When watching a foreign show, do you watch with the English dub or Original language with English subtitles?

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Impressive_Laugh2806@reddit

If it's live action sub if it's animated dub

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Weary_Anybody3643@reddit

It depends on what genre what style what topic. But usually both unless I've heard good things of the va or it's a show I know is mid ill start with subbed but rewatch in dub

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azuth89@reddit

Dub. I very rarely just sit and watch something so reading subs is a non starter.

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clearliquidclearjar@reddit

Live action, always subtitles. I want the original emotion. Animated, dubs, because it doesn't look as jarring as trying to match a live action mouth movement.

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RecklessBravo@reddit

I do the same thing. I thought I was the only one.

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jurassicbond@reddit

Same. Animated it does depend on how good the dubs are, but usually for stuff I watch dubs are really good.

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ItsSoKawaiiSenpai@reddit

Also worth mentioning that animated dubs in English have improved immensely over the years.

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Inside-Run785@reddit

For all your faults, thank you DBZ (though not all of it) and Cowboy Bebop for starting the trend of good scripts and acting.

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Only films from foreign sources are dubbed. Usually shitty movies on TV. I can’t recall a single film in a theatre with subtitles. This was horrible when I was stationed in Germany where they dub EVERYTHING. It sucks.

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JustAnnesOpinion@reddit

Original language with subtitles! I hate dubbing and like to improve my French and Spanish vocabulary with subtitles, where that applies. Even if I have knowledge of another language, I like to experience the actor’s full performance and hear the rhythms of other languages.

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QuarterMaestro@reddit

I watch a ton of foreign films with subtitles, but I've only ever watched dubs of anime shows and movies. Just what I'm used to, and I find the rhythms and tones of the Japanese language especially in voice acting kind of strange.

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SimplGaming08@reddit

I prefer English subtitles

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Playful_Fan4035@reddit

I prefer the dubbing if it’s done well. The subtitles are distracting. I end up only reading and not paying attention to the visuals that are happening on screen. If the dubbing is bad or it only has subtitles available, I usually won’t watch since I miss what is happening on screen because my eyes are drawn to the subtitles.

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Jdawn82@reddit

Always subs. Dubbing is always terrible.

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Gravbar@reddit

I prefer to multitask and mostly just listen to tv. Because of that, I prefer dubs. But I also like to have subtitles in case something is hard to understand.

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Turgius_Lupus@reddit

English subtitles.

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Sample-quantity@reddit

I can't stand dubbing. Always original language with English subtitles.

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5catterbrained@reddit

Original with subtitles. I'd rather turn something off than watch it with dubbed English

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HotButteredPoptart@reddit

I can't remember the last time I watched a foreign show.

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DegenerateCrocodile@reddit

Depends on the quality of the dub. There are some phenomenal dubs, and some downright terrible ones. Most are somewhere in-between, though the quality of the voice performances has generally gone up over time.

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lupuscapabilis@reddit

Depends. Subtitles are okay but then I spend the whole moving reading instead of watching. Kinda defeats the purpose of, ya know, movies.

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Appropriate-Food1757@reddit

I watch original language with subtitles always

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RusstyDog@reddit

It depends on the show. Everyone has preferences, but it's usually going to come down to "which one I saw first"

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wifespissed@reddit

Subtitles. Dubs bug the crap outta me.

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Awdayshus@reddit

It depends on what it is and how focused I want to be. If I am being totally focused, I'll watch subtitles with the original audio. If I'm putting on something while I'm also doing other stuff or I'm getting tired, I'll have subtitles and the dubbed audio.

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Wise-Foundation4051@reddit

I can’t watch foreign shows because the dubbing is so cheesy sounding, and I don’t read fast enough for captions unless it’s a language I speak.

I want to, some of the stories look really good. But the voice-overs are cheesy af, no matter how serious the show is. Cant do it.

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Icestar1186@reddit

Good dub > Good subtitles > Bad subtitles > Bad dub

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StarSines@reddit

Original language with subtitles, always

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TheCouncilOfPete@reddit

If it's a fantasy show with cool visuals and cgi I tend to watch it in dub so I can experience those visuals better

Now if it's some sort of drama or slice of life I'll watch it in sub so I can experience those emotions and vocal intonations better

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jackfaire@reddit

For animation I prefer dubbing. Especially when the original source material is English and so there's nothing being lost in translation.

For example Howl's Moving Castle while being Anime was based on a book by a British Novelist.

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Feisty-Tooth-7397@reddit

I prefer subtitles. The only time I can watch something with English dubbing is anime. I still prefer Original language, but their mouths don't match the audio even if it's original language, so it's easier to watch dubbed.

I watch TV with subtitles 95 percent of the time as it is.

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RichLeadership2807@reddit

If the dub isn’t terrible then I prefer the dub so I can watch facial expressions instead of reading

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Icy-Role2321@reddit

I know it sounds like I'm lying but after a while you can read and see that at the same time.

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SevenSixOne@reddit

I'm convinced that people who don't like subtitles just can't read very fast... and you are absolutely right that you can read and watch at the same time with a little practice as long as the subtitles are done well

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shits-n-gigs@reddit

You gotta be locked to the screen yo watch a sub. You can walk around and do other tasks with a dub.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

Same. Only way I can just sit there and stare at a screen is if I'm actually doing a thing on that screen (like I reckon a subbed game would be easier for me to focus on than a subbed show/movie) or if the movie has a lot of fire, lighting, or lava lol

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Bright_Ices@reddit

I’m very bad at multitasking tv. If I’m watching, I’m watching.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

Not if you're like me and you've never been able to just stare at a screen without doing something else that takes your eyes away from it too often lol

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duraraross@reddit

Not for everyone. I’m dyslexic and no matter how much sub I watch I just can’t do that because I’m too slow at reading and most of the time I even misread what is being said so I’m not absorbing the correct information in the words or the action.

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This_Magician7801@reddit

I love subtitles. I don't notice I'm reading anymore and it feels like some kind of magic spell that lets me understand a language I don't speak for a couple hours

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BulkyHand4101@reddit

This is my preference. Good dub > Sub > Bad dub

For example, I watched Alice in Borderland dubbed, but Squid Games subbed.

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SevenSixOne@reddit

Might watch something animated with the English dub, but IMO live action with English dubbing is absolutely unwatchable

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flora_poste_@reddit

Subtitles every time. I hate dubbing. I especially hate the thing they do on the news where they'll dub a foreign speaker in English with an accent. What's the point of that? Just show subtitles so we can hear the speaker's own voice.

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BrazilianButtCheeks@reddit

Dub is too distracting and im too blind for subtitles so if its not originally made in English or Portuguese i cant watch it🤷🏽‍♀️😂

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shriekingintothevoid@reddit

I hate the way dubs sound and look with a burning passion and I watch everything with subtitles anyways, so subbed lol

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JadeHarley0@reddit

Subtitles. I hate hearing dubs. I want to hear the intonation and emotion in the actor's voices. I also really like trying to learn new words or pick out words I know in the foreign language

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HotPinkDemonicNTitty@reddit

Subtitles if I really want to pay attention, dub if I need to like do laundry or something while watching and can’t be looking at the screen. Or if I don’t like the sound of the language or the original actors’ voice.

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Mean-Math7184@reddit

Subtitles. Most European spoken languages are fairly intelligible to English speakers, the subtitles just make it a little easier to follow along.

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MrsPedecaris@reddit

I agree. I hate dubbing. So often the tones of the voices don't match the facial expressions as they talk, and I end up being distracted, wondering what their real voices sound like.

