Congratulations, you made it to the finish line. Months, maybe even years of sleepless nights, coffee binges, and creative breakthroughs have finally resulted in a finished film you can call your own. 

The only thing left to do now is to credit all the other people who helped make your film a reality. From the lead actor to the craft services providers, anyone who lent a hand to bring the film to the big (or small) screen deserves to be credited. 

Long-standing industry standards dictate exactly how to properly credit people in your film, so if you've never written out a credit roll before, never fear. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about film credits and includes a free template to get you started!

Why Movies Show Credits

Movies show credits for a very simple reason; to give credit to all the people who made the film possible. This extends beyond the obvious people like the director, writer, and actors and includes dozens or even hundreds of other people who contribute their time and talent to a film. 

Movie credits ensure that everyone gets the recognition they deserve on a project, whether they're in front of or behind the camera. 

Under U.S. law, the screenwriting credit for American motion pictures and television programs is determined by the writers guild of america (WGA).

Opening Film Credits vs Closing Film Credits

Whenever anyone says "film credits," most people think of the long roll of names that plays at the end of the film. However, there are typically two different types of credits included in a film; opening credits and closing credits. 

As the names suggest, the former roll at the beginning of a film, and the latter at the end. The key difference between the two is who gets credited in the opening credits vs. the closing credits. 

Who Should be Included in Your Film Credits

Ok, time to get down to the details; who goes in the credits, and what order should they be in? While there are sometimes small deviations, typically, this is who you should credit and in what order in your film.