<!--
{
  "availability" : [

  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "QuickTime File Format",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_atom",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Atom",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Atom",
    "modules" : [
      "QuickTime File Format"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "__docc_universal_symbol_reference_$Reference_movie_atom"
  },
  "title" : "Reference movie atom ('rmra')"
}
-->

# Reference movie atom ('rmra')

A reference movie atom contains references to one or more movies.

## Overview

It can optionally contain a list of system requirements in order for each movie to play, and a quality rating for each movie. It is typically used to specify a list of alternate movies to be played under different conditions.

A reference movie atom’s parent is always a movie atom (`'moov'`). Only one reference movie atom is allowed in a given movie atom.

## Topics

### Data fields

[`Size`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_atom/Size)

The number of bytes in this reference movie atom.

[`Type`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_atom/Type)

The type of this atom.

[`Reference movie descriptor atom`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_atom/Reference_movie_descriptor_atom)

A reference movie atom must contain at least one reference movie descriptor atom, and typically contains more than one.


---

Copyright &copy; 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)