For example:

Action, B. (Director). (2020). Movie [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.netflix.com

When you compile your reference list, you’ll put the movie citation in alphabetical order according to the director’s last name.

APA Style In-text Citations

In-text citations for APA format are similar to those of MLA style. As always, you use parentheses to offset the information from the body of your paper and the citation goes inside of the ending punctuation of a sentence.

While MLA uses the movie title, APA calls for the director’s last name and the year of the movie. For example:

(Action, 2020)

If you’re quoting the film or mentioning a specific scene, include the timestamp after the director’s name and year. For example:

(Action, 2020, 0:15:10)

Chicago Style

The University of Chicago created  Chicago Style  for use in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. This format differs from both MLA and APA by having a bibliography instead of works cited or reference pages. Some papers using Chicago Style ask for you to create endnotes as well.

Chicago Style Movie Citations

Chicago Style has two options: author-date or notes-bibliography. Your professor will tell you what to use for a student paper. If you’re writing an article to submit to a journal, the submission guidelines will clarify which format you need to use.

The author-date format is similar to APA citations. You start with the director’s last name, then their first name, then the job title of the director. This detail is to clarify the person’s role in the movie because a documentary would have a producer instead of a director.

Next is the year the production company released the movie, followed by the movie’s title in italics. Check out this citation example to see how similar it is to APA format:

Action, Bob, director. 2020. Movie. Movie Studios.

If you watched the movie online, you would add the streaming service and direct URL to the movie. Here is an example:

Action, Bob, director. 2020. Movie. Netflix. http://www.netflix.com/movieaddress

If you’re using the notes-bibliography style instead of author-date, you need all the same information but the order is different. Here is an example:

Action, Bob, director. Movie. Movie Studios, 2020.

If you watched the movie online through a streaming service, you add that information in slightly different places as well. For example:

Action, Bob, director. Movie. Netflix, 2020. http://www.netflix.com/movieaddress

Chicago Style In-text Citations

The author-date in-text citation format is also similar to APA’s text citation, without a comma. In Chicago Style, an author-date in-text citation example is:

(Action 2020)

If you’re referencing a specific quote or scene, you’d include the timestamp of the duration. Instead of using a dash like in MLA format, you write the word “to.” Here is an example:

(Action 2020 0:15:10 to 0:15:35)

The in-text citations for author-date style are the same whether you watched the movie on DVD or on Netflix. The reader can find that information when they look for the citation in your bibliography.

When you’re using the notes-bibliography style, in-text citations are understandably different. You number the note and include all the information from the bibliography citation for the first note. Later, you can use a shortened note to reference each movie version because you’ve already given the entire information in the first note.

Considerations for Citing Movies

Citing a movie isn’t too different from citing a book across various style guides, but you must pay attention to the details. Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu  changed the TV industry . It’s very simple to access movies and TV series you might not find otherwise.

When you watch movies online, make sure to cite if it came from Netflix or if it’s a YouTube video. While this article focused on movie citations, there are also differences when citing a TV show or podcast.

Easy Ways to Cite a Movie

Once you learn the basic information needed for a citation, it’s relatively simple to follow the specific formats for MLA, APA, or Chicago Style.

Doing large amounts of research can make it hard to focus on your references. Using the  Quetext citation generator  simplifies the process for you. Whether you’re working on an academic paper, a professional article, or checking your students’ work, Quetext helps with the citations while also checking for any sign of plagiarism.

Take out the stress and confusion of punctuation and parentheses, and let Quetext do the work for you.

Sign Up for Quetext Today!

Click below to find a pricing plan that fits your needs.

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How to Cite a Movie in APA Format in Essays

Disclaimer:  This article reflects the 7th edition of the APA movie citation guide (1).

Here’s your short yet actionable guide on how to cite a movie if your assignment requires an APA-style citation.

To cite a film in an in-text citation in APA, write the director’s name (last) and the picture’s year of release.

To cite a movie in the list of references, list the director or multiple directors’ last names and initials. Also, mention their positions and the production company in the publisher section. Write the film title in a sentence case and italicize it, followed by the word “Film” in square brackets.

If the film has several production companies, separate them with a semicolon.

• Example:  Moore, M. (Director). (2002).  Bowling for Columbine  [Film]. United Artists; Alliance Atlantis; Salter Street Films; Dog Eat Dog Films.

How to Quote a Movie in an Essay

When referring to a specific quote, add a timestamp to the in-text citation to state the particular moment of the picture you’re referring to.

• Example of in-text citation with a timestamp:  (Zhao, 2018, 0:34:16)

Referencing a movie title in an essay

When referencing a movie title in an essay using APA, use  italics , not quotation marks.

• Example:   Pirates of the Caribbean  has become one of the most successful box office series.

How to quote a movie line in an essay

To properly cite a movie line in APA, include the author’s name, year, and timestamp of the quote in the film.

• Example:  In  The Godfather  (Coppola, 1972), the character Michael Corleone says, “I’m gonna make him the offer he can’t refuse (00:28:52).

Where to Find Source Information for a Movie Citation?

All the information you need for your video citation is in the film’s end credits or the packaging material if you have its physical release. Also, consider movie databases like IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, TMDB, and others. Corresponding writing tools can help you properly format your citation.

And last but not least:

Please check the Purdue OWL guide (2) to learn how to cite other audiovisual media. (Netflix series, TV episodes, podcasts, music albums, YouTube videos, etc.)

• https://libguides.up.edu/apa/film_video_tv
• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_audiovisual_media.html
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How to Cite a Movie in Text (APA & MLA Citation Formats)

How to cite a movie in text (apa & mla citation formats).

Citing movie sources in academic papers is an essential skill that demonstrates your ability to access credible information and uphold academic integrity. In this article, we will explore how to cite a movie within your paper’s text following the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation formats. We will also address common questions and provide comprehensive answers to help you cite movies effectively.

APA Format:

How do I cite a movie in-text using APA format?

In APA format, the general method to cite a movie in-text involves placing the author’s name or the title of the film in parentheses, followed by the year of release. For example:

– (Spielberg, 1993)

If the movie does not have an identifiable author, you can use the title of the film instead. However, it is recommended to provide the name of the director as the creator, or use the studio as the author if the director is not known:

– (Higgins & Martinez, 2018) – (20th Century Fox, 1999)

How do I cite a specific scene or dialogue from a movie in-text using APA format?

To cite a specific scene or dialogue from a movie, include a timestamp in the format of hours:minutes:seconds, preceded by the abbreviation “Timestamp.” For example:

– (Timestamp: 1:23:15)

In this case, the timestamp refers to one hour, twenty-three minutes, and fifteen seconds into the movie.

MLA Format:

How do I cite a movie in-text using MLA format?

In MLA format, citing a movie in-text requires the title of the film in italics and the director’s last name in parentheses, followed by the appropriate timestamp if needed. For example:

– (Spielberg)

If the director’s name is already mentioned in the text, you can omit it from the parenthetical citation:

– According to Spielberg, “[quote from the movie]” (33).

How do I cite a specific scene or dialogue from a movie in-text using MLA format?

In MLA format, to cite a specific scene or dialogue from a movie, include the timestamp in hours:minutes:seconds format. For example:

– (1:23:15)

What should I do if the movie does not have a release date?

If the movie does not have a release date, you can use n.d. (no date) in both APA and MLA citation formats. For example:

– (Higgins & Martinez, n.d.)

