How do I cite a Netflix documentary?

For documentaries, follow the film citation format for your chosen style (MLA, APA, or Chicago), including the director, title, Netflix as the distributor, and the release year.

What if the show or movie wasn't originally released by Netflix?

Cite it based on its original release, but list Netflix as the source from which you accessed it, along with the access date.

Do I need to include the URL for Netflix content?

Generally, no. For subscription services like Netflix, simply stating the service name is sufficient in most citation styles.

Can I cite a specific scene from a Netflix show?

Yes, but it's often more practical to cite the episode or the series as a whole, unless the scene is crucial and unique to your argument.

How to Cite Netflix: A Simple Guide | EssayGazebo

Citing Netflix: Getting It Right for Your Academic Work

Whether you're analyzing a documentary, dissecting a cultural phenomenon, or using a fictional narrative to illustrate a point, you might find yourself needing to cite content from Netflix in your academic writing. While it's not as common as citing a journal article or a book, it's becoming increasingly important as streaming services become major sources of information and cultural commentary. Getting these citations right shows attention to detail and ensures your sources are properly credited.

The good news is that citing Netflix isn't overly complicated, but it does require you to follow the specific guidelines of your chosen citation style. The most common styles you'll encounter in academic settings are MLA, APA, and Chicago. We'll walk through how to cite Netflix content in each of these.

MLA Style (Modern Language Association)

MLA is frequently used in the humanities, particularly in English and literature studies. When citing a film or series on Netflix, you'll focus on the title of the work, the director, the distributor, the release year, and the streaming service itself.

General Format for a Film:

Director's Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Film. Netflix, Release Year.

Example for a Film:

Nolan, Christopher, director. Inception. Netflix, 2010.

General Format for a TV Series:

Creator's Last Name, First Name, creator. Title of Series. Netflix, Release Year of Season Cited.

Example for a TV Series (citing a specific season):

Duffer, Matt, and Ross Duffer, creators. Stranger Things. Netflix, 2016.

Important Notes for MLA:

Title of Work: Italicize the title of the film or series.
Director/Creator: List the director or creator. For series, you'll often list the primary creators.
Netflix: Treat Netflix as the distributor.
Release Year: Use the original release year of the film or the release year of the specific season you are referencing.
Episodes: If you need to cite a specific episode, the format gets a bit more detailed. You'd include the episode title, season number, and episode number after the series title.

Example for an Episode:

Duffer, Matt, and Ross Duffer, creators. "The Vanishing of Will Byers." Stranger Things, season 1, episode 1, Netflix, 2016.

APA Style (American Psychological Association)

APA is widely used in social sciences, business, and nursing. APA's approach to citing audiovisual materials has evolved, and now includes specific guidelines for streaming content.

General Format for a Film:

Producer's Last Name, First Initial. (Producer), & Director's Last Name, First Initial. (Director). (Year). Title of film [Film]. Production Company. Retrieved from [URL or streaming service name]

Example for a Film:

Villeneuve, D. (Director). (2016). Arrival [Film]. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved from Netflix

General Format for a TV Series (citing the entire series):

Creator's Last Name, First Initial. (Creator). (Year). Title of series [TV series]. Production Company. Retrieved from [URL or streaming service name]

Example for a TV Series:

Duffer, M., & Duffer, R. (Creators). (2016). Stranger Things [TV series]. 21 Laps Entertainment. Retrieved from Netflix

Important Notes for APA:

Producer/Director: You can list either the producer or the director, or both.
Title: Italicize the title of the film or series.
Format: Include the medium in brackets, like `[Film]` or `[TV series]`.
Production Company: Name the company that produced the work.
Source: Indicate where you accessed it. For Netflix, you can simply state "Netflix." If a direct URL is stable and accessible, you can include it, but often it's not necessary or practical for subscription services.

Episodes: For a specific episode, you would cite it as an episode of a TV series:

Example for an Episode:

Duffer, M., & Duffer, R. (Creators). (2016). The vanishing of Will Byers (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In Stranger Things. 21 Laps Entertainment. Retrieved from Netflix

Chicago Style (The Chicago Manual of Style)

Chicago style offers two systems: notes-bibliography and author-date. We'll focus on the notes-bibliography system, which is common in history and the arts.

General Format for a Film (Note):

Director's First Name Last Name, dir., Title of Film, directed by First Name Last Name (Original Release Year; City: Distributor, Year). Accessed Month Day, Year. [Streaming service name].

Example for a Film (Note):

Christopher Nolan, dir., Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan (2010; Burbank, CA: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2010). Accessed October 26, 2023. Netflix.

General Format for a Film (Bibliography):

Director's Last Name, First Name. Title of Film. Directed by First Name Last Name. Original Release Year; City: Distributor, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. [Streaming service name].

Example for a Film (Bibliography):

Nolan, Christopher. Inception. Directed by Christopher Nolan. 2010; Burbank, CA: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2010. Accessed October 26, 2023. Netflix.

General Format for a TV Series (Note):

Creator's First Name Last Name, creator, Title of Series, created by First Name Last Name (Original Release Year; Distributor, Year). Accessed Month Day, Year. [Streaming service name].

Example for a TV Series (Note):

Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, creators, Stranger Things, created by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer (2016; Los Gatos, CA: Netflix, 2016). Accessed October 26, 2023. Netflix.

Important Notes for Chicago:

Notes vs. Bibliography: Chicago has distinct formats for in-text notes and the bibliography at the end of your paper.
Access Date: Including the access date is crucial for online sources, as content can be removed or changed.
Original Release Year/Distributor: This can sometimes be tricky for content that premiered directly on Netflix. In such cases, use the year Netflix released it and treat Netflix as the distributor.
Episodes: Citing specific episodes in Chicago follows a similar pattern, detailing the episode title and season.

Why Proper Citation Matters

Beyond avoiding plagiarism, correctly citing your sources, including streaming content, demonstrates a commitment to academic integrity. It allows your readers to locate and verify your sources, lending credibility to your arguments. It also shows you've done your research thoroughly and understand the conventions of academic discourse.

If you're struggling to keep track of different citation styles or ensuring your Netflix citations are perfect, EssayGazebo.com offers professional editing and formatting services that can help.

Key Takeaways

Know Your Style Guide: Always confirm the specific citation style required by your instructor or institution.
Identify Key Information: Gather the title, director/creator, production company, and release year.
Be Consistent: Apply the chosen style consistently throughout your paper.
Include Access Dates: For online content like Netflix, the access date is important.

By paying attention to these details, you can confidently incorporate Netflix content into your academic work and present your research with clarity and accuracy.

How to Cite Netflix