I felt this especially with Squid Game. I really wished I was able to find a sub-titled version.

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StarSpangleBRangel@reddit

Subtitles, unless it’s a notably good dub.

You ever tried watching Squid Game’s dub? It’s fucking hilarious.

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Anustart15@reddit

People who prefer dubs are the people that like to be able to multitask while watching a show

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StarSpangleBRangel@reddit

And you can’t do that with subtitles? Amazing.

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Anustart15@reddit

And you can’t do that with subtitles? Amazing.

No, it's hard to cook dinner or play with my dog or do laundry while also attentively reading the screen.

“Dubs are the preferred option for people who aren’t actually paying attention” is a pretty impressive thing to admit, I’ll concede.

Why are you acting like it's an admission to say I do other things while watching TV? It's not like watching TV is some impressive and noble task, it's how people kill time. The TV is the least productive part of my multitasking

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

The only people I've met who treat watching TV as more noble than playing video games or, oh I don't know, being a responsible adult trying to stay on top of your fucking housework are the people who do almost bothing else

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bluecrowned@reddit

No, I can't listen to Japanese or Korean while sitting across the room folding laundry. That doesn't mean I'm not paying attention, it's called multitasking. There's also such a thing as disabled people who can't read fast enough. I prefer subs and usually watch American shows when I'm doing chores, but the way you're behaving here is incredibly ignorant and close minded.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

Yeah I really wasn't expecting to see so much ableism regarding this particular topic lol

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StarSpangleBRangel@reddit

I think you’ll find that looking at the screen greatly improves the television experience.

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bluecrowned@reddit

Not in a way that prevents me from using subs, but yes.

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Groftsan@reddit

No I can't do that with subtitles. If I'm multitasking, I'm periodically looking away. If I'm looking away, I'm not able to see subtitles.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

Found another ableist

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Rogue_Cheeks98@reddit

before engaging with this guy, I encourage you to look at his post/comment history. He is a contrarian, and all he does is bait/egg people on for no reason. Dudes got no life.

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Nitro_the_Wolf_@reddit

I honestly just hate subtitles in any situation. I find myself just reading them the whole time and not focusing on the actual movie/show

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StarSpangleBRangel@reddit

You can’t read subtitles and focus on the show at the same time?

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Nitro_the_Wolf_@reddit

Not to the level that I want to

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SecretaryBubbly9411@reddit

Reading subtitles heavily distracts from what you’re supposed to be seeing.

I prefer English audio and I’ll die on this hill

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illeatyourkneecaps@reddit

it doesn't if you're a good enough reader lmao. it's okay to be a slow reader

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SecretaryBubbly9411@reddit

If it’s ok to be a slow reader why are you calling me a slow reader in a mocking tone?

Make up your mind.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

I'm a fast reader - I just can't stand staring at the TV constantly - but the people saying "oh you can do it with practice and/or if you read fast enough" are ableist as fuck lmfao

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FistOfFacepalm@reddit

Most dubs are trash though. Even if I don’t speak the language I prefer when the characters are portrayed by people who can act.

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Judgy-Introvert@reddit

Usually subtitles. I hate dubbing. It sounds awful and you miss some of the emotions that come with their words.

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nogueydude@reddit

Completely agreed. I leave the subtitles on even when the show is in English. Not a popular move, but it's my move.

I purchased Beforeigners on Amazon when it left HBO and it defaulted to the English dub and it was wretched in comparison. Took a while to figure out how to return it to sweet sweet Norwegian.

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Bright_Ices@reddit

Actually it’s very popular with Americans under age 45.

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nogueydude@reddit

I think I'm the only one of my friend group (mid-late 30s) that does it, but that's good to hear.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

Husband is late 20s, I'm early 30s with annoyingly good hearing. Sometimes the subtitles are absolutely necessary because the loud parts are so loud that we have to have the volume so low that the quiet parts are too quiet lol

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Bright_Ices@reddit

Yeah, it’s becoming quite common. Here’s an article from last year about it: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/subtitles-why-most-people-turn-tv-captions-on/

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nogueydude@reddit

Very interesting! Thank you for posting the links.

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byebybuy@reddit

I'm hard of hearing so I've been doing it as long as it's been an option, but now my wife is used to it as well. The mixing in most modern (like >2010) movies is horrendously lopsided, so it's almost necessary even for those who can hear normally.

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Ayla1313@reddit

I do this too.

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Ceorl_Lounge@reddit

Popular with me, I totally watched Peaky Blinders with subtitles on. Not just for Tom Hardy, they all have challenging accents.

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BearsLoveToulouse@reddit

It’s the audio that drives me nuts with dubs. There was a show where it was JUST dub audio and none of the sound effects. It was awful.

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DeniseReades@reddit

It sounds awful and you miss some of the emotions that come with their words

It's also never good. Like, voice actors exist but dubs always sound like they offered a drunk college student 3 sandwiches and some oxy to read out loud.

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Biscuit-of-the-C@reddit

I swear Netflix uses the same 3-4 voice actors for all the English dubbing

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Judgy-Introvert@reddit

For real. I think the only exception was Dark. The voice dubbing on that wasn’t too bad.

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Ceorl_Lounge@reddit

I understand a little German, so it was easy to watch Dark with subtitles. Glad I did because the original actors are great.

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beo559@reddit

I'm usually pretty okay with either dub or sub though the dubs do vary a lot in quality. Dark was a show that I started watching with someone else who really preferred a dub.

I had to stop. The English dub of that was abysmal. Not just as a comparison to the German original but full stop I couldn't keep listening to that.

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Wobbly_Wobbegong@reddit

I remember watching it and one time it autoreverted back to the English dub for some reason and it was so jarring lol

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Ceorl_Lounge@reddit

My wife and I both studied German so we were all in on subs, but yeah I heard it isn't good.

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Ayla1313@reddit

Ugh that was a good show.

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CaptainPunisher@reddit

Agreed. Kung Fu Hustle is a great example of this. I watched the subtitled version first, and the way words and feelings are expressed in their original voice is captured so much better than in the dub. I'm not saying that you can't get that in a language dub, but you often don't.

There's nothing like the vocal inflections of the Landlady.

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micmea1@reddit

Even good English dubs will sometimes irk me because of stuff where like English and the other language don't line up. Like in Japanese and naming conventions sound so awkward in English. Like honorifics like kun or chan.

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ScreamingLightspeed@reddit

Dub. I've never really been able to just sit down and stare at a screen without DOING something like playing a game or typing this right here so I'll usually be doing something else while watching TV that takes my eyes away from the screen too often to be relying on subtitles. That said, we usually have subtitles on anyway because there are a lot of little things people in the background might be whispering that are easy to miss unless they're in the subtitles.

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hobokobo1028@reddit

Usually subtitles. I watch English shows with subtitles anyway

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SapienSRC@reddit

Subtitles if it's my first watch. But I'll watch a dub if it's something I've seen but throwing on while I'm gaming or something.

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SectionRatio@reddit

Original language and English subs, dubs just look and sound weird.

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comrade_zerox@reddit

Depends on the type of show, the native language is, and if I've seen it before.

I pretty much always have subtitles on due to ADHD, regardless of language, and sometimes if it's a thing I've seen a million times, I'll put the subtitles in Spaniah or French to practice learning phrases.

However, A visually intense show or movie (anime for example) is hard with subtitles because my eyes can't focus on text and experience the visuals effectively.

