MLA Style (9th Edition) Citation Guide: Videos/DVDs/TV Shows

Movie/Film: On DVD or Viewed in Theater

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: For your Works Cited list, all citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent.

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

Who to Credit?

DVD or Film

Many people can be involved in the production of a video and not all need to be listed in the citation. Typically the director, producer and/or writer are the names that are used. 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.

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.

Format the start and end times of relevant sections as

Two-digit hour:Two-digit minutes:Two-digit seconds

For example:

01:15:15-01:20:03

00:03:30-00:04:16

Title of Movie. Contributor(s). Publisher/Production Company, Year of Release. 

Works Cited List Example:

The Usual Suspects. Directed by Bryan Singer, performances by Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, and Benicio Del Toro. Polygram, 1995. 

In-Text Citation Example:

(Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

(The Usual Suspects 01:15:15-01:20:03)

 Note: Cite the relevant hour, minute and seconds as displayed in your media player.

"Title of Video." Title of the Hosting Website, uploaded by First Name Last Name of video creator or Username of Creator, Day Month Year of Publication, URL of video. Accessed Day Month Year video was viewed.

Include as much descriptive information as necessary to help readers understand the type and nature of the source you are citing. If the author’s name is the same as the uploader, only cite the author once. If the author is different from the uploader, cite the author’s name before the title.

Works Cited List Example:

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

In-Text Citation Example:

("Shortened Version of Title" Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

("8 Hot Dog Gadgets" 00:03:30-00:04:16)

Movie Title. Contributor(s), Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service, URL.

Note: It isn’t always necessary to include the director and performer’s name(s). Include the names of any individuals who the research focuses on or names of individuals to help the reader locate the exact source themselves. It is acceptable to include producers, writers, creators, narrators, and other positions.

Works Cited List Example:

Coraline. Directed by Henry Selick, screenplay by Henry Selick and Neil Gaiman, Laika, 2009. Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/title/70105599.

In-Text Citation Example:

(Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

(Coraline 00:24:00-00:26:10) 

Movie Title. Contributor(s), Production Company, Year of Release. Streaming Service, URL.

Example:

Looking for Infinity: El Camino. Directed by Aaron Leaman. ACL Creative Studio, 2017. Kanopy, up.kanopy.com/video/looking-infinity-el-camino-0.

In-Text Quote:

(Shortened Title of Movie Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

(Looking for Infinity 00:29:01-00:29:45)

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series, Contributors Name(s), season, episode, Production Company, Year of Release.

Example:

"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.

In-Text Quote:

 ("Title of Episode" Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Sectionr)

Example: ("The One Where Chandler Can't Cry" 00:15:00-00:17:22)

Television Series Episode Viewed on a Subscription Media Website 

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series, Contributors Name(s), season, episode, Production Company, Year of Release. Name of Streaming Service, URL.

Note: Typically films, television episodes, and other performances have many contributors. After the movie title, list the contributors most relevant to your project after the move title. Most common contributors listed include directors, creators, and performers.  

Note: Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list if available.

Works Cited List Example:

"The Gathering." Outlander, developed by Ronald D. Moore, performances by Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, season 1, episode 4, Left Bank Picture/Sony Pictures Television Production, 2014. Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/80103586?trackId=13752289.

In-Text Citation Example:

("Title of Episode" Start Time of Relevant Section-End Time of Section)

("The Gathering" 00:05:34-00:05:56)