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[DryvBy]

Do you use subtitles to watch movies? I'm curious because of this article:

The Majority of Young People Are Using Subtitles When They Watch TV - YPulse

Gen Z and Millennials, Subtitles, Accessibility, Netflix, Stranger Things, Squid Game, TikTok, Deaf creators

www.ypulse.com

 

[Ulysses 31]

Depends how well I can understand what's being said without subtitles.

 

[Daniel Jackson]

Yes. Because of often terrible sound mixing, whispering, panting, background music or noise.

 

[poppabk]

I don't mind subtitles for foreign shows at all, probably half or more of my time spent watching Netflix is foreign shows.
For English language shows it's because of the audio mixing, which is seemingly done for a theater experience with theater quality speakers not your average household.

 

[Forsythia]

Yes. Not just because I'm used to it in my country (Netherlands), but because I don't hear shit when I'm eating crisps during the movie. And of course the volume when people are speaking is usually very low, resulting in becoming deaf after a loud sound.

 

[Days like these...]

I always have subtitles on for non English speaking films. Obligatory: "I CaNt ReAd AnD WaTcH aT ThE SaMe TiMe!" Derp Derp.

 

[V1LÆM]

Always if it’s an option.

 

[DeafTourette]

Always on. For obvious reasons... (my username)

It helps a lot with music as well (I can learn the song with captions/subtitles on)...

I have a Cochlear Implant but that doesn't mean my hearing is perfect or anything. Subtitles/captions are still needed.

 

[BlackTron]

I usually use subs these days for a variety of reasons, either the sound mixing is bad, or I'm making my own noise with food (or legos), or someone else is making me miss ONLY important words. But some movies are not a good fit for subs and it's better to create the right environment to avoid them, like comedies

 

[DryvBy]

I keep seeing audio mixing. Are you guys using soundbars or something? I have full towers and my center speaker is typically the primary for dialogue which is slightly boosted.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Subtitles a lot of people use, being American and knowing English it doesn’t matter.

 

[12Goblins]

100% of the time. Often times I'll even turn something off if subtitles aren't available.

 

[Ironbunny]

Always original audio with subtitles or without if I can understand the language. Never dubbed!!! Cant understand how people can watch movies that are dubbed.

If its a Tom Hardy movie = subtitles on

 

[Grildon Tundy]

100%. Since I started using subtitles, I can better follow the plot and catch character names and details I otherwise would miss.

 

[DryvBy]

100%. Since I started using subtitles, I can better follow the plot and catch character names and details I otherwise would miss.

What was your problem before subtitles? I'm blown away this is a norm since movie theaters don't use subtitles.

 

[Melon Husk]

Subtitles, always.
Exhibit A: Tom Hardy


I'm not watching a movie twice to understand what was said.

 

[John Marston]

On if it's not english or french. Sometimes on for a movie like "The Banshees of Inisherin"

Never use dubbed. The richness and tone of a language are an important part of a movie for me.

A long time ago I gave shit to a friend who had never heard Sean Connery's voice. Always heard the french dubbed version.

Can you imagine that!?
Sean Connery's voice is 80% of his persona

 

[Rentahamster]

Usually no, because the sound system I use to consume that content is decent, and I'm paying attention to what I'm watching. If the source audio is shit, then occasionally I will use subtitles out of necessity.

I think a big reason that many people use subtitles nowadays is because they're not paying attention to the movie and looking at their phone.

I reiterate: phones bad fleshlight good.

 

[Skyfox]

No: Download the Dolby app and hear clearly.

 

[deriks]

Original language 90% of the time, and always with subs

 

[Esca]

Yes because most the time Id have to turn up the volume to hear them practically whispering just for the next scene to be like the most epicely loud moment for doing something mundane like driving.

Oh and that's usually with using a sound mode that helps with leveling volume and enhancing voice as well

 

[yet_another_alt]

What was your problem before subtitles? I'm blown away this is a norm since movie theaters don't use subtitles.

It was a big surprise to me that movie theaters have close captioning devices available upon request.

 

[killatopak]

Sub. English isn’t my primary language. While I understand English, there are always nuances to language such as slang and accent which makes it harder for me.

Also, some people are just hard or irritating to listen to due to their voice. Like for example, I wish I can automatically mute and put on subs every time Doc Rivers speaks cause his voice sounds like someone who smoke 50 packs of cigs a day.

 

[THE DUCK]

Most of the time, it's just better than the voice over. Since we are talking, if you haven't seen RRR you need to see it now.

 

[FunkMiller]

Subtitles if needed. Dubbing is the work of the fucking devil.

 

[ÆMNE22A!C]

Yes!

Always/mostly/preferably! In English. Even when sporting headphones.

Great learning tool and I don't have to turn up the volume.

 

[Husky]

I watch lots of foreign movies and shows, and I subtitle those, but I'm never going to use subtitles for an english-language movie or series.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

Poll is surprising.

 

[pauljeremiah]

I only turn them on for films or TV shows that are not in English.

 

[DeafTourette]

What was your problem before subtitles? I'm blown away this is a norm since movie theaters don't use subtitles.

Movie theaters DO use them... Though it's a problem in itself the times of day they have them. Often when us deaf folks are working or having other duties.

