How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
In Chicago notes and bibliography style, a bibliography entry for a movie viewed online (e.g., on a streaming platform like Netflix) lists the director as the author, with the label “director” after their name. State the length of the movie in hours and minutes, and include a URL at the end.
In a note, start with the movie title, followed by the director’s name. You can point the reader to a specific scene or moment in the film using timestamps.
Chicago bibliography | Director last name, First name, director. Movie Title. Production Company or Distributor, Year. Movie length. URL.
Weir, Peter, director. The Truman Show. Paramount Pictures, 1998. 1 hr., 43 min. https://www.netflix.com/watch/11819086. |
Full note | Movie Title, directed by Director first name Last name (Production Company or Distributor, Year), Timestamp(s), URL.
1. The Truman Show, directed by Peter Weir (Paramount Pictures, 1998), 1:31:15. https://www.netflix.com/watch/11819086. |
Short note | Shortened Movie Title, Timestamp(s).
2. Truman Show, 1:11:35 to 1:13:59. |
Citing a movie viewed in a physical format
When you viewed the film in a physical format (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray), include information about the format in your note and bibliography entry.
If the physical release is from a different year to the original theatrical release, list the original year first, before the production company or distributor.
Chicago bibliography | Director last name, First name, director. Movie Title. Original Release Year; Production Company or Distributor, Year. Movie length. Format.
Bong Joon-ho, director. Parasite. 2019; Curzon Artificial Eye, 2020. 2 hr., 11 min. Blu-ray Disc, 1080p HD. |
Full note | Movie Title, directed by Director first name Last name (Original Release Year; Production Company or Distributor, Year), Timestamp(s), Format.
1. Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho (2019; Curzon Artificial Eye, 2020), 1:15:27, Blu-ray Disc, 1080p HD. |
Short note | Shortened Movie Title, Timestamp(s).
2. Parasite, 0:51:17. |
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Information about other contributors
Depending on the nature of your citation, you may want to include information about contributors other than the director. For example, you could mention an actor whose performance you discuss, the writer if you closely analyze dialogue, and so on.
All of this information is optional according to this citation style; include only information relevant to your discussion.
Chicago bibliography | Director last name, First name, director. Movie Title. Other contributor information. Production Company or Distributor, Year. Movie length. URL.
Eggers, Robert, director. The Lighthouse. Featuring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Cinematography by Jarin Blaschke. A24, 2019. 1 hr., 49 min. https://www.amazon.com/Lighthouse-Willem-Dafoe/dp/B07Z4236MR/. |
Full note | Movie Title, directed by Director first name Last name, Other contributor information (Production Company or Distributor, Year), Timestamp(s), URL.
1. The Lighthouse, directed by Robert Eggers, featuring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, cinematography by Jarin Blaschke (A24, 2019), 0:45:19, https://www.amazon.com/Lighthouse-Willem-Dafoe/dp/B07Z4236MR/. |
Short note | Shortened Movie Title, Timestamp(s).
2. Lighthouse, 0:15:04. |
Citing movies in Chicago author-date style
In Chicago author-date style, you cite films using in-text citations in parentheses, consisting of the director’s last name, the year, and a timestamp if relevant. Use a comma to separate the year and timestamp.
The reference list entry follows the same format as a bibliography entry, except that the year appears before the movie title.
Author-date movie citation examples
Chicago author-date format | Director last name, First name, director. Year. Movie Title. Production Company or Distributor. Movie length. URL. |
Chicago reference entry | Weir, Peter, director. 1998. The Truman Show. Paramount Pictures. 1 hr., 43 min. https://www.netflix.com/watch/11819086. |
Chicago author-date citation | (Weir 1998, 1:31:15) |
Chicago author-date format | Director last name, First name, director. Original Release Year. Movie Title. Production Company or Distributor, Year. Movie length. Format. |
Chicago reference entry | Bong Joon-ho, director. 2019. Parasite. Curzon Artificial Eye, 2020. 2 hr., 11 min. Blu-ray Disc, 1080p HD. |
Chicago author-date citation | (Bong 2019, 0:51:17 to 0:52:48) |
Chicago author-date format | Director last name, First name, director. Year. Movie Title. Other contributor information. Production Company or Distributor. Movie length. URL. |
Chicago reference entry | Eggers, Robert, director. 2019. The Lighthouse. Featuring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Cinematography by Jarin Blaschke. A24. 1 hr., 49 min. https://www.amazon.com/Lighthouse-Willem-Dafoe/dp/B07Z4236MR/. |
Chicago author-date citation | (Eggers 2019, 0:15:04) |
Frequently asked questions about Chicago style citations
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Caulfield, J. (2024, April 09). How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved May 12, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/chicago-style/film-citations/