Live action, I'm usually fine with subtitles, unless it's a really dialog heavy/specific jargon kind of show where if you miss a line it all goes to hell.

If the show is in Spanish, Portuguese, or French, I usually can follow along with subtitles and listen at the same time, and I'm usually fine.

Dubs for live action often just don't feel right. Kind of an uncanny valley type situation.

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PlanMagnet38@reddit

Subtitles, always. Including with English (captions)

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bloobityblu@reddit

English with subtitles. I want to hear the actual actors acting, and dubs are just... distracting and annoying to me. Very fake sounding.

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birdstar7@reddit

Depends on show to show and the quality of the dubbing.

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josie-salazar@reddit

Subtitles, I like to watch all media in their original language.

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Double-Frosting-9744@reddit

I like a Dub, but my mom won’t watch dubs with me cuz she goes crazy over watching their lips move different than what they’re saying

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Ok-Eggplant7751@reddit

I live this question! I bought a movie probably like 20 years ago, called iron monkey at the mall, bootleg of course. It had english dub and original Cantonese I believe with English subtitles. It was like watching two different movies! Still one of my favorite finds ever.

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BeautifulSundae6988@reddit

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say most Americans don't watch foreign TV. Except anime, which some people will be pretentious dorks and insist you watch the sub, but most probably don't.

I am not a big anime person, but I watch it in English when I do watch it. If the show is in Spanish, I'll put on the subtitles to help me cause I'm not 100% fluent.

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Small_Collection_249@reddit

Subtitles always. Dubbing seems cheesy and irritates me.

Plus it’s nice to kind of hear the native languages

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heatrealist@reddit

If it is anime I prefer english dub. I don't really watch live action shows much with dubbing. I

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zinky30@reddit

Why would dubbing be the obvious choice? Do you think most people are illiterate?

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rathat@reddit

It depends on the language, some languages sound nice to listen to and some don't.

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hail_to_the_beef@reddit

I prefer the subtitles. My husband refuses to read subtitles and wants dubbed. So we usually end up on dubbed.

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P00PooKitty@reddit

Subtitles. That’s the actual performance

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DizzyLead@reddit

Subtitles for the reasons you state. But I will say that if I like the movie/show enough, I’ll also try the dub just to see how well they did it.

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SavannahInChicago@reddit

Subtitles. I get way to weirded out with the lips not matching the words. I cannot watch it.

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SheZowRaisedByWolves@reddit

I like dubs because I’m a lazy fuck. Some dubs knock it out of the park with localization like Panty and Stocking, and Konosuba.

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turquoise_amethyst@reddit

Subtitles only. I absolutely hate Dubs.

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KaiTheG4mer@reddit

Depends. Animation? Whichever sounds better. Live-action, where the dubbing usually has the same quality as Sy-Fy's ADR-ed censors? Definitely the og language with subtitles.

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planodancer@reddit

audio.

If I’m doing subtitles , I can’t multitask, because my eyes have to be on the screen.

If it turns out to be really good and I want to rewatch at my leisure, then subtitles.

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alwaysboopthesnoot@reddit

Original language with English subtitles, usually. But right now, I’m just starting to learn Italian so I’m watching Italian shows with Italian subtitles. Then I rewatch the original with English subtitles. Helps with pronunciation and vocab.

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BrazenDuck@reddit

Subtitles over dub every time.

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Darkdragoon324@reddit

I prefer subs. Maybe there's a good dub out there somewhere, but so far every single one i've seen the voices have no emotion, the tone is weird and doesn't match what else is happening in the scene, and it's obvious and distracting that the words being spoken don't match ether actor's mouth.

I'm talking mostly about live action films. I don't usually mind a modern anime dub, since the VAs now are actually good. But they won't use them for live action, I guess they're probably too expensive since a live action dub is much more niche in the US.

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Ancient0wl@reddit

Anime? Dub

Live-action? Sub

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Wolf_E_13@reddit

It depends...I watch TV with subtitles on anyway because there's always a bunch of ruckus in the house so reading subtitles doesn't bother me. Dubbing bothers me, but sometimes it's hard for me to follow with subtitles in the native language if I don't understand that language at all. I have zero problems watching something that is in Spanish with subtitles because I know enough Spanish to get by, and even more so listening to it instead of me speaking it. That is harder for me to do for some reason with other languages.

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islandurp@reddit

Live action subbed. Animated dubbed unless it's really bad.

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Asparagus9000@reddit

Depends on the show.

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Quenzayne@reddit

If I’m doing something else while watching then I use dubbing but if I’m totally invested then I prefer subs.

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discourse_friendly@reddit

I generally try for the native language

The Host (korean movie) in example , and Ong-bak (thai)

Anime I'm more apt to listen to the english version, but it sorta depends.

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DrProfessorSatan@reddit

For anime, dub. For live action, subtitles.

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JosephBlowsephThe3rd@reddit

Usually subtitles, though some movies only have dub available. Jackie Chan's Who Am I is f'n hilarious with the dubs.

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Dilapidated_girrafe@reddit

If it’s anime I dub. Don’t want to read and watch at the same time. If it’s a movie I’ll do sub

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ElysianRepublic@reddit

Subtitles, always.

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TrickyShare242@reddit

Gotta go subtitles, the dub not matching to lip movement drives me insane. There are exceptions though, case in point DragonBall Z I gotta watch in English because of Goku's voice. The other big one is movies where the subtitles are extremely fast, im thinking 13 assassins.

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Carrotcake1988@reddit

It depends. Some shows I’ve preferred the subtitles. But, I have watched shows with good dubbing.

So, I would prefer the dubbing. But, usually the subbed version is better.

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broadsharp@reddit

Subtitles

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ms_rdr@reddit

I watch with subtitles AND ensuring the volume is loud enough to hear the language I don't understand. I don't even know why I do the second part. I guess maybe I want to hear inflection.

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SisterLostSoul@reddit

Original spoken language, English subtitles. It's the only way to get the actors' full performances.

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TheProofsinthePastis@reddit

If it's for shits and giggles, dubbing, cuz it can be REEEEAALLLLLL funny, if for serious, subtitles. I would never watch a dub ed version of Parasite for instance.

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Vert354@reddit

I'm dyslexic...

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Zealousideal_Cod5214@reddit

Usually subtitles. I hate watching dubs, especially of live action shows/movies. With animation, it's not as big of a deal, but live action bothers me when the mouth and dialogue aren't synced up.

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SunnySydeRamsay@reddit

It depends, anime with friends it's usually dub. Live action it has to be subs, you can't really convey an actor's emotions and tone correctly with dubbing, it isn't the same.

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bellabarbiex@reddit

Original language. I feel dubbing takes away from the experience of watching - especially because the voices never fit the characters and it often seems to emotionless.

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seleneyue@reddit

Subtitles. I HATE dubs with a passion. The disconnect between the visuals and the sound gives me an ick I cannot overcome.

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illeatyourkneecaps@reddit

i have subtitles on everything, regardless if it's in english or not. i hate all dubs lmao i just cant listen to them.

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Konigwork@reddit

I don’t think watching foreign shows is as common as you’d imagine, especially outside of anime.

But I will say that the companies wouldn’t spend the money it costs to “dub” the shows if there wasn’t a significant number of viewers who prefer it. They have the data on this these days

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illeatyourkneecaps@reddit

speak for yourself lol. foreign shows are extremely popular.

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arosaki@reddit

Speak for yourself.