How do I cite a documentary in-text?

Documentaries can be cited similarly to movies in both APA and MLA. Include the creator’s name or the title of the documentary, followed by the year of release. For example:

– (Smith, 2010) – (“The Cove,” 2009)

Properly citing movies in-text is crucial when incorporating information from films into your academic work. APA and MLA provide clear guidelines for referencing movies within an essay or research paper. Remember to cite the author or title and the year of release. For specific scenes or dialogues, providing a timestamp is necessary. By adhering to the respective formatting guidelines for APA and MLA citation styles, you can confidently incorporate movie references into your scholarly writing while acknowledging the creators and maintaining academic integrity.

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How to Cite a Movie in an Essay: MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago

November 16, 2023

It is crucial to cite a movie in an essay to give credit to the original creators and sources of information. Just like any other form of media, movies are considered intellectual property, and their use in academic writing requires proper acknowledgment. Citing a movie not only demonstrates academic integrity but also allows readers to access the referenced material for further research. Additionally, citing movies helps to avoid plagiarism and provides a solid foundation for the arguments and claims presented in the essay. By acknowledging the source, it shows that the writer has conducted thorough research and is presenting information from reliable sources. Citing movies also adds credibility and allows readers to verify the information presented. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the correct methods of citing movies to enhance the overall quality and academic value of the essay.

MLA format for citing a movie in an essay

In MLA format, citing a movie in an essay follows a specific set of guidelines. Here’s how to do it:

• Title of the Movie: Start the citation with the title of the movie, in italics or underlined.
• Director’s Name: Include the full name of the director, followed by a comma.
• Performers’ Names: If relevant, you can include the names of performers in the movie, preceded by the abbreviation “perf.” and followed by a comma.
• Distributor: Add the name of the movie’s distributor, followed by a comma.
• Release Year: Include the release year of the movie, followed by a period.

Example citation in MLA format:

Title of the Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, performances by Performers’ Names, Distributor, Release Year.

For instance:

“The Shawshank Redemption.” Directed by Frank Darabont, performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Warner Bros., 1994.

It is important to note that if you are referring to the movie within the body of your essay, you should include the title of the movie in italics or underlined, and the in-text citation should be placed in parentheses after the movie title with just the last name of the director and the page number, if applicable, like this: (Darabont 46). Remember to also include a corresponding entry in your bibliography or works cited page at the end of your essay.

By following these guidelines, you can accurately and properly cite a movie in your essay using MLA format.

APA format for citing a movie

In APA format, citing a movie in an essay involves a specific format that ensures clarity and consistency. Here’s how to cite a movie in APA style:

• Producer(s) and Director(s): Start with the last name and initials of the producer(s) and director(s), separated by a comma and an ampersand (&).
• Year of Release: Include the year in parentheses immediately following the names of the director(s) and producer(s).
• Title of the Movie: Capitalize the first letter of each significant word in the title, as well as any subtitles. Italicize the title.
• Country of Origin: Provide the country where the movie was produced.
• Production Company: Include the name of the production company that released the movie.

Example citation in APA format:

Director Last Name, Initial(s) (Director), & Producer Last Name, Initial(s). (Year). Title of the Movie [Motion picture]. Country of Origin: Production Company.

Darabont, F. (Director), & Niki, M. (Producer). (1994). The Shawshank Redemption [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros.

Remember to include an in-text citation after mentioning the movie title within the body of your essay. This entails placing the last name of the director and the year of release in parentheses, like this: (Darabont, 1994). In the reference list or bibliography at the end of your essay, ensure you provide a full citation for the movie.

By following these guidelines, you can accurately and properly cite a movie in your essay using APA format.

How to Reference a Movie in Harvard Style

In Harvard referencing style, citing a movie in an essay follows a specific format to ensure consistency and proper attribution. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cite a movie using Harvard style:

• Director(s) and Producer(s): Start with the last name(s) and initials of the director(s) and producer(s), separated by a comma.
• Year of Release: Include the year of release in parentheses immediately after the names.
• [Motion picture]: Include this phrase in square brackets.

Example citation in Harvard format:

Director Last Name, Initial(s), & Producer Last Name, Initial(s). (Year of Release). Title of the Movie [Motion picture]. Country of Origin: Production Company.

Darabont, F., & Niki, M. (1994). The Shawshank Redemption [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros.

When citing a movie within your essay, include the director’s last name and the year of release in parentheses, like this: (Darabont, 1994). Additionally, make sure to list the full citation in your reference list or bibliography at the end of your essay.

By following these guidelines, you can accurately cite a movie in your essay using Harvard format. Don’t forget to consult the official Harvard referencing style guide for any additional specific requirements.

How to Cite a Movie in Chicago/Turabian Format

In Chicago/Turabian format, citing a movie in an essay requires adherence to specific guidelines to ensure accurate referencing. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cite a movie using Chicago/Turabian style:

• Director(s) and Producer(s): Start with the director(s)’s full name, followed by a “dir.” For the producer(s), use “prod.” Include their names in the order they appear in the movie’s credits.
• Title of the Movie: Capitalize the first letter of each significant word in the title, as well as any subtitles. Italicize the title or use quotation marks, depending on the format used in the original source.
• Directed by, Produced by, or Director(s) and Producer(s): Indicate the directors and producers’ roles using appropriate abbreviations.

Example citation in Chicago/Turabian format:

Director(s) Last Name, First Name(s), dir. Producer(s) Last Name, First Name(s), prod. Year of Release. Title of the Movie. Directed by, Produced by, or Director(s) and Producer(s). Country of Origin: Production Company.

For example:

Darabont, Frank, dir. Niki, Mark, prod. 1994. The Shawshank Redemption. Directed by Frank Darabont, Produced by Mark Niki. United States: Warner Bros.

When citing the movie within your essay, include the director’s(s)’s last name and the year of release in parentheses, like this: (Darabont 1994). Additionally, make sure to list the full citation in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your essay.

By following these guidelines, you can accurately cite a movie in your essay using Chicago/Turabian format. However, it’s important to consult the official Chicago/Turabian style guide for any additional specific requirements.

Using in-text citations for movie references

When citing a movie in an essay, it is crucial to use in-text citations to provide proper attribution and support your statements or arguments. Here’s how to incorporate in-text citations for movie references in your essay:

• Direct Quotes: When directly quoting a line or dialogue from a movie, enclose the quote in quotation marks and include the last name of the director and the year of release in parentheses. For example: “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse” (Coppola, 1972).
• Paraphrasing: If you’re paraphrasing a scene or summarizing the movie, mention the director’s last name and the year of release in parentheses at the end of the sentence. For example: The gripping prison escape in “The Shawshank Redemption” (Darabont, 1994) captivated audiences worldwide.
• Referring to a Movie: If you’re referring to a specific movie without including a direct quote or paraphrase, mention the movie’s title in italics and the director’s last name and the year of release in parentheses. For example: The visual effects in “Inception” (Nolan, 2010) were groundbreaking.

Remember to keep your in-text citations concise and clear, providing enough information for readers to locate the full citation in your reference list. Properly citing a movie within your essay not only acknowledges the original source but also adds credibility to your work.

