How to Cite a Movie in APA Style: A Quick Guide

Understanding the Basics

When you reference a film in an APA‑formatted paper, you must provide enough information for readers to locate the source. The American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition outlines a clear structure for audiovisual works, ensuring consistency across academic writing.

Core Elements of an APA Movie Citation

The reference entry for a movie typically includes the following components, in this order:

• Producer(s) & Director(s) – List the producer(s) first, followed by the director(s), separated by a comma and the abbreviation “(Producer),” “(Director).”
• Year of Release – Enclosed in parentheses, followed by a period.
• Title of the film – Italicized and sentence‑case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized).
• Film format – Indicate the medium, e.g., Film or DVD.
• Production Company – The studio or distributor that released the movie.

Reference List Example

Below is a standard reference entry for a theatrical release:

Example: Smith, J. (Producer), & Doe, A. (Director). (2020). The Great Adventure [Film]. Paramount Pictures.

For a movie accessed through a streaming service, add the URL after the production company:

Example: Lee, K. (Producer), & Patel, R. (Director). (2018). Midnight Journey [Film]. Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/watch/12345678

In‑Text Citation Guidelines

In the body of your paper, cite the film by the director’s last name and the release year:

Parenthetical citation: (Doe, 2020)

Narrative citation: Doe (2020) explores themes of resilience in The Great Adventure.

Special Cases to Consider

Multiple directors or producers: List up to three names; for more, use the first name followed by “et al.”

Documentaries or short films: Include the format descriptor, such as Documentary film or Short film, in square brackets.

Re‑released or restored versions: Add the original release year, then the re‑release year separated by a slash, e.g., (1995/2022).

Quick Checklist

• Italicize the movie title.
• Include the correct medium in brackets.
• Provide the production company and, if applicable, the retrieval URL.
• Use the director’s last name and year for in‑text citations.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your film citations meet APA standards, enhancing the credibility and professionalism of your academic work.

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