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keIIzzz@reddit

It’s pretty common imo. There are many popular foreign shows on sites like Netflix

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Cowboywizard12@reddit

Or half of Guillermo Del Toro's Movies.

I love both his movies in English and the ones in Spanish.

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ConstantThought6@reddit

Agreed. My subtitles are always on and Netflix seems to automatically switch to dubbed versions for foreign shows which causes massive confusion because they never line up exactly the same.

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keIIzzz@reddit

Oh interesting, I’ve never had it automatically use dubs before

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jondoughntyaknow@reddit

I don’t think watching anime is as common as you imagine.

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Konigwork@reddit

God I hope it isn’t

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AnnicetSnow@reddit

Always subtitles. I want to enjoy the actors actual performance and dubbing is very hit and miss, and often syncs up awkwardly with what's happening on the screen.

Given the way literacy rates are in freefall though, I'm not sure if the answers you'd find given on reddit are a typical representation.

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YetAnotherInterneter@reddit

I want to enjoy the actors actual performance

I do too, which is why I prefer dubbing over subtitles. With subtitles your eyes are focused on the text rather than what’s happening on screen, you miss so much of the visuals!

I know dubbing isn’t perfect. But if I can’t speak the language then there’s going to be a compromise somewhere. Personally I’d prefer slightly worse audio quality over slightly worse visual quality.

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illeatyourkneecaps@reddit

it's really not that hard if you can actually read quickly. live action shows/movies dubbed suck.

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Bright_Ices@reddit

With a little practice, it becomes easy to see both the performers and the subtitles together.

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Ihasknees936@reddit

Subtitles are actually getting more popular with younger generations so idk how much that second statement really holds true.59% of Gen Z and 52% of millennials use subtitles .

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seidinove@reddit

Always subtitles.

I was on a business trip in Brussels many, many years ago. A few coworkers and I went to a movie theater to watch The Valachi Papers -- already an old movie by then, but what the heck. Probably par for the course for Belgium, it was in the original English with French and Dutch subtitles. I enjoy glancing at the subs to see the counterparts of English words.

At one point the big boss had some guy whacked, and of course sends flowers and attends the wake, per chapter 3 of The Mafia Handbook. The actor playing the boss spoke English with a comic-book Italian accent. He goes to comfort the widow and she says something like "Please bring him back to life!" He responds "I canna not bringa back the dead. I canna only killa the living." The Dutch subtitle for kill was "doodmaken" and that became our favorite word during our business trip, e.g., "If you don't back up the database now I'm going to doodmaken you."

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Limacy@reddit

I silently judge anyone who doesn’t watch Money Heist in its original Spanish.

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robfuscate@reddit

I simply won’t watch something that is dubbed, my brain can barely cope when the mouth movements don’t match the speech in the original language.

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LadyFoxfire@reddit

Dub. I can’t read the subtitles and enjoy the show at the same time.

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Vachic09@reddit

It varies for me.

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Silver_Catman@reddit

If it is specifically anime I watch it dubbed, anything else I watch it with the original language and English subtitles

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doubletimerush@reddit

Subbed for sure. I hate audio desyncs of any kind. So I can't watch the actor's mouth moving differently to the audio.

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304libco@reddit

Yes. I have a hard time understanding even English if I can’t see peoples mouths.

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doubletimerush@reddit

Interesting. I've never heard anyone say that before. How do you feel about audio only podcasts?

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304libco@reddit

I can only listen to them while I’m driving. If I’m anywhere else I lose track of what they’re saying or I find that I’ve stopped doing anything other than intently listening and staring at the speaker. I think driving works because I’m looking out and so my ears Are concentrating I don’t know.LOL.

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waynehastings@reddit

English subtitles on foreign language media. I leave subtitles on for everything. You'd be surprised how many little details you miss with subtitles off.

And yes, a badly dubbed English audio track can ruin an otherwise good program. When I first watched "Occupied" on Netflix, it must have been foreign audio with English subtitles. When I watched it again recently, it didn't feel nearly as good -- the English language dub was terribad.

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pluck-the-bunny@reddit

And a well dubbed show can actually improve upon the original. Cowboy bebop being a shining example.

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blinky84@reddit

Totally agree. If I'm going to recommend a show to a dyslexic friend, I'll check out the English dub before I recommend it, and some of them are just awful. Alice in Borderland is one that I remember being particularly bad. Then there's ones like 1899 where the dubbed version literally killed it.

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HairyDadBear@reddit

If it Live Action, always subtitles. For animated, I prefer sub but I give dub a shot.

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rogun64@reddit

It depends on the quality of the dub, but it's usually poor and so I typically watch the original language with subtitles.

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commanderquill@reddit

Sub for live actions, dub for anime.

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AwesomeMutation@reddit

Depends on the show/dub quality but usually subbed.

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AtlasThe1st@reddit

I cant do live action dubs, the desync between the lips and spoken words really bugs me. So I go with subs

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agelessArbitrator@reddit

I have subtitles on for everything, even original English. So I watch shows/movies in foreign languages with their original audio with subs. I've done it for so long that I don't even notice I'm reading, so I have no issues being able to actually watch the program.

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0le_Hickory@reddit

I generally avoid dubs and subtitles but did enjoy the Netflix Money Heist/Casa de Papel with the dub. I got used to it really quick. Maybe it was just done well.

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304libco@reddit

OG language with English subs.

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Longjumping_Bar_7457@reddit

I watch dubs for anime, but other than that I prefer watching the original language with subtitles.

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Aloh4mora@reddit

Always subtitles. I hate dubbed versions; I want to hear the original.

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Pattern_Is_Movement@reddit

always subtitles

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DelsinMcgrath835@reddit

Subs. My thinking is that, as a native English speaker I am more inclined to be judgemental of the english voice actors. However, fir the most part, i cant tell as well when theres bad Japanese voice actors.

Additionally most of the top tier english voice actors would rather do originally english content, im assuming.

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Artistic_Rice_9019@reddit

Depends on if I'm watching distracted and if I'm watching something in a language I understand. If it's German, it's German w German subtitles.

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nvkylebrown@reddit

I prefer subtitles. Dubs get the emotion wrong, and often have very awkward dialog. It's easier to be forgiving of subtitles that are awkward that dubs that are awkward.

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OttoVonPlittersdorf@reddit

If the dub is good, I prefer it. But sometimes the dub is trash. One Punch man is a good example. I first saw it subtitled, and after that, I could never watch the dubbed version because they made such a hash of it.

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gatornatortater@reddit

Depends.

Typically I listen to the subtitled version, especially if I am watching intently. But if it is something I got playing in the background while I do other things, then I will have the dubbed version on.

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ImportantSir2131@reddit

Original language with English subtitles.

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Js987@reddit

Usually the subs, but…depends on how tired I am. If I’m getting tired reading subtitles gets tedious.

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Crayshack@reddit

Dub. With my ADHD, unless I'm completely enraptured by something, I'm constantly looking away from the screen or alt-tabbing while listening and then looking at the screen when it sounds like a scene that I need to be actually looking at. There's a lot more audio cues for that than most people realize. This style of watching doesn't function with subtitles.

Also, I've found that if I have to read the subtitles to understand the dialogue, I end up missing a lot of the visuals. More than I do with my "look away from the screen" thing even if I'm technically looking at the screen the whole time with subtitles. I might be looking at the screen, but I'm not looking at the actual visuals.

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Hot_Aside_4637@reddit

I watched Derry Girls with captions on. Made it easier to understand not only the accents but also the slang in context.