Creating a Reference List for Movies in the Bibliography

When citing a movie in an essay, it is essential to include a comprehensive reference list or bibliography to provide complete details for your sources. Here’s a guide on how to create a reference list for movies in the bibliography using the appropriate format:

• Start the reference list on a new page titled “References” or “Bibliography.”
• Arrange the entries in alphabetical order based on the last name of the movie’s director.
• Include the following information for each movie entry:
• Director(s) and Producer(s): Start with the last name(s) and initial(s) of the director(s) and producer(s). Use a comma to separate multiple directors or producers. End with a period.
• Year of Release: Enclose the year of release in parentheses. End with a period.
• Title of the Movie: Capitalize the first letter of each significant word in the title and any subtitles. Italicize the title.
• Format: Specify the format of the movie, such as “Motion picture” or “Film.”
• Country of Origin: Mention the country where the movie was produced. End with a colon.
• Production Company: Include the name of the production company that released the movie. End with a period.

Example reference list entry for a movie:

Darabont, F. & Niki, M. (1994). The Shawshank Redemption. [Motion picture]. United States: Warner Bros.

Ensure that each entry is formatted consistently throughout the bibliography. If there are multiple movies by the same director, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest release.

By following these guidelines, you can create an accurate and well-organized reference list for movies in the bibliography section of your essay. Remember to consult the appropriate style guide for any specific requirements or variations.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Harvard Referencing / Harvard Referencing Style Examples / How to Reference a Movie in Harvard Referencing Style

How to Reference a Movie in Harvard Referencing Style

This article will help you learn the correct way of citing a film based on the Harvard style of referencing. Specifically, you’ll need to cite your source in two places:

• In your paper via an in-text citation
• In your reference list via a full reference

An in-text citation is when you refer to the source material within the body of your work or text. The reference list is usually placed at the end of your work. It has a full reference for every source that has an in-text citation. The reference list goes beyond the in-text citation and gives a complete list of information about the works you have cited, so that the reader can find and read the original source.

If you are trying to cite a source that was posted on YouTube, you’ll instead need to know how to cite a YouTube video in Harvard style .

Here are some examples of how to reference films in Harvard style:

Film seen at the cinema

To reference a film seen at a cinema, you’ll need the following information:

• Title (in italics)
• Release year (in round brackets)
• Director name
• [Feature film]
• Place of distribution: Distributor

The Help (2011) Directed by Tate Taylor. [Feature film]. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

For the in-text citation, the title of the film is used, followed by the release year separated by a comma, if the film title is not mentioned already. If the title is mentioned in the text, then only the year should be given, in round brackets.

The characters in The Help (2011) reveal…

The film showcases race relations during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi ( The Help , 2011).

Film from a streaming service

If you are referencing a film you viewed via a streaming service, here’s the information you’ll need for your reference:

• Name of the streaming service or DOI
• (Accessed: date)

Changeling (2008) Directed by Clint Eastwood. Available at: Netflix (Accessed: 22 September 2020).

For the in-text citation, the title of the film and date are used, separated by a comma, if the film title is not already mentioned. If it is, then only the date is necessary.

In Changeling (2008), Angelina Jolie plays the character…

Angelina Jolie ( Changeling , 2008) plays the character of a mother whose…

Film from a physical copy (DVD/Blu-ray)

If you want to reference a film you viewed on DVD or Blu-ray, you’ll need the following information:

• [DVD, catalogue number] or [Blu-ray, catalogue number] (in square brackets)

The BFG: Big Friendly Giant (2016) Directed by Steven Spielberg. [Blu-ray, 8042180]. Burbank, CA: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

The in-text citation method is the same as in the previous two examples.

Key takeaways

• The methods for referencing films and videos differ according to the mode of viewing.
• The name of the film and year suffice for in-text citations of films viewed at the cinema, on DVD or through a streaming platform.

Published October 29, 2020.

Harvard Formatting Guide

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (8 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

Several sources have multiple means for citation, especially those that appear in varied formats: films, DVDs, television shows, music, published and unpublished interviews, interviews over e-mail, published and unpublished conference proceedings. The following section discusses these sorts of citations as well as others not covered in the print, periodical, and electronic sources sections.

Use the following format for all sources:

Author. Title. Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI). 2 nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

An Interview

Interviews typically fall into two categories: print or broadcast published and unpublished (personal) interviews, although interviews may also appear in other, similar formats such as in e-mail format or as a Web document.

Personal Interviews

Personal interviews refer to those interviews that you conduct yourself. List the interview by the name of the interviewee. Include the descriptor Personal interview and the date of the interview.

Smith, Jane. Personal interview. 19 May 2014.

Published Interviews (Print or Broadcast)

List the interview by the full name of the interviewee. If the name of the interview is part of a larger work like a book, a television program, or a film series, place the title of the interview in quotation marks and place the title of the larger work in italics. If the interview appears as an independent title, italicize it. For books, include the author or editor name after the book title.

Note: If the interview from which you quote does not feature a title, add the descriptor, Interview by (unformatted) after the interviewee’s name and before the interviewer’s name.

Gaitskill, Mary. Interview with Charles Bock. Mississippi Review , vol. 27, no. 3, 1999, pp. 129-50.

Amis, Kingsley. “Mimic and Moralist.” Interviews with Britain’s Angry Young Men , By Dale Salwak, Borgo P, 1984.

Online-only Published Interviews

List the interview by the name of the interviewee. If the interview has a title, place it in quotation marks. Cite the remainder of the entry as you would other exclusive web content. Place the name of the website in italics, give the publisher name (or sponsor), the publication date, and the URL.

Note: If the interview from which you quote does not feature a title, add the descriptor Interview by (unformatted) after the interviewee’s name and before the interviewer’s name.

Zinkievich, Craig. Interview by Gareth Von Kallenbach. Skewed & Reviewed , 27 Apr. 2009, www.arcgames.com/en/games/star-trek-online/news/detail/1056940-skewed-%2526-reviewed-interviews-craig. Accessed 15 May 2009.

Speeches, Lectures, or Other Oral Presentations (including Conference Presentations)

Start with speaker’s name. Then, give the title of the speech (if any) in quotation marks. Follow with the title of the particular conference or meeting and then the name of the organization. Name the venue and its city (if the name of the city is not listed in the venue’s name). Use the descriptor that appropriately expresses the type of presentation (e.g., Address, Lecture, Reading, Keynote Speech, Guest Lecture, Conference Presentation).

Stein, Bob. “Reading and Writing in the Digital Era.” Discovering Digital Dimensions, Computers and Writing Conference, 23 May 2003, Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. Keynote Address.

Panel Discussions and Question-and-Answer Sessions

The MLA Handbook makes a distinction between the formal, rehearsed portion of a presentation and the informal discussion that often occurs after. To format an entry for a panel discussion or question-and-answer session, treat the panel members or speakers as authors by listing them first. If these people are formally listed as panelists, indicate this by following their names with a comma and the title "panelist(s)." Follow with the title of the discussion, or, if there is no title, a simple description. In the latter case, don't capitalize the description. Follow this with the title of the conference or event. End with the date and the location.

Bavis, Jim and Stein, Tammi, panelists. Panel discussion. Dawn or Doom Conference, 4 Nov. 2018, Stewart Hall, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Treat recorded discussions as instances of the appropriate medium (e.g., if you want to cite a recording of a panel discussion hosted on YouTube, cite it the same way you would cite an ordinary online video ).

Published Conference Proceedings

Cite published conference proceedings like a book. If the date and location of the conference are not part of the published title, add this information after the published proceedings title.

