Published January 28, 2021. Updated November 4, 2021.

To create a documentary reference or citation, you will need to know the documentary title, contributors, and production details. The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a documentary in MLA, APA, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing.

Easily cite a documentary in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator. Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing a documentary in MLA style

Use the title of the documentary, the contributor details, and the URL.

In-text citation template and example:

(Documentary title Timestamp)

(Our Planet 12:16)

Works cited entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a documentary in MLA guide.

Citing a documentary in APA style

Use the title of the documentary and the contributor details.

In-text citation template and example:

(Contributor Surname, Year, Timestamp)

(Attenborough, 2019, 12:16)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a documentary in APA guide.

Citing a documentary in Chicago style, notes-bibliography

Set the title of the documentary in title case and italicize it.

Footnote template and example:

1. Title of the Documentary, season number, episode number, “Episode title,” contributor’s role and First Middle Last names, aired Month Day, Year, on website name, URL.

2. Our Planet, season 1, episode 3, “Jungles,” produced by Huw Cordey, aired April 5, 2019, on Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80094030.

Shortened note

1. Title of the Documentary, “Episode title.”

2. Our Planet, “Jungles.”

Bibliography entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a documentary in Chicago Style guide.

Citing a documentary in Chicago style, author-date

Set the documentary title in title case and italicize it.

In-text citation template and example:

(Contributor Surname Year)

(Cordey 2019)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a documentary in Chicago Style guide.

Citing a documentary in Harvard referencing style

The title of the documentary is set in title case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(‘Episode title’, Release Year)

(‘Coastal Seas’, 2019)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a documentary in Harvard Referencing Style guide. Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.