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Recent_Permit2653@reddit

Pretty much always subtitles.

Dubs just bludgeon all the passion and pacing out of what’s going on, on-screen. Plus I absolutely can’t stand the voices not matching what the lips are doing!

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

Subtitles for most things but dubs for animation but I don’t watch that much foreign animation.

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rotdress@reddit

I hate dubbing. I need the audio and visual synchronized. I'll always choose original audio if it's available.

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rexeditrex@reddit

Some of the dubbing is just so bad. Plus I like to pick up words that I recognize in the other languages.

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TaigaTheLitten@reddit

English dub when it's available

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MediaFan2024@reddit

Depends on how bad the dubbing is.

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Winwookiee@reddit

This might be very " 'Merica!" of me, but always dubbed. If I wanted to read, I wouldn't be watching a movie, I'd read a book.

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papisilla@reddit

Original language with English subtitles. Dubs sound like nails on a chalkboard typically

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Cowboywizard12@reddit

Usually subtitles,

But i watch with subtitles on even if I'm watching something in English

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LadyOfTheNutTree@reddit

If I’m really paying attention, subtitles is my first choice. But if it’s something to have on while I’m working on something and can’t be looking at the screen the whole time I’ll pick the dub

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CoffeeandTeaOG@reddit

Kind of depends. If it’s a show that I plan on watching intently I just use subtitles (but I’m ADHD in my 30’s so I always use subtitles lol). If it’s a show I plan to watch passively while doing other shit I watch it dubbed.

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Vexonte@reddit

I use subtitles for watching the English language films. The only time I will dub a foreign show is if it is an animation with a dub with good reputation like the great pretender.

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ATLDeepCreeker@reddit

Subtitles, unless I just want to have a laugh.

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NickCharlesYT@reddit

It really, really depends on the quality of the dub. I'll usually give a dub a try if it's available, but if the voices just aren't working I will happily use subs instead. I'm at the point where I don't even bother with dubs for things like anime, mostly because it takes so long to dub in the first place I'd rather just watch the subbed version and keep current. That said I have enjoyed plenty of dubbed anime and animated movies, especially high profile projects that get proper care and attention to detail. Funimation also had a good run in the late 00s/early 10s where I preferred their dubs when available.

Currently the only foreign show I'm watching is Pokemon Horizons, and the idea of watching the dub is simply a nonstarter because they're almost a YEAR behind the releases in Japan! I haven't even gone back to see if I like the dub or not, I'm not waiting that long for new episodes, period.

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ucbiker@reddit

Depends on the show. Typically sub but if the English dub is well-regarded, I’ll go with that.

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Apocalyptic0n3@reddit

I don't watch many foreign shows. In the event I do, I'll go with subtitles. The dubs feel like they lose emotion and meaning. Sometimes the translations are pretty poor too. The one that always stuck out to me was Dark. The dubbed version chose poor voice actors that didn't match the characters and it was fairly flat. Watching it in German with English subtitles though? Arguably the best show I've ever watched.

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rozzingit@reddit

For live action, I'll always go with subtitles; the contrast in the words and the mouth movements would be too jarring.

For animation, though, I often enjoy dubs! A feel like a lot of dub hate comes from earlier eras of anime dubbing where the style/approach was really artificial, but nowadays a lot of English dubs are really great. I like being able to appreciate the subtleties of acting that I can only really hear when listening to a language I'm fluent in. For subbed media, I feel like I can absolutely appreciate the acting and performances, but just not to the detail I can in English. I absolutely don't think it's the case that English VAs never match the passion of the original actors. (Not matching intonation is pretty expected? They're different languages and different performers, they shouldn't match intonation-wise. The point of a secondary dub isn't to match the exact intonation of the original. The English VAs are actors and performers in their own right, and they're playing the character, not the original actor's version of that character.)

But if something just had a bad dub, or no dub at all, I'll absolutely watch it subbed! And even when I'm watching a dub, I'll turn on captions (not subs) where they're available.

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molten_dragon@reddit

I don't watch movies or shows with subtitles. They ruin the experience.

I'll watch dubbed shows if they're actually good dubs, but a lot aren't.

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nylondragon64@reddit

I have watched tons of martial arts movies. Sub titles. And dubed.

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burnsbabe@reddit

It really depends. I find it easier to watch a large volume of content in dub format, since I have to be solely paying attention to whatever it is if I'm watching subs. It can also depend on what the content is. I have nostalgia for all the english VAs for Dragonball, for example, so when I watched DB Super, I watched the english dub.

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coyssiempre@reddit

I prefer original audio with subtitles. I absolutely cannot stand when the dialogue doesn't match up with the characters' mouths.

That being said, I typically don't watch shoes that aren't originally in English or Spanish, so I rarely use subtitles.

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Expensive-Ferret-339@reddit

Always watch in the original language with subtitles because I want to see AND hear the actors. I can’t tolerate dubbed versions. The voices are flat, lifeless, and disconnected from the visuals, and don’t get me started on the asynchronous mouth movements.

I loved watching the Swedish version of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo—I felt like I should understand but wasn’t trying hard enough. The rhythm and shape of Scandinavian languages is similar to English in my ear.

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da_chicken@reddit

Depends.

If I'm really paying attention, then I use subtitles.

If I'm second screening the show, or if I'm on a small enough screen, then I'll turn on dubbing.

It can also depend on the VA. 20 years ago, the state of VA was pretty bad, so dubs were just worse. Today it's pretty good. Some shows sound better dubbed.

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NotTheMariner@reddit

I really don’t like having to read my tv shows. So I usually watch the dub if it’s any good.

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InevitableRhubarb232@reddit

Depends on how much I plan on looking at the screen

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Lord_Voltan@reddit

Gravity falls in Italian just hits soo good.

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CaptainMalForever@reddit

The dub. My husband has really bad vision and can't read the subtitles, so if there is not a dub, we don't watch it. By myself, I might watch the sub, but I'm used to reading subtitles out loud (for my husband) so I tend to read them out loud, even by myself.

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MyFace_UrAss_LetsGo@reddit

I prefer subtitles so you can hear the true emotion in the voice. Dubs don’t always convey that properly.

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citrusandrosemary@reddit

Always subtitles.

I hate dubbing. And usually in tubbing the same vocal tone or emotional tone in actor's voice isn't confaid the same as the actual actor on the screen. I would much rather read the words will still be able to hear the conveyed emotional tone of the words in another language.

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shogi_x@reddit

I generally prefer subtitles. The disconnect between what I'm hearing and their lips moving bothers me very subtly.

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Real-Psychology-4261@reddit

Original language with subtitles. 100% better.

Dark with subtitles is a really good show.

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freethechimpanzees@reddit

English dub with English subtitles. I get a kick out of how they are different.

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CantHostCantTravel@reddit

I can’t watch dubbed movies. Subtitles only for me. I need to hear the voices of the original actors to fully immerse myself and enjoy the story.

Dubbing cheapens the movie, in my opinion.

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jeophys152@reddit

The only foreign shows I watch are Dutch and I know enough Dutch that I can watch with Dutch subtitles.

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Rockld50@reddit

Og language because the dubs usually have no love in them, lip sync never matches, voices never match etc.

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Thatberetguy@reddit

Well I am subbing because the dubs are sometimes dog vomit mixed with rotten mashed potato’s with a groggy voice chef Ramsys foot skin and etc

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Ayla1313@reddit

Depends on the show but usually in the original audio with subtitles.

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MotherTeresaOnlyfans@reddit

Most foreign shows don't even get English dubs unless you're talking about cartoons.