Last Name, First Name, editor. Conference Title , Conference Date and Location, Publisher, Date of Publication.

To cite a presentation from published conference proceedings, begin with the presenter’s name. Place the name of the presentation in quotation marks. Follow with publication information for the conference proceedings.

Last Name, First Name. “Conference Paper Title.” Conference Title that Includes Conference Date and Location , edited by Conference Editor(s), Publisher, Date of Publication.

A Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph

Provide the artist's name, the title of the artwork in italics, and the date of composition. Finally, provide the name of the institution that houses the artwork followed by the location of the institution (if the location is not listed in the name of the institution, e.g. The Art Institute of Chicago).

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid.

If the medium and/or materials (e.g., oil on canvas) are important to the reference, you can include this information at the end of the entry. However, it is not required.

For photographic reproductions of artwork (e.g. images of artwork in a book), treat the book or website as a container. Remember that for a second container, the title is listed first, before the contributors. Cite the bibliographic information as above followed by the information for the source in which the photograph appears, including page or reference numbers (plate, figure, etc.).

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800, Museo del Prado, Madrid. Gardener's Art Through the Ages , 10 th ed., by Richard G. Tansey and Fred S. Kleiner, Harcourt Brace, p. 939.

If you viewed the artwork on the museum's website, treat the name of the website as the container and include the website's publisher and the URL at the end of the citation. Omit publisher information if it is the same as the name of the website. Note the period after the date below, rather than the comma: this is because the date refers to the painting's original creation, rather than to its publication on the website. Thus, MLA format considers it an "optional element."

Goya, Francisco.  The Family of Charles IV . 1800 . Museo del Prado,  museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74.

A Song or Album

Music can be cited multiple ways. Mainly, this depends on the container that you accessed the music from. Generally, citations begin with the artist name. They might also be listed by composers or performers. Otherwise, list composer and performer information after the album title. Put individual song titles in quotation marks. Album names are italicized. Provide the name of the recording manufacturer followed by the publication date.

If information such as record label or name of album is unavailable from your source, do not list that information.

Morris, Rae. “Skin.” Cold, Atlantic Records, 2014. Spotify , open.spotify.com/track/0OPES3Tw5r86O6fudK8gxi.

Online Album

Beyoncé. “Pray You Catch Me.” Lemonade, Parkwood Entertainment, 2016, www.beyonce.com/album/lemonade-visual-album/.

Nirvana. "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Nevermind , Geffen, 1991.

Films or Movies

List films by their title. Include the name of the director, the film studio or distributor, and the release year. If relevant, list performer names after the director's name.

Speed Racer . Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski, performances by Emile Hirsch, Nicholas Elia, Susan Sarandon, Ariel Winter, and John Goodman, Warner Brothers, 2008.

To emphasize specific performers or directors, begin the citation with the name of the desired performer or director, followed by the appropriate title for that person.

Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope . Twentieth Century Fox, 1977.

Television Shows

Recorded Television Episodes

Cite recorded television episodes like films (see above). Begin with the episode name in quotation marks. Follow with the series name in italics. When the title of the collection of recordings is different than the original series (e.g., the show Friends is in DVD release under the title Friends: The Complete Sixth Season), list the title that would help researchers to locate the recording. Give the distributor name followed by the date of distribution.

"The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends: The Complete Sixth Season , written by Andrew Reich and Ted Cohen, directed by Kevin Bright, Warner Brothers, 2004.

Broadcast TV or Radio Program

Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series or program in italics. Also include the network name, call letters of the station followed by the date of broadcast and city.

"The Blessing Way." The X-Files . Fox, WXIA, Atlanta, 19 Jul. 1998.

Netflix, Hulu, Google Play

Generally, when citing a specific episode, follow the format below.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, season 2, episode 21, NBC, 29 Apr. 2010. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/70152031.

An Entire TV Series

When citing the entire series of a TV show, use the following format.

Daniels, Greg and Michael Schur, creators. Parks and Recreation . Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2015.

A Specific Performance or Aspect of a TV Show

If you want to emphasize a particular aspect of the show, include that particular information. For instance, if you are writing about a specific character during a certain episode, include the performer’s name as well as the creator’s.

“94 Meetings.” Parks and Recreation, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, performance by Amy Poehler, season 2, episode 21, Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2010.

If you wish to emphasize a particular character throughout the show’s run time, follow this format.

Poehler, Amy, performer. Parks and Recreation. Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios, 2009-2015.

Begin with the title of the episode in quotation marks. Provide the name of the series in italics. Then follow with MLA format per usual.

“Best of Not My Job Musicians.” Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! from NPR, 4 June 2016, www.npr.org/podcasts/344098539/wait-wait-don-t-tell-me.

Spoken-Word Albums such as Comedy Albums

Treat spoken-word albums the same as musical albums.

Hedberg, Mitch. Strategic Grill Locations . Comedy Central, 2003.

Digital Files (PDFs, MP3s, JPEGs)

Determine the type of work to cite (e.g., article, image, sound recording) and cite appropriately. End the entry with the name of the digital format (e.g., PDF, JPEG file, Microsoft Word file, MP3). If the work does not follow traditional parameters for citation, give the author’s name, the name of the work, the date of creation, and the location.

Beethoven, Ludwig van. Moonlight Sonata . Crownstar, 2006.

Smith, George. “Pax Americana: Strife in a Time of Peace.” 2005. Microsoft Word file.

Council of Writing Program Administrators, National Council of Teachers of English, and National Writing Project. Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing . CWPA, NCTE, and NWP, 2011, wpacouncil.org/files/framework-for-success-postsecondary-writing.pdf.

Bentley, Phyllis. “Yorkshire and the Novelist.” The Kenyon Review , vol. 30, no. 4, 1968, pp. 509-22. JSTOR , www.jstor.org.iii/stable/4334841.

AFS Programs

How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style: Format Examples

When writing academic papers or conducting research in fields such as literature or film studies, it is important to properly cite your sources. This includes citing movies, whether they are streamed online, found on DVD, or viewed in theaters. In this article, we will explore how to cite a movie in MLA style, providing format examples for different scenarios.

First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the MLA style guide follows a specific format for citing movies. The format includes the names of people involved in the production or performance of the film, the title of the movie, relevant timestamps, and other relevant information. By following this format, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and in accordance with the MLA guidelines.

If you are citing a movie that is available on DVD, the format will be slightly different. You will need to include the name of the publisher, production company, or distributor, along with the year of publication or release. For example:

Scorsese, Martin, director. The Departed . Warner Bros., 2006.

If you are citing a movie that you watched online, the format will focus on the title of the movie and the website or streaming service where it can be found. For example:

Johansson, Scarlett, performer. “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.” Film4 , www.film4.com/movies/nosferatu.html.

It is worth noting that if you are citing a specific episode or discussion from a television show or a series of videos, you should include the title of the episode or discussion in quotation marks, followed by the title of the show or series. For example:

“The One with the Prom Video.” Friends , season 2, episode 14, Prime Video, 1995.

When citing multiple works from the same contributor or performer, it is important to use additional information to differentiate between them. This can include timestamps, titles of different works, or other relevant details. For example:

Johansson, Scarlett, performer. “Lost in Translation.” Film4 , www.film4.com/movies/lost-in-translation.html. 35:45-37:20.

How to Cite a Movie in MLA Style

In-text citations.