 

[kruis]

The more recent a movie is, the more likely it is I've got to turn on subtitles.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

What was your problem before subtitles? I'm blown away this is a norm since movie theaters don't use subtitles.

For me, it was not catching 100% of what was said. Sometimes background characters have lines that I would miss and actually add to the plot, and those get subtitled. Or in something like Game of Thrones with lots of uncommon character/location names, in-universe terms, and dialogue in non-American accents, it helps me to remember or even understand what was said.

 

[DeafTourette]

It was a big surprise to me that movie theaters have close captioning devices available upon request.

Regal has the best implementation of these devices... It's worn on the face and is like glasses with a HUD ... MUCH better than AMCs cup holder version where you have to look down to see the captions. This is why I don't go to AMC theaters anymore.

 

[VulcanRaven]

It depends. Many times with HDR subtitles are too bright so I might not use them.

 

[kunonabi]

It used to be I'd use them just for foreign programs but sound mixing is seemingly designed solely for 10k$ home theatre setups so now I use them a lot more often. I know my friends that had kids still have them on because they got used to them when they had babies in the house.

 

[AJUMP23]

I think the audio mix is done horribly now, but I don’t use subtitles for the most part.

 

[Rockondevil]

Only if there is another language being spoken. Otherwise I hate them.
I don't care what people claim, but you aren't receiving the full experience if you're reading a movie.

 

[DeafTourette]

Only if there is another language being spoken. Otherwise I hate them.
I don't care what people claim, but you aren't receiving the full experience if you're reading a movie.

Yes you are. I'm Deaf with a Cochlear Implant. While I can hear very well with it, I can't understand everything that's going on. Subtitles/captions help A LOT in that regard. I catch things I would otherwise miss and I can still hear everything else... Especially when I'm streaming the sound to my implant from my phone or the TV. I get the full experience and don't miss out on anything.

Edit: there's an upgrade coming in the future for my particular model that will allow Bluetooth streaming straight from a theater or auditorium. That will help folks like me tremendously... Even with a closed caption device.

 

[Fuz]

Yes.

 

[ReBurn]

Generally no, but yes if I'm trying to keep the volume down.

 

[Alex Anderson]

Yes I find it helps me focus on the movie more and take it all in. Especially when my stomach issues have me weak in mind and body after eating.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

I was a no until my non native english speaking sister in law joined the fam. After a few times having them on with her, i now default to keeping them on for myself and family….

My biggest issue is i find myself reading instead of watching, so i feel like its a diff experience

 

[dave_d]

Pretty much always now. While I'd like to think it's because I don't have a sounds bar or receiver I have a hard enough time making out what people are saying when I go to the theater so I think it's my age catching up with me.

 

[Kamina]

So many american movies have too silent vocal tracks for me to hear what they are saying during action scenes. Other times the slangs make it hard for me to get it.
So subtitles are a blessing.

 

[JimmyRustler]

Yes, always subtitle by default. Even when I know the movie and every dialogue by heart.

 

[Trunx81]

When I watch a foreign movie with my wife: Yes.
When I watch a foreign movie alone: No.
When I play video games, whatever the language is: Yes, so I can also play at night while she´s sleeping.

 

[Kenpachii]

Yes so i can turn down the volume and not have to worry about 1 person talking quiet, and another talking through 300 decibel of music on the background. Also good for sleeping so its not to loud when i fall asleep.

If a movie doesn't offer subtitles i probably won't even watch it to be honest.

 

[Rran]

Not if I can help it.

There's this stigma attached to people who don't like subtitles like they're illiterate or some sort of silliness. Anyone who has the patience to share their thoughts online about this has no problem reading. But I have three major problems with subtitles in movies--

The first is that film and television are visual media and subtitles take away from that. I can't focus my full attention on the framing of a scene when my eyes are constantly scanning the bottom third. This goes doubly so for things like Ghibli movies where the animation is a big part of the appeal (it helps that most of their dubs are excellent in their own right).

Secondly, you lose a lot of nuance in the performances. You can tell someone sounds sad or mad or surprised, etc, but you can't hear their voice crack on certain syllables, or emphasize specific words: "You can't HANDLE the truth!" plays differently than "YOU can't handle the truth" or "You CAN'T handle the truth!" There's a level of nuance that just isn't possible if you don't speak the language.

Also, I find that subtitles frequently spoil events in the show/movie itself. If can defang jokes because they lose all sense of timing when you're reading ahead of the characters. Or a character may say something like "It looks like we're safe at la-" and I'm ahead of the movie, wondering what calamitous event will interrupt him.

Of course, all this assumes the dubs are good in the first place. There's no shortage of terrible ones, of course. But I'm comparing ideal scenarios here, and when the localization and dubbing is well-done, I'll take it over subtitles any day.

 

[mxbison]

No.

If the sound mixing is so bad that I can't understand it then I'm not watching it.

 

[kurisu_1974]

Once you are used to subs you read them in 0.1 sec and somehow when I'm tired I find it easier to follow a movie when I have the text as backup.

I also watch a shitton of movies in languages I'm not very fluent in, and I don't like dubs (unless it is some Italian 70s movie where the original language is not even clear since the often international cast was probably talking all kind of languages anyways and they were dubbed in Italian too).