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brian11e3@reddit

Dub, especially anime.

I watch TV to watch, not read. I have a plethora of books for reading.

I can't stand the high-pitched, nassaly sound most characters in anime have. I can get the true emotion of a scene just fine by watching what's going on.

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BigCommieMachine@reddit

It really depends. A lot of anime has widely recognized English voice actors that are great and bounce from project to project. It can be awful too.

I find the dubs in most live action shows is terrible because it is tacked on and there aren't a lot of professionals dubbing stuff.

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macoafi@reddit

Original language, no subs

The foreign shows I watch are all in languages I speak.

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Emotional_Ad5714@reddit

Subtitles

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Zaidswith@reddit

Subtitles

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LocaCapone@reddit

Original language w subtitles

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_pamelab@reddit

I use subtitles on all programming. Even in English.

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IainwithanI@reddit

Subtitles. Virtually all dubs are terrible.

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blipsman@reddit

Usually the English dub, but sometimes if it seems poorly done or just doesn't set the mood right I'll do subtitles.

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FutureHot3047@reddit

Subtitles for live action and animation almost all of the time. The voices never match the characters when it’s dubbed in my opinion and sometimes they sound way younger. Unless I really think the dub is better, like the anime Ghost Stories, I stick to subtitles.

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Boring_Detective142@reddit

I have seen or heard some good dubs for anime but I very much prefer subs.

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MoronLaoShi@reddit

Usually the American remake

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ImprovementLong7141@reddit

Depends. If it’s a show with a good dub that comes recommended and with accurate captions then I’ll watch the dub, and I might also do so if I just want background noise. Otherwise I go for subs, and I will never choose dub over sub for live-action. It’s too distracting and always has worse quality. My grandparents watch foreign shows dubbed and I can always tell because there’s just something about the sound quality that exposes it right away.

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mothertuna@reddit

I prefer subtitles. Dubbing often sounds awful and seeing the mouths move and the words not come out right is weird. Also dubbing seems like it’s on a different track than the show so the sound is off. I watch all foreign language shows with subtitles especially since they convey emotion better.

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lisasimpsonfan@reddit

OG language and subtitles especially Asian media because it is so easy to miss little details and cultural differences with dubs.

I have subtitles on most of the time anyway even with English language shows.

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PokeCaptain@reddit

Situational. I default to sub unless the dub is known to be good.

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DenverZeppo@reddit

Subbed, never dubbed.

As a language learner (French) I watch a lot of French television programs, sometimes with English subtitles, sometimes with French subtitles, but the idea of watching French television dubbed into English hurts my soul.

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a-fabulous-sandwich@reddit

Depends on what I'm watching, honestly.

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rawbface@reddit

I'm a subs over dubs guy.

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DoubleSkew@reddit

Subbed unless it's a group setting, then dubbed + subtitles.

Everytime I listen to dub, I think of this video 😭

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DerekL1963@reddit

For (seasonal) anime? Absolutely the original language with English subtitles. Frankly, American voice actors lack range and acting ability and the directors aren't much better.

Drove me crazy the one time I accidentally watched a dub... decided to watch it to see if dubbing had improved... And the @$#%@#$ morons were mispronouncing the name of the school. As the dub came out a couple of months after the original, there's no excuse for such incompetence.

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WindyWindona@reddit

Subs, especially if it's a language I'm trying to learn. It's distracting in a dub if the mouth movements don't match the words, and I read quickly. Plus dubs can be really hit or miss.

Funny enough I tried watching a dub and sub in German to practice my language skills... and got tripped up by the fact that they were not exactly the same.

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Muffina925@reddit

I prefer to watch shows in their original language with subtitles. Dubbing is often distracting (especially in live action productions) and can be oversimplified or take too many liberties in their translations. I like that subtitles usually seem to provide translations that are truer to the original script, even if i won't always understand the nuances of the culture being represented. I've always really appreciated my experiences with the CrunchyRoll subtitles because they often provide cultural context for international viewers.

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Johnny_Burrito@reddit

Dubs are ok for animated stuff. Otherwise, never.

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wwhsd@reddit

It depends on how I’m watching the show. If I’m focusing my attention on it, I watch it with subtitles. If I’m not going to be giving it my full attention, I watch the dubbed version.

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jamiesugah@reddit

I watch a lot of anime and Asian dramas and I watch exclusively with subtitles. I get too distracted by dubs, and I almost always prefer the original voices.

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Reverend_Tommy@reddit

I always prefer subtitles. Dubbing almost always sounds awful. The voice actors are usually not very good and the English version typically doesn't sync very well with the original language. It's very distracting.

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KJHagen@reddit

Always subtitles. I enjoy foreign languages, even when I don’t fully understand them. I try to process both the spoken language and the written English.

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qu33nof5pad35@reddit

Original language with English subtitles.

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Raving_Lunatic69@reddit

Original language with English subtitles.

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VelocityPancake@reddit

Honestly if I can stand the dub I often prefer it.

My Hero Academia I think the dub is better, but that isn't always the case.

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sjedinjenoStanje@reddit

I'm a subtitles guy. Except for the 1970s Shaw Brothers kung-fu movies - those are sooo much better with the clumsy dubbing lol.

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Bluesnow2222@reddit

Subtitles

The acting usually is better in the original language. With that said- I’ve been watching Anime subs since the early 2000’s and always put subs on my English period dramas- so subs for all foreign stuff just feels better with the original acting.

I do have a MIL who is dyslexic- so it makes sense she can’t stand them. My brother honestly has literacy problems and can’t read fast enough in highschool to keep up. I’ve also heard people say they dislike having to keep their eyes glued to the bottom of the screen missing out on the cinematic visual experience. No judgement to people who watch dubs—- but I’m happy for me I can read fast enough that I’m not really missing anything visually.

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LordofDD93@reddit

Depends. Live action I prefer subs, but some dubs are decent for anime and such.

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anneofgraygardens@reddit

subtitles always. i hate dubbing, it's incredibly distracting.

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Libertas_@reddit

Subtitles

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Horizontal_Bob@reddit

I don’t watch foreign shows because of subtitles

I hate subtitles

If I am reading I can’t pay attention to what is going on and visa versa

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ophaus@reddit

Original audio with subtitles.

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thedrcubed@reddit

I watch the dub. It can be goofy seeing the mouths move differently but it's better than missing half the show trying to read what they're saying. I only do subtitles on things that are very action heavy and don't have much dialog

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DOMSdeluise@reddit

I prefer subtitles

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Excellent_Squirrel86@reddit

Dubbing always seems off. The original actor goes on for 3 minutes, and the voiceover says "No". The only issue I have with subtitles is that if they're not on a banner they can be hard to read.

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Humbler-Mumbler@reddit

I’ll usually do the dub unless it’s really poorly done. The real cinema heads always prefer subtitles, but I think hearing them speak in your language connects you to the characters more and makes the film feel less foreign.

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GeekyPassion@reddit

The only dub I watch is anime. If it's live action it has to be sub

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T_Peg@reddit

I prefer dub. People always say you miss the emotions but I don't understand the cultural inflections and mannerisms of Japanese for example to even notice those emotions. I prefer to have my eyes on the show than subtitles I find them very distracting and they ruin punchlines and reveals because the words are faster than the conversation. If I speak the original language (aka if it's in Spanish in my case) I might watch in Spanish.