To cite a movie in the text of your paper, include the title of the film in italics followed by the director’s name. For example, if you are citing the film “Nosferatu” directed by F.W. Murnau, your in-text citation would look like this: (Nosferatu, dir. Murnau).

Citing Movies in Works Cited

When citing movies in the Works Cited section, the format will vary depending on the source. Below are examples of how to cite movies from different formats:

1. DVD/Blu-ray:

Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Publisher, Publication Date.

2. Online Streaming Service:

Title of Movie. Directed by Director’s Name, Performances by Performer’s Name, Service Name, Year of Publication. URL (if applicable).

3. Television Series:

“Episode Title.” Title of TV Series, created by Creator’s Name, performance by Actor’s Name, season X, episode Y, Publisher, Year of Publication.

4. Online Video:

Title of Video. Directed by Director’s Name, Website Name, Publication Date, URL.

For more detailed information and further examples, the Purdue Owl website provides a comprehensive guide on MLA citation formats for movies and other sources related to entertainment.

By following the tips and examples provided in this section, you can cite movies in MLA style with confidence. Whether you’re looking to cite a film, a television series, or an online video, these guidelines will help you express your sources accurately and prevent any plagiarism issues.

Format Examples

If you’re citing a movie in MLA style, the format examples below will help you correctly cite movies in your research or academic papers.

In-Text Citations:

• When referring to the movie in your text, you can include the director’s name and the title of the movie, without any additional information. For instance, you could write: “Scarlett Johansson’s performance in Lost in Translation was remarkable.”
• If you’re discussing specific scenes or sections of the movie, you can include a timestamp to indicate when the scene occurs. For example, “In the film Nosferatu, the vampire is first shown at 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 30 seconds into the movie.”
• For in-text citations of spoken-word recordings or speeches, include the name of the speaker along with a timestamp if necessary. For example, “In her speech at the 9th Womxn’s Rights Conference, Angela Davis discussed the importance of intersectional feminism.”
• When citing multiple works by the same director or performer, include their name in the in-text citation to differentiate between the works. For example, “In Scarlett Johansson’s films, such as Lost in Translation and Jojo Rabbit…”

Works Cited:

When citing a movie in your Works Cited page, the format will depend on the platform or service where you watched or accessed the movie.

• For movies watched on DVD or Blu-ray, use the following format example:
• Last name, First name of the director. Title of the Movie. Studio, Year of Release.
• For example: Anderson, Wes. The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fox Searchlight, 2014.
• For movies watched on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, use the following format example:
• Title of the Movie. Directed by First name Last name, performances by First name Last name, Publisher, Year of Release.
• For example: Lost in Translation. Directed by Sofia Coppola, performances by Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, Focus Features, 2003.
• For movies viewed on websites like YouTube or other online video platforms, use the following format example:
• Title of the Movie. Directed by First name Last name, performances by First name Last name, Name of the Website or Platform, Year of Publication.
• For example: Nosferatu. Directed by F.W. Murnau, performances by Max Schreck and Gustav von Wangenheim, YouTube, 2015.
• For movies or TV shows from a database or library resource, use the following format example:
• Last name, First name of the creator or editor. “Title of the Episode or Segment.” Title of the TV Show or Series, performance by First name Last name, Season Number, Episode Number, Publisher, Year of Release, URL or DOI (if applicable).
• For example: Smith, John. “The Pilot Episode.” The Office, performance by Steve Carell, season 1, episode 1, NBC, 2005.
• For free streaming movies or TV shows, include the name of the streaming service:
• Title of the Movie or TV Show. Directed by First name Last name, performances by First name Last name, Name of the Streaming Service, Year of Release.
• For example: The Crown. Directed by Peter Morgan, performances by Claire Foy and Matt Smith, Netflix, 2016.

These format examples should provide you with the necessary guidance to cite movies properly in MLA style. For more in-depth discussions and specific formatting tips, refer to the MLA Handbook or check out the Purdue OWL website for complete MLA style guides. Remember to always cite your sources accurately and give credit to the directors, performers, and other individuals involved in the creation of the movie.

Prevent Plagiarism

With the rise of digital media and online streaming services like Netflix, it is easier than ever to access movies and other videos. However, just because these sources are digital does not mean you can freely use them without citing them.

When citing a movie in MLA style, you should include the names of the director, performers, production company, and any other relevant contributors. The title of the movie should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines. If the movie is part of a larger work, such as a series or anthology, you should also include the title of the larger work.

In-text citations for movies should include the last name of the director and the timestamp or range of timestamps for the specific scene or quote you are referencing. For example, “In the film Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau, the vampire Count Orlok terrorizes the city (00:08:56-00:12:30).

When citing movies from online sources, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video, you should follow the same basic format for in-text citations and works cited entries. Include the name of the streaming service as the container and provide a URL or other identifier to help readers locate the movie. For example, “In the TV show Stranger Things, created by the Duffer Brothers, Will Byers disappears (Netflix).

If the movie or video is available on a website or database, include the name of the website or database as the container and provide a URL or DOI if available. For example, “In the film Gone with the Wind, directed by Victor Fleming, Scarlett O’Hara struggles to find love amidst the turmoil of the Civil War (IMDb).

Remember, when citing a movie or video, it is not enough to simply mention the name of the film or show in your writing. You must provide citations that allow your readers to locate the specific video you are referencing. This is especially important when citing episodes of television shows or specific scenes in movies.

Plagiarism is a serious offense, and the consequences can be severe. By properly citing your sources, you show respect for the original creators and contribute to the academic and intellectual integrity of your own work. Refer to MLA style guides and consult your instructor or university library for more specific guidelines on citing movies and other sources in your research.

Useful Tips for Citing Movies in MLA Style:

• Italicize and capitalize the movie title according to MLA guidelines.
• Include the names of the director, performers, and other relevant contributors.
• Provide in-text citations with the director’s last name and timestamp or range of timestamps.
• Add the name of the streaming service or website as the container, along with a URL or DOI.
• For movies or videos part of a larger work, include the title of the larger work.
• Consult MLA style guides or your instructor for more specific guidelines on citing movies and videos.

Run a Free Check

Why run a free check.

• Ensure proper formatting: MLA style has specific guidelines for citing movies and videos, including the format of the citations, placement of titles, use of italics, and more. Running a free check can help you verify that your citations are following the correct format.
• Check for errors: Mistakes can easily occur when manually creating citations. Running a free check can help you identify any spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, or missing information in your citations.
• Save time: Running a free check can save you time and effort in manually double-checking all your citations. These tools can quickly analyze your citations and provide feedback on any issues.

How to Run a Free Check

• Find a reliable online service or tool that offers plagiarism checking and citation verification. The Purdue OWL is a widely used and trusted resource.
• Visit the website and navigate to the section or tool that allows you to check citations.
• Copy and paste your citations into the provided text box or upload your document.
• Click on the “Check” or “Submit” button to start the citation analysis.
• Review the results and make any necessary changes to your citations based on the feedback provided.

By running a free check on your citations, you can ensure that you have properly formatted and accurate citations for your movie sources. This will help you avoid any issues with plagiarism and maintain the integrity of your research.

How do I cite a movie in MLA style?

To cite a movie in MLA style, you need to include specific information about the movie in your citation. The basic format for citing a movie in MLA style is as follows: Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Movie.” Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication Date, Location.

Are there different citation formats for different types of movies?

