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Updated . Example details checked against Lady Bird (2017), written and directed by Greta Gerwig, released by A24.
The Chicago format
Pattern
Title of Film. Directed by First Last. Studio, Year.
- Title first in notes and bibliography.
- Studio and year in parentheses in the note.
- Medium at the end when useful: Netflix, DVD, or a URL.
- A scene: give the time in the note: Lady Bird, at 1:12:30.
A real example
Bibliography entry
Lady Bird. Directed by Greta Gerwig. A24, 2017.
First footnote
Lady Bird, directed by Greta Gerwig (A24, 2017), 01:12:30.
Later footnotes
Lady Bird, 01:12:30.
When details are missing
- No studio: end with the year.
- Watched online: add the service or URL at the end.
Common mistakes
- The director first by default. Chicago starts with the title, unless your paper is about the director.
- No medium for a streamed film. Chicago suggests naming the format you used.
Or let Format do it.
Choose Film and fill in the title, director, studio and year, plus the streaming service if you watched it on one. Format writes the notes and bibliography in Chicago, exactly as shown above, and builds the bibliography page when you export to Word or PDF. Chicago is part of Pro, $4 a month or $29 a year; MLA and APA are free.
Questions
Does a film go in the bibliography?
Yes, when you cite it.
How do I shorten the note?
Title alone: Lady Bird.
More citation guides
The same source in other styles
Similar sources in Chicago
Every source kind is on the Chicago page, and every style is on How to cite.