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Suspicious-Peace9233@reddit

Typically subtitles but sometimes I can only find it dubbed

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GF_baker_2024@reddit

Original language with English subtitles. I find dubbing to be much more distracting than reading subtitles.

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Karb0n13@reddit

It depends.
If I have the opportunity to actually sit down and watch the show, I prefer subs and original language. The intonation that most actors put into their performances are often just as important as the words themselves, and I can read the subs and listen to the emotionality of the voices to have a deeper experience.
OTOH, if I am busy around the house, dealing with kids, etc. and don't have the ability to focus on the show, I prefer dubbed. At least then I can listen to the story, only focusing on the visuals to get my bearings or to watch something the dubs have grabbed my attention for.

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Patient-Hovercraft48@reddit

Dubs usually, as long as the voice acting is decent. Too easy to miss stuff while your eyes go between reading and watching the actual show

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sas223@reddit

Original audio track with subtitles

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kgxv@reddit

Subtitles. I use them for shows in English, too. Dubs are dumb imho.

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ThinWhiteRogue@reddit

Original language with subtitles, always. I want to hear the actors' real voices.

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rattlehead44@reddit

Original audio w/ English subtitles 100%. I’m hella deaf so I watch everything w/ subtitles anyways, and getting the authentic, original acting is always better.

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jessek@reddit

Depends on the subject matter.

Arty movies like ones by Kurosawa or Tarkovsky? Subtitles only.

Movies in the genres of kung fu, spaghetti western, giallo, horrror, kaiju, etc? I prefer those to be dubbed. Especially Italian movies where the cast is a mix of British, American, German and Italian actors. Seeing Jenifer Connolly or John Saxon dubbed into Italian is just stupid.

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SenorBlackChin@reddit

They drive me crazy. I'd listen to the dub but I also have captions on and they never match up. Original language with subtitles, but it better be pretty good to keep me interested enough.

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MagnusAlbusPater@reddit

I like seeing the difference in translations between the dubs and the subs.

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SenorBlackChin@reddit

I guess I'm a weirdo (and I'll take my downvotes), but it makes me wonder which is closer to the meaning in the native language. Distracting

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MagnusAlbusPater@reddit

My guess is the subs are usually closer since they don’t have to match the mouth movements and have more freedom in terms of time, but it’s interesting to see the differences. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes the meaning can change completely

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karlnite@reddit

It depends on the show for me. I don’t mind reading subtitles, but if I’m watching the show and sorta auto reading I miss stuff in the dialogue, and if I am focusing on the subtitles and dialogue I miss stuff in the action.

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5432198@reddit

I'm usually doing something else while watching in the background so pretty much always dub.

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HyperStory@reddit

I'll watch dub for anime but sub for anything live-action.

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According-Bug8150@reddit

Dubbed if it's animated, otherwise subbed.

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2NE1Amiibo@reddit

It all depends. Some animes have FANTASTIC dubbing, even some Visual Novels (video game genre) has fantastic dubbing.

But for something like Squid Games? Absolutely subbed.

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Bastyra2016@reddit

I much prefer subtitles. Dubbed versions drive me insane. I enjoy hearing new languages spoken

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420CurryGod@reddit

For anything live action, always subbed.

For animated content it depends. Some shows I’ll watch in dub and others in sub. It depends on if it’s a show that I want to throw on the background, if the dub or sub performance is specifically stand out, if the performance in dub or sub feels more appropriate for the characters, etc.

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Eubank31@reddit

Subs on everything, no matter the language (including English)

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Adaneshade@reddit

It varies, if it's super dialogue heavy with lots of action on screen that I'd miss trying to read subs, I may watch it dubbed. Generally prefer subs though.

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GoodbyeForeverDavid@reddit

I prefer subtitles.

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PacSan300@reddit

Always the original language with English subtitles, if I cannot understand the language. English dubs can often sound weird and off, and some cultural nuances can potentially be missed.

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PPKA2757@reddit

Subs not dubs. English voice actors are trash and it kills the immersion. Plus the translations aren’t always 1:1 so sometimes I know that’s not what the line was vs what the voice actor is voicing and it irks me.

With the exception of sports I pretty much watch all media with subtitles on though (long story short, my roommate in college did this because his father was hard of hearing, so we ended up with subtitles automatically on whenever the TV was on - it rubbed off on me and I still do it ~10 years later).

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KATEWM@reddit

I prefer dubbing unless it's really bad. But I find most foreign movies and shows I watch don't offer it. More and more are lately, though.

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terryaugiesaws@reddit

Dubbing takes me completely out of the film. Although, the Death Note dub gave us one of the best scenes of all time involving a potato chip.

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D3moknight@reddit

I sometimes watch animated stuff with English dubs, but I really can't do that with live action. Too much of the performance is lost when you dub over a real human with another human's voice. It just doesn't work. It needs to be the original audio with subtitles. I would rather have a translation be slightly off than miss the intonation and nuance of the original actor's performance.

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BeyondShadow@reddit

Depends on how focused I am on what I'm watching. I used to always watch with subtitles, but now that i have grown-up responsibilities, I often end up working on something (like folding laundry) while I watch, and I miss too much if it isn't dubbed.

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Murderhornet212@reddit

I just choose to watch something English language in that situation.

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Murderhornet212@reddit

Subtitles. My brain finds dubs distracting and horrible.

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No_Poet_7244@reddit

Depends. Live action? Always subtitles, always—the mismatch between mouth movements and speech pulls me out of anything I try to watch dubbed.

Anime? That’s a different story. I’d say I’m roughly 70/30 sub/dub. Most dubs are barely serviceable, but there are some extremely good ones (Frieren comes to mind immediately.) If I can watch a dub that’s just as good as the sub, I will—it’s way easier for me to resonate with a show I can watch in my native tongue.

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thowe93@reddit

Completely depends. Some shows have excellent English dubs that are better than the original, some dubs are the same as the original, and some are terrible.

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evergladescowboy@reddit

I don’t believe I’ve ever watched a foreign show that wasn’t from the UK, so they’re speaking English anyway. I despise anime more than I can express through words so that’s not a factor, and I don’t speak any other languages.

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sneezhousing@reddit

I like dub. I'm dyslexic and read slowly. With subtitles, I'm focusing so much on the words I miss the actual action. Plus, often they are off the screen before I can read them all.

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brzantium@reddit

I hate dubbing. It annoys me how the audio doesn't match up with how their mouth is moving. Also, good dubs are hard to come by and often sound flat.

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SevereNightmare@reddit

Whatever's available, I'm not picky

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NorwegianSteam@reddit

Live-action, subs. Animation, dubs.

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guywithshades85@reddit

Depends on the movie. If it's more a drama, subtitles. If it's an action movie, dubbed, they are usually so bad, it makes the movie more fun.

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Cheap_Coffee@reddit

Subtitles. I find dubbed shows/movies unwatchable.

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FlappyClap@reddit

A foreign show with English audio tracks is almost always not synchronized with the subtitles. The characters will say something and the subtitles will have the subject but written differently:

Character: “I love watching the sunrise!”

Subtitles: “I am very fond of seeing the sunrise after a heavy rain.”

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JBoy9028@reddit

Dubbed, I struggle to keep up with everything. If my eyes are on the subtitles, I am missing contextual clues in the scene.

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HalcyonHelvetica@reddit

Never for live action. For anime, I’ll usually only watch dubbed if it’s a comedy because I find those more fun when I can appreciate the timing and punchlines and delivery

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kaosrules2@reddit

Depends on if the dubbing is any good. The only one I've really enjoyed was High Intellectual Potential.