No, the citation format for all types of movies remains the same. However, depending on whether you are citing a DVD, a streaming video, or a movie in a theater, you will need to provide different information in the “Title of Container” section of the citation.

Do I need to include the names of the actors and director in the citation?

No, you do not need to include the names of the actors and director in the citation. However, if their names are relevant to your analysis or discussion, you may mention them in your paper.

Do I need to include the running time of the movie in the citation?

No, you do not need to include the running time of the movie in the citation. The running time is not relevant to the citation, and it is not a required piece of information.

Where can I find more detailed information about citing movies in MLA style?

You can find more detailed information about citing movies in MLA style on the Purdue OWL website. They provide examples and explanations for the different elements of a movie citation, as well as information on how to cite movies in both in-text citations and works cited entries.

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How to cite a movie

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Citing is an essential aspect of any academic writing . When writing about movies and films, you must cite them for reference purposes—wondering how to do so? This article will discuss in details how to cite a movie in different styles. The crucial details you should put into consideration have also been discussed.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 How to Cite a Movie - FAQ
• 2 How To Cite A Movie: Definition
• 3 Citing Movies in Different Formats
• 4 How to Cite a Movie: Finding Source Information
• 5 In a Nutshell

How to Cite a Movie - FAQ

How do you cite a movie in an essay.

You should know how to cite a movie at the end of your essay . To do so, place the movie’s title in quotation marks. Then, place the director’s name using the first name, last name format. Write the year the movie was released and finish with the distributor’s name. The details must follow each other in that order to avoid confusion or contradiction.

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How do so I cite an online movie?

Use the following format for shorter videos and movies. Creator or Author. The Movie Title. Name of the Site you got the Movie. Name of the company that uploaded the Movie. The Date the Movie was Published. Then finish off with the Access Date. Note that the access date is optional but not recommended. Note all these details when learning how to cite a movie.

How do I cite a movie in-text?

With in-text citing, the citation must correspond with the first word of the works cited . When it comes to how to cite a movie in-text, the title must be in italics. If the title has more words and longer, you should shorten it to the first phrase or word. Instead of page numbers, you can add the time range of the section you are referring to or quoting. This is very important when learning how to cite a movie.

How To Cite A Movie: Definition

A citation is a reference. It is referring to the source of information you have mentioned in your research or writing. Learning how to cite a movie is important when researching different movies. Generally, it is essential to cite your references in academic writing. It is crucial and a way of acknowledging the creator’s works that you have consulted in your research.

Citing Movies in Different Formats

When learning how to cite a movie, you don’t have to specify the format you watched it. However, if you are writing about a specific version of the movie, you can indicate its version in the citation. There are several formatting options when it comes to citing a movie. Here are some of them.

How to Cite a Movie in APA

This is how to cite a movie in the APA style: you should start by listing its director(s) in the author section and the production company as the movie’s publisher. In this format, the title is italicized and written in sentence case. It is then followed by the label “Movie” in square brackets. Its in-text citation includes the director’s last name and the year of production. If you refer to a specific scene or quote from the movie, you should introduce a timestamp to direct readers to that scene. This is crucial especially when learning how to cite a movie in APA.

How to Cite a Movie in MLA

How to cite a movie in MLA : you should know the director, the title, the production company, other relevant distributors, and the year of release. If there are several versions of the film, you should indicate the specific version you refer to. Furthermore, how to cite a movie from online streaming services like Netflix, you don’t have to provide additional information. If you watched the movie on a video sharing platform like YouTube or an unofficial website, you should add the website’s name and URL.

MLA Movie Citation Format

An MLA Works Cited entry is created by filling out all the relevant elements. In most cases, this citation starts with the author’s name. However, because movies are created by a group of people, the citation starts with the movie’s title. The name of the director appears next as a contributor. When using this learning how to cite a movie using this format, there are several factors you need to consider. Discussed below are some of them.

Other Contributors

If the information is relevant, you can add other contributors. For example, if your research paper mentions individual performances, you can include the specific actors when citing; if you discuss the movie’s graphics and visuals, you can include the cinematographer in your citing. You must identify the role of every contributor and separate their names with commas. However, if your research paper focuses mainly on one contributor’s work, you can include their name at the start of the citation instead. This is the section where you would normally write the author’s name. This information is key when it comes to how to cite a movie.

If there are several versions of the film, you need to indicate which version you used so that the audience can identify the relevant source. If the version you are using was released later than the original, you could add the year of the original data release. As much as this is optional, it very important when it comes to giving the historical context of your source. It also ensures the accuracy of your research paper. Without indicating the specific version, the reader might refer to the original version, which can differ from the one you are writing about.

How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style

How to cite a movie using this format: start by including any person responsible for the content you are citing, including writers, composers, or performers. When citing, the first contributor’s name should be reversed, with a comma placed after the last name. A period should also be placed after the last name. Note that in this formatting style, the affiliations and titles associated with the author should be omitted. Any suffix, such as the title Sr. or Jr., should appear after the author’s name preceded by a comma. For movies with two or more authors, you should list them in the order they credited in the film. Keep in mind that only the first person’s name should be reversed, while others maintain the normal order. Besides, all names should be separated by a comma.

After you have listed all the authors, italicize the movie title, then follow it with a period. You should also include the medium of a copy of the movie you watched (e.g. Laser Disc, DCD, VHS), along with a period. This is very important when learning how to cite a movie. Furthermore, you should include the text “Directed by” then write a list of every director involved. The director’s name should be written in normal order; avoid listing them in reverse. For movies directed by two or more directors, separate each name by a comma, then include the word “and’ before the last name on the list.

How to Cite a Movie: Finding Source Information

The source information you need for your movie citation is mostly found in the movie’s end credits. It can also be found on the packaging for a physical release. Alternatively, you can check on the IMDb. More information about the production company can be found further down the page, under the subtitle “Company Credits.” This vital when learning how to cite a movie.

In a Nutshell

• There are different types of formats when it comes to citing movies.
• Some of the most common movie citing styles include APA, MLA and Chicago Style .
• When citing a movie, you need to know its director, production company, the year of release, among other essential details discussed in the article.

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• How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style | Format & Examples

How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style | Format & Examples

Published on May 24, 2021 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on December 5, 2022.

Chicago Reference Generator

In Chicago notes and bibliography style , a bibliography entry for a movie viewed online (e.g., on a streaming platform like Netflix) lists the director as the author, with the label “director” after their name. State the length of the movie in hours and minutes, and include a URL at the end.

In a note, start with the movie title, followed by the director’s name. You can point the reader to a specific scene or moment in the film using timestamps.

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Table of contents

Citing a movie viewed in a physical format, information about other contributors, citing movies in chicago author-date style, frequently asked questions about chicago style citations.

When you viewed the film in a physical format (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray), include information about the format in your note and bibliography entry.

If the physical release is from a different year to the original theatrical release, list the original year first, before the production company or distributor.

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Depending on the nature of your citation, you may want to include information about contributors other than the director. For example, you could mention an actor whose performance you discuss, the writer if you closely analyze dialogue, and so on.

All of this information is optional according to this citation style ; include only information relevant to your discussion.

In Chicago author-date style , you cite films using in-text citations in parentheses , consisting of the director’s last name, the year, and a timestamp if relevant. Use a comma to separate the year and timestamp.

The reference list entry follows the same format as a bibliography entry, except that the year appears before the movie title.

