How to Reference a Movie in APA
In academic writing, it is essential to provide proper citations to give credit to the original authors and sources of information. When referencing a movie in APA style, it is crucial to follow the specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. This article will guide you through the process of how to reference a movie in APA format.
General Format
When referencing a movie in APA style, the general format includes the following elements: author, year of publication, title of the movie (italicized), and production company. Here’s an example:
Smith, J. (2020). The Great Gatsby [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
Author
Start by mentioning the last name and first initial of the author. If there is more than one author, list them in the order they appear in the movie credits. If the author is unknown, use “Anonymous” or “No Author.”
Year of Publication
Next, include the year of the movie’s release or the year of the adaptation if it differs from the original release. If the exact year is unknown, use the year the movie was produced.
Title of the Movie
The title of the movie should be italicized and written in sentence case. Do not use quotation marks or underlines.
Production Company
Finally, include the name of the production company that produced the movie. This is usually found in the credits at the end of the movie.
Example
Here are some additional examples of how to reference a movie in APA format:
1. If the movie has a subtitle, include it in the title after a comma.
Smith, J. (2020). The Great Gatsby: A Tale of the Jazz Age [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
2. If the movie is a sequel, include the sequel number in parentheses after the title.
Smith, J. (2020). The Great Gatsby: Part 2 [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
3. If the movie is a television adaptation, include the name of the television network in parentheses after the title.
Smith, J. (2020). The Great Gatsby (ABC) [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
4. If the movie is a documentary, include the word “Documentary” after the title.
Smith, J. (2020). The Great Gatsby: A Documentary [Motion picture]. Warner Bros.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you reference a movie correctly in APA format. Proper citation not only acknowledges the original creators but also helps readers locate the source material for further information.