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Cat_herder_81@reddit

English dub with english subs when available.

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Dolphopus@reddit

It depends. If I’m doing something else, I need to have dubbed, but if I have the time to really focus on something I like to watch things in the original language with English subtitles.

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pseudoeponymous_rex@reddit

Usually dubbed, but it depends on the quality of the dub and to a lesser extent the original language.

Good dubs deliver not just the original meaning but also the right intonation and emotion, while simultaneously managing to match the pacing of the characters' speech. Bad dubs fail to do so, and get distracting. And I'm more likely to choose original language for a Spanish-language production, since I speak Spanish passably well even before having the subtitles as a cheat sheat.

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Steerider@reddit

Dubbing is much better than it used to be. If it's a really good dub I'll watch the dub. If not I'll do subtitles.

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Fun_Inspector_8633@reddit

I’d say subtitles 99% of the time especially if it’s anime since most dubs are terrible.

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A-Plant-Guy@reddit

I prefer subtitles. I want to hear the original actor’s performance and nuance. When thinking about it later, I always remember hearing the voice in English, even though the English was only in the subtitles.

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Roadshell@reddit

Subs, petty much always unless it's an Italian movie from the 60s-80s.

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Dax_Maclaine@reddit

Almost always subtitles, although I’ll always try the dub just to see if I like it, but I usually switch off.

I’ve never listened to a live action show dubbed, but I’ve listened to a few dubbed anime or other cartoons

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_Smedette_@reddit

Subtitles.

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CalmRip@reddit

On my own, I prefer dubs because I want to watch the damn actors. Yes, I read fast, yes I can see some of the action, but I really like to focus.

Most of the time, though, I'm watching K-dramas with my son and he's a sub purist, so that's what I watch.

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ApartmentAcrobatic22@reddit

Usually the original language with English subtitles. However, sometimes the subtitles don’t track exactly what the characters are saying in the original language and I know enough Spanish and French to make it really confusing to hear one thing and read another. So when that happens I either try to just struggle along only in the original language with no subtitles or just switch to the dubbed English version altogether.

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Ornery-Wasabi-473@reddit

Subtitles.

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thehawaiian_punch@reddit

It depends on the language. Most languages sub, I honestly hate the sound of mandarin not in a racist way so I watch Chinese shows dubbed I also usually watch German and French shows dubbed

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jmsnys@reddit

Depends on the language. German and Turkish I use original language and original language subs.

Tonal languages I always use the English dub.

Everything else is original language with English subs

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TemperMe@reddit

Subtitles. Dubs are just… oof. Think back to the old Godzilla movies, what made them a “joke” or early day meme was the dub overs.

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Self-Comprehensive@reddit

It totally depends on the dub. For instance Iron Monkey. It's one of my favorite movies either way, but the dub is well crafted and hilarious. So I slightly prefer the dub. If the dub is not good, I'll prefer subtitles.

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ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit

Heck, I watch everything with subtitles.

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HippieJed@reddit

Yes, especially Dr Who. My ears are not what they once were and the accents can get a little rough.

Side note it is totally required with Snatch and there are some things that they still can’t understand

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Traditional_Trust_93@reddit

I will always watch in the original language. It throws me off when the mouth doesn't line up with the the voice. Also the original VAs have better expression especially Japanese and other languages of that region that show lots of subtle emotion through the language itself that english does not.

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Embarrassed-Lead6471@reddit

Dubbing is always too fake for me to enjoy it. It’s like I’m listening to someone else’s summary of the movie, instead of the movie itself.

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BB-56_Washington@reddit

I prefer foreign language with English subtitles.

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OrdinarySubstance491@reddit

I can't stand dub.

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LoneStarGut@reddit

Dubbing. I find I miss most of the visuals having to read subtitles.

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scruffye@reddit

I used to be a bit stuck up about only watching subtitled works but over time I've chilled out a bit on that. Live action I think it's rare for me to watch dubbed over versions. My mind can't get over the disconnect between the lip movement on the screen and the sound I'm hearing. But with anime more and more I find myself watching dubs instead of subs. I've had some focusing issues lately and sometimes I can't handle having to keep my eyes on the screen at all times just to be able to follow along. It's nice to be able to just listen to the dub and not need to worry about missing dialogue just because I looked away for a moment. But there is a quality component to this as well. Some dubs are better than others and if I especially like an original voice cast I'm probably sticking to that.

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I_demand_peanuts@reddit

If it's anime, dubs unless I think the English VAs suck. Don't care what anyone else says about the lack of authenticity.

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Blahkbustuh@reddit

Non-English language media is really rare in the US--stuff that isn't from the US, Canada, UK, or Australia. And then a lot of the British stuff we get in the US is made with an American audience in mind versus British stuff solely for British audiences. That stuff doesn't make it over.

Otherwise, you'd have to go into art films or some similar place or some specialty event to see foreign media, like French films made for French people, or Spanish films from South America.

When I had cable there was maybe 1-3 Spanish channels, but only Hispanic people watched those. They weren't mainstream for non-Spanish speaking people.

I remember when I realized Netflix has foreign language stuff on it because that was really new. I was hoping that'd expand people's horizons a bit but I doubt it's had any effect.

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keIIzzz@reddit

Original language with English subtitles

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JewelerDry6222@reddit

Mostly subtitles.

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hypo-osmotic@reddit

If it's animated I prefer dubbed, assuming that it's decent. I stick with subbed for live action, I feel like the technology to get a good dub on real actors isn't quite there yet

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MartialBob@reddit

Usually subtitled but if it's good quality dubbing I'll watch that.

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Avent@reddit

Live action? Always subtitles. If it's animation and they clearly put effort into the dub, I'll watch the dub. Especially because I want to see the visuals all the artists worked so hard on.

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Dangerous-Ball-7340@reddit

Subtitles.

I was watching the new season of Squid Game and it auto-selected the dubbed version. It took me like 10 minutes of watching and thinking "this kinda sucks, I remember enjoying the first season so much more." And then I realized that I need the subtitled version instead. Far more immersive. Lips not matching words kills a show for me.

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Hyperdragoon17@reddit

Depends. Sometimes it’s English only, will not accept any substitutes! 😛 Other times I’m fine with watching both subs and dubs. I guess it depends on the show? Does that make me weird?

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MrLongWalk@reddit

Almost always subtitles.

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Ok_Entrepreneur_8509@reddit

If it is a language I know a little of, like Spanish or German, I leave the original audio, because I can usually catch some nuance that doesn't make it to the translation. But for languages I don't know at all, I use the English dub. I should add that I use English subtitles when I watch anything, regardless of the audio language.

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Ok-Season-7570@reddit

Live action: Subtitles.

Animated: 50/50. Depends on the show/voices.

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ConfusedScr3aming@reddit

I prefer sub because most dubbing sounds stupid.

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Remarkable_Table_279@reddit

Typically i watch with subtitles but if it’s something I don’t particularly care about (Chinese minidramas) I might watch with dubs so I can do something else at same time

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Remarkable_Table_279@reddit

but I also have Siri read books/websites to me so I’m used to terrible AI dubbing

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Help1Ted@reddit

Depends on the language and who I’m watching with. If I’m watching with my wife and something is in either Spanish or French we’ll just watch in the native language. But we watched an Asian movie recently and used the subtitles.

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charlottebythedoor@reddit

It depends on the skill of the voice actors and the translations. Usually I default to subtitles. But sometimes a voice acting team does a really good job.

I view both as translations of the original work, and there are