MLA Citation
MLA 9th Edition Guide
film

How to Cite a Film or TV Episode in MLA 9.

MLA 9 treats the director as the primary author for films. For TV episodes, the episode title is the source and the show title is the container. Here is the format for both.

Updated January 15, 2024

MLA 9 film citation format

Film Title. Directed by First Last, Studio, Year.

Example:

Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, CJ Entertainment, 2019.


Film with additional contributors

Schindler’s List. Directed by Steven Spielberg, performances by Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley, Universal Pictures, 1993.


TV episode citation

“Episode Title.” Show Title, directed by First Last, season #, episode #, Network, Day Month Year.

Example:

“The Rains of Castamere.” Game of Thrones, directed by David Nutter, season 3, episode 9, HBO, 2 June 2013.


Streaming version

Add the platform as an additional container at the end:

Parasite. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, CJ Entertainment, 2019. Netflix, www.netflix.com/title/81230525.


Key rules

  • Film title — always italicised
  • Director — listed as “Directed by First Last”
  • Studio — the production/distribution company
  • Year — release year

In-text citation

(Parasite) or (Parasite 01:12:34) if referencing a specific timestamp

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