MLA: Videos, Movies & Shows
Citation Generators - A Warning!
There are several free online citation generators that will make your Works Cited or Reference pages for you. Beware that these do not always format your sources correctly (there is a reason they are free). If you choose to use one of these tools, use the tabs at the top of the screen to check that they are correct before submitting your assignment. You don't want to lose points on your assignment because the AI generators were wrong!
How to Cite Videos, Movies & Shows in MLA
You can use this format for video sites, such as YouTube, Vimeo or TED Talks.
There are a couple of things to look for before you create your citations for online videos, especially YouTube videos.
- Who CREATED the video
- Who UPLOADED the video
The person who created the video is listed as the author. If the creator is not clear, then we leave that out. But how can you tell the creator vs the uploader? Is it a professional account? Does the video looks like it is reposted from somewhere else? Maybe you've seen that same cat video posted by a few different accounts?
- List the video title as its shown on the video page. The title will be in "quotes."
- You'll need the date the video was posted.
- You may have to hit more to see the upload date (see screenshots below)
- Note how dates are formatted - day, month, year.
- Note where periods and commas separate pieces of information.
Works Cited
If you know the creator:
Creator. "Title of video." Name of Website, Date video uploaded, link (hyperlink removed).
Beyoncé. “Beyoncé – Pretty Hurts (Video).” YouTube, 24 Apr. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w.
Allende, Isabel. “Tales of Passion.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, Jan. 2008, www.ted.com/talks/isabel_allende_tells_tales_of_passion/ transcript?language=en.
If you don't know the creator:
"Title of video." Name of Website, Uploaded by name, Date video uploaded, link (hyperlink removed).
"Laugh Uncontrollably! Best Funny Cat Videos 2024." YouTube, Uploaded by Funny and Cute Cat's Life, 24 May 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-qICNPkK4Y.
To find the upload date on YouTube, hit more, found on the left side of the gray box in the example below.
After you hit more, the date changes from 10 years ago to the specific date.
In-Text Citations
If creator is known
(Beyoncé)
(Allende)
If creator is unknown, use a shortened form of the title. The title will be italicized.
(Laugh Uncontrollably)
Works Cited
- The name of the film is italicized.
- Name of the director and the production studio.
- Year the movie was released.
- If you viewed the movie on a streaming service, you should include the name of the service, which is italicized.
- If you watched it on a streaming app, you would say Service name app.
- If you watched it on a streaming service website you will list the Service name followed by their website.
- Note where periods and commas separate pieces of information.
If you don't know the director, studio or year you can find this information online (Google, IMDB, or on streaming service platforms).
Movie Title. Directed by Director Name, Studio Name, year. Streaming Service (if needed).
Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Directed by Ryan Johnson, Walt Disney Studios, 2017. Disney+ app.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Directed by Ryan Johnson, Walt Disney Studios, 2017. Netflix, www.netflix.com.
In-Text Citation
Use the name of the film, italicized. Shorten the name of the film if it's more than a few words.
(Star Wars)
Works Cited
- Start with the name of the episode in "quotes."
- If the series doesn't have an episode name, you'll skip this.
- The name of the series is italicized.
- Season and episode numbers.
- Name of the production studio.
- Date the episode was released.
- If you viewed the show on a streaming service, you should include the name of the service, which is italicized.
- If you watched it on a streaming app, you would say Service name app.
- If you watched it on a streaming service website you will list the Service name followed by their website.
- Note where periods and commas separate pieces of information.
If you don't know the episode details, you can find this information online (Google, IMDB, or on streaming service platforms).
"Episode Name." Series Name, season x, episode x, Studio Name, date released or aired. Streaming Service (if needed).
"No Man's Land." Grey's Anatomy, season 1, episode 4, Shondaland, 24 Apr. 2005. Netflix app.
Show without an episode title:
Saturday Night Live. Hosted by Sandra Oh, season 44, episode 16, NBC, 30 Mar. 2019.
In-Text Citations
If there is an episode name, use the name and keep it in "quotes."
("No Man's Land")
If there is no episode name, use the series name, italicized. Shorten the title if it's more than a few words.
(Saturday Night Live)
More on Citations
MLA Month Abbreviations
You will abbreviate most months on your Works Cited. When you use the abbreviation, be sure to include the period.
January ----- Jan.
February ----- Feb.
March ----- Mar.
April ----- Apr.
May ----- May
June ----- June
July ----- July
August ----- Aug.
September ---- Sept.
October ----- Oct.
November ----- Nov.
December ----- Dec.
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