Author-date movie citation examples

• Viewed online
• Viewed in a physical format
• With additional contributors

The director should always be listed in the author position in a Chicago film citation , followed by the label “director.” Other contributors to the film (actors, cinematographers, writers, composers, producers, etc.) may be listed after the film title, e.g., “Featuring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Cinematography by Jarin Blaschke.”

Only the contributors relevant to your discussion of the film should be added. You might mention actors whose performances are discussed in detail, or the composer if the use of music in the film is examined. It’s also fine to mention no contributors other than the director, if none are relevant to your discussion.

In Chicago style , when a source does not include page numbers but you still want to point the reader to a specific point within it, an alternative locator should be used in your Chicago footnote or Chicago in-text citation . With audiovisual sources (e.g., films , videos , podcasts, songs), this is a timestamp, e.g. 1:15:28.

Webpages are usually short enough that no specific locator is needed. However, for a particularly long web page, you can use a subheading from the page, in quotation marks , e.g., “Citing Sources with Notes.”

Note that page numbers should be left out of newspaper citations , even when they are available. This is because page numbers can vary between different editions of a newspaper.

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

In Chicago notes and bibliography style , the usual standard is to use a full note for the first citation of each source, and short notes for any subsequent citations of the same source.

However, your institution’s guidelines may differ from the standard rule. In some fields, you’re required to use a full note every time, whereas in some other fields you can use short notes every time, as long as all sources are listed in your bibliography . If you’re not sure, check with your instructor.

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Caulfield, J. (2022, December 05). How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/chicago-style/film-citations/

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Guest Essay

How ‘Past Lives’ Changed My Mind About My Relationship

By Euny Hong

Ms. Hong is a cultural critic.

My most stressful moviegoing experience last year was not the mushroom cloud in “Oppenheimer” or the murder trial scenes in “Anatomy of a Fall,” but watching the story of a love triangle among a Korean American woman, a Korean guy and a white guy in the Oscar-nominated “Past Lives.” In the film, Nora, our 30-something heroine, and Arthur, her white husband, are living happily in New York when Nora is contacted by Hae Sung, her childhood sweetheart in South Korea, with whom she had reconnected online as a young adult.

He tells her he’s planning to visit the city. When he arrives, it’s clear he still has feelings for her. Given this situation, I knew at least one person would be very upset by the end of the movie. For most of the film, I felt that person was going to be me.

On the one hand, as a Korean woman, I really wanted Nora to pick the Korean guy. As Arthur says to Nora, “If this was a story someone was telling, I’d be the evil white American husband keeping you two apart!” Every Asian American woman is aware of a longstanding Hollywood trope: The white male savior who sweeps in to save an “exotic” Asian woman, a scenario that goes back at least as far as Anna May Wong’s roles in the 1920s.

The maddening corollary to the white savior trope is that the Asian guy never gets the girl. I still recall the incredulity my friends and I felt coming out of a theater in 1998 having just watched “The Replacement Killers,” a movie in which the dreamy Chow Yun-fat saves the gorgeous Mira Sorvino, yet it doesn’t even occur to them to hook up.

On the other hand, I was having these thoughts while watching “Past Lives” in a movie theater sitting next to my boyfriend, who is white.

As an Asian woman living in the West, I learned long ago that every dating choice I make becomes a referendum: on race, on feminism — you know, just some of the most explosive issues of our day. If you happen to be dating a white guy, well, your relationship feels as if it’s being policed by loved ones and strangers alike. Some of them will accuse you of being psychologically damaged or of plotting to extinguish your people. You may even internalize some of these beliefs.

Before I was old enough to know how babies were made, I was taught by my whole extended family that marrying a white guy would damn my descendants and that an Asian couple was the correct, harmonious order of things. (It also made for a tidier Christmas card photo, or so I was told.)

The first time I watched “Past Lives,” I had this kind of policing in mind. I was fixated on Hollywood’s historical depictions of Asian women and recalling how the very first time I ever saw two Asian characters kissing in a Hollywood film wasn’t until 2018, with “Crazy Rich Asians.” (I think I audibly gasped.)

Of course I hoped for Nora to get together with Hae Sung: I could view the love triangle story line only through a lens that presumed that one outcome was necessarily good while the other was necessarily bad. I dutifully rooted for the good one, although it contradicted my real-life experience, as personified by the man sitting in the theater next to me.

But when I rewatched the film, which is up for best picture on Sunday, I realized it’s a smarter movie than that and truer to life as well. The broad premise of “Past Lives” may be “who will she choose?” but the reason it’s an affecting experience is not that it’s concerned with abolishing tropes or righting representational wrongs. Instead, it’s a story about three good people, trying to do right by one another, fumbling and faltering but finding their way through.

For Nora, the only fitting choice in the end is her husband, Arthur, not because he is (or isn’t) white but because he is the right choice for her. To run off with Hae Sung — whether he’s Asian or not — would not have made any sense, given what we learn about her character and relationship. Reflexively rooting for that to happen made no sense for me, either.

I have my own “Past Lives” moment, sort of. I first met my boyfriend in 1996 at a party thrown by mutual friends from college. We went on one horrible date — I take responsibility; being dense, I didn’t realize it was a date and kept whining about some clown who had just dumped me — and both decided we wanted nothing more to do with each other. Unexpectedly, 26 years later, in late 2022, I had to interview him in my role as a journalist. Reacquainted, we hit it off.

Why did things click this time and not previously? As Heraclitus wrote, you can’t step in the same river twice. To me, that’s the real lesson of “Past Lives”: We have to move forward, not back. As Nora ends up saying to Hae Sung, referring to her Korean name, Na Young, and her new home, New York: “The Na Young you remember doesn’t exist here.” When she chooses to stay with Arthur, she explains it by saying, “This is where I ended up.”

It might sound like a blowoff, but, in the film, it’s a deep and moving declaration of commitment. It’s also a moment that felt deeply authentic to me. The first time I watched the film, I worried that someone’s feelings would be crushed, maybe mine. But when I left the theater with my boyfriend, I didn’t feel heartbroken at all.

Euny Hong is a cultural critic.

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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Ex-Michael Cohen attorney who used AI in court docs made ‘embarrassing’ mistake: judge

A Manhattan judge Wednesday blasted Michael Cohen’s former lawyer for his “embarrassing” and “negligent” flub after the attorney accidentally included fake cases generated by AI in court papers.

In a blistering ruling, Manhattan federal Judge Jesse Furman opted not to sanction Cohen or his then-attorney David Schwartz for the blunder, finding that while Schwartz displayed “extreme carelessness,” he’d made an honest mistake.

“His citation to non-existent cases is embarrassing and certainly negligent, perhaps even grossly negligent,” Furman wrote. “But the Court cannot find that it was done in bad faith.”

Cohen — Donald Trump’s former “fixer” and lawyer — admitted that he mistakenly gave non-existent cases taken from artificial intelligence service Google Bard to Schwartz, who then submitted them to the court.

Schwartz no longer represents Cohen, his attorney, retired judge Barry Kamins, told The Post Wednesday, adding: “We are gratified that the court viewed the mistake as one that was not made in bad faith by Mr. Schwartz.”

Schwartz declined to comment, saying “the substance of the decision speaks for itself.”

The snafu happened as Schwartz and Cohen made a bid to wrap up Cohen’s supervised release following his guilty plea on charges of tax evasion and  violating campaign finance law in 2018.

