How to Cite a Movie in APA 7

Lights, camera, action! Movies (or films, if you’re feeling fancy) are among the most frequently-cited references in academic writing. From undergraduate papers to doctoral dissertations, movies are often the subject of analysis and critique, as well as powerful visual illustrations of theoretical concepts brought to life on screen. Whether you are writing about horror or romantic comedies, comic book franchises or high-concept art, movies are a critical aspect of the cultural conversation.

Like all sources, movies must be cited when referenced in an academic work. Whether you are mentioning the movie, paraphrasing the plot, or directly quoting from the script, it is vital to thoroughly cite the source material. This means including your reference in an in-text citation as well as including an entry for the movie on your works cited page. Accurate citation is a bedrock foundation of academic writing, so don’t skip this step!

When thinking about citing a movie, it is important to consider the citation style that you will be using. If you are writing a paper, thesis, capstone, or dissertation in a discipline within the sciences, education, or the behavioral sciences, you will likely be using APA style, whose official style guide is produced by the American Psychological Association. Check with your professor to clarify which style to use for your citations. 

These are a few frequently asked questions about how to cite a movie in APA style: 

• How do I cite a movie in APA?
• What relevant information is included in a movie citation?
• Why do movies get cited?
• How do I know what to cite? 

Citing a Movie in APA

Movie citations in APA follow a very basic format, one that contains all of the relevant information about the movie. In the latest edition of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2019), guidance for citing movies can be found under “audiovisual media.” This is an umbrella term that covers everything from films and videos (movies) to TV series’, single episodes, albums, songs, YouTube videos, podcasts, artwork, photography, and more. 

This is the format for citing a movie in APA: 

Director. (Director). (Release date). Title [Film]. Production company. 

For the movie Jungle Cruise, the APA citation on the reference page would look like this: 

Collet-Serra, Jaume. (Director). (2021) Jungle Cruise [Film]. Disney. 

The information needed for an in-text citation consists of the director’s last name and the year the movie was released. As with all movies, television shows, and books, APA requires titles to be italicized. 

Example:

During a pivotal scene in Disney’s Jungle Cruise (Collet-Serra, 2021), the dialogue alludes to this kind of enterprise using a post-colonial lens.

In the event that a specific scene is being discussed, APA style also requires the use of a time-stamp. The in-text citation with the time-stamp looks like this: (Collet-Serra, 2021, 1:22:31). 

Another variation for movie citations is for movies released in a language other than English, which APA designates as “Film or Video in Another Language.” This requires the addition of the italicized original title of the movie as well as the translated title. 

Example:

Vinterberg, Thomas. (Director). (2020). Druk. [Another Round] [Film]. Zentropa 

Productions. 

What Information is Relevant in a Movie Citation?

The most relevant information for a movie citation is the director’s name, the name of the movie, and the year it was released. While earlier editions of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association asked for more information, like the names of the stars or the producers, the newest version of the APA manual pares movie citations down to essential information. 

By simplifying the citation process, APA made both citing movies and also finding them clear and straightforward. As with all citations, the purpose of citing a movie on a reference page is to make it as easy as possible for the reader to find your source and track it down to verify the information you’ve presented. In that way, movie citations are no different than book or article citations. 

Why Do Movies Get Cited? 

It is important to learn how to cite a movie in APA because the quality of academic writing is measured, in part, by the presence of full and complete citations. There is a prescribed method for citing every type of source in APA, and every academic writer should have a working knowledge of how to cite their sources. Once you get the hang of it, citing a movie in APA is just as easy as citing a book, journal article, or any other source. 

As an academic, I really like APA because it is one of the most instinctive citation styles and the formats for citing sources make sense. I was unfamiliar with APA until I started my career as a professor on a STEM campus, but now it’s my favorite style. I often have students who are apprehensive about using APA, but the more time you spend with it, the easier it will be. 

Knowing What to Cite

That’s easy–cite everything! The goal of citation is to acknowledge the research done by others when sharing their ideas and using them to make a case for your own. Any time you directly quote, paraphrase, or even allude to someone else’s work, you need to cite them. In addition to giving credit where it’s due, comprehensive citation of your sources will also safeguard you from plagiarism. In my experience as a professor, the vast majority of plagiarism I have seen has been unintentional, and it can be avoided altogether with good citation practices. 

Like so many other parts of the research and writing process, becoming good at citation is a matter of habit. Train yourself to become a thorough scholar by keeping track of every source that you use for a project: journals, movies, podcasts, books, etc. In my own research, I keep a running list of everything I read for a project, whether I end up using all of them or not. That way, I never lose track of my sources and putting together my references is quick and painless.