Cohen admitted to those offenses and to lying to banks and Congress in part for the “hush money” payments he said he made on Trump’s behalf to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels and to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal.

The judge denied the motion for Cohen’s early dismissal from supervised release, finding that Cohen must have perjured himself after he took the stand at Trump’s Manhattan civil fraud trial and admitted to lying when he took the guilty plea for tax evasion.

“It gives rise to two possibilities: one, Cohen committed perjury when he pleaded guilty before Judge [William] Pauley or, two, Cohen committed perjury in his October 2023 testimony,” Furman wrote.

Schwartz had attempted to use Cohen’s testimony to bolster the case for his early release, claiming it showed his willingness “to provide truthful accounts of his experience.”

Schwartz also said it showed his “exceptional level of remorse and a commitment to upholding the law.”

Furman said in light of Cohen’s admission to perjury it was “perverse” of Schwartz to try to spin it as a “commitment to upholding the law.”

Cohen’s lawyer Danya Perry called Furman’s decision an “important win” for Cohen, apparently referring to the fact that the judge didn’t issue sanctions.

But Perry said “we take exception” with Furman’s inference that Cohen perjured himself, adding that it’s not uncommon for defendants to take guilty pleas for crimes they didn’t commit because of “coercive plea deals under severe pressure.”

“That is exactly what happened to Mr. Cohen.”

Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba lauded Furman’s decision for confirming “what we already know: that Michael Cohen committed perjury and should be prosecuted.”

The real estate tycoon’s legal team has maintained that Cohen’s testimony against their client can’t be trusted since Cohen’s an alleged liar and a convicted felon.

A spokesman in the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office — which prosecuted Cohen — declined to comment.

Behind the scenes, Biden has grown angry and anxious about re-election effort

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden was seething.

In a private meeting at the White House in January, allies of the president had just told him that his poll numbers in Michigan and Georgia had dropped over his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas. 

Both are battleground states he narrowly won four years ago, and he can’t afford any backsliding if he is to once again defeat Donald Trump. He began to shout and swear, a lawmaker familiar with the meeting said. 

He believed he had been doing what was right, despite the political fallout, he told the group, according to the lawmaker.

Asked about the episode, Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said: “President Biden makes national security decisions based on the country’s national security needs alone — no other factor.”

For months, Democrats have watched the 2024 campaign unfold with rising alarm as the sitting president struggles to gain ground against his defeated predecessor. Frustrations rippling through the party have reached the top, with Biden at times second-guessing travel decisions and communications strategies that have left much of the electorate clueless about his record, interviews with nearly 20 lawmakers, present and past administration officials and Biden allies show.

The starting gun for the general election campaign fired last week as Biden wrapped up the Democratic nomination. Yet he is still searching for ways to impress upon voters that he deserves a second term by dint of policy achievements that eluded past presidents.

History suggests it will be tough for him to recover. Biden’s 38% approval rating at this stage in the calendar is lower than that of the last three presidents who went on to lose re-election: Trump (48%), George H.W. Bush (39%) and Jimmy Carter (43%), according to Gallup survey data.

Biden has long believed that he isn’t getting sufficient credit for an economy that has created 15 million new jobs. Looking to reach distracted voters who may be tuning in, he told his speechwriters before the State of the Union address to tone down some of the lofty rhetoric and plainly lay out what he’s done, a person familiar with speech preparations said.

During internal discussions, he’ll press aides about which parts of his record to highlight in different states, said a second person who is familiar with the matter.

Surrounded by protective aides who want to minimize the chances of a flub, the 81-year-old president has chafed at restraints that he sees as counter to his natural instincts as a retail politician, a third person familiar with internal discussions said.

He has felt cocooned at times and has been eager to get out more, meet voters face-to-face and take the fight directly to Trump, said the third person and a fourth also familiar with the matter who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss campaign strategy and the president’s private views.

There are signs that some within his party are also losing patience with him.

“Biden stood up in front of the whole world and said, ‘I’m ready. I’m the guy who can take down Donald Trump,’” said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. “So, he goddamn well better do it. We don’t have time for him to be worried about whether or not people are saying things right or the poll numbers are where they should be. I want focused energy and not defensive anger.”

Eminently beatable 

Biden has on occasion directed his ire at his tightknit senior staff. Given the successes he has had in passing consequential bills and improving the economy, Biden was irritated that his message wasn’t sinking in with the broader electorate, the sources said.

Eight months before the election, Biden’s campaign team remains confident about his chances.

A memo that campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez sent out in December suggests that it was always the plan for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to start “ramping up” campaign travel early this year — something that is now happening.

Since the State of the Union speech, Biden has traveled to Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. He’ll be heading to Nevada and Arizona early this week.

“The president and his advisers have all been eager for him to be out there more and planned for that to take place at the start of the election year, as has been the norm for past incumbents seeking re-election,” the second person familiar with the matter said.

Biden aides see Trump as an eminently beatable and deeply flawed opponent. In a recent campaign call with reporters, Jen O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chairwoman, said Trump appears to have little interest in attracting voters beyond his most faithful base.

“We know that he lost in 2020,” she said. “In order to win, he’s got to expand his base of voters to find new people to be with him. And that is not something he’s shown that he’s really focused on.”

‘A little mad at himself’

At times, Biden gets suggestions that conflict with one another. Some advisers have told him he should walk faster out of concern that his gait feeds impressions that he’s too old. And yet the White House is sufficiently worried about him tripping that he has taken to boarding Air Force One via a shorter staircase through the belly of the plane , forgoing the iconic image of the president waving from the main doorway high above the tarmac.

“He’s probably a little mad at himself for not being more forceful with the staff,” a person familiar with internal discussions said.

Privately, Biden questions whether he should trust his gut instincts over the guidance coming from the array of advisers tending to his political interests, this person added.

“The man’s been successful for decades in Congress and became vice president and president,” said a fifth person, who formerly served in the Biden administration. “If you try to change the person, you’re making a mistake. Let the president go out there and do his thing.”

‘A failure of communication’

A consensus of Democratic officials is that Biden needs an army of surrogates to spread the word that his record has improved American lives in concrete ways. He can’t carry the message alone. 

Andre Dickens, the Democratic mayor of Atlanta, said that Trump’s bluster tends to soak up the attention, but Biden’s record is actually making city streets safer. He cited spending bills that enabled his city to pay retention bonuses to police officers and underwrite youth programs that help to curb crime.

“Coming after a blowhard like Trump who tells you every day what he hates and what he likes, Biden is … soft and calm and getting the work done,” Dickens said.

Letting voters know is “the job of the mayor and county leaders who have benefited from the Biden administration’s policies,” he added.

Simplicity might be Biden’s most promising approach, some of his allies said. Package his record as part of an American renaissance — a success story that is putting money into peoples’ pockets, they suggested.

Mary Landrieu is a former Democratic senator from Louisiana and a Biden supporter. Asked about Biden’s inability to get credit for legislation meant to revive American high-tech manufacturing and upgrade the country’s roads and bridges, she said: “I think it’s actually a bit of a failure of communication on the part of the White House.”

Nearly $4 billion in clean energy projects are underway in Louisiana under a bill that Biden ushered into law called the Inflation Reduction Act, a title that doesn’t capture the measure’s real purpose.

“There’s a real story to tell,” Landrieu said. “It’s a winning message and it’s about jobs, prosperity and evolution. If that message can be communicated, I think the American people will respond.”

Peter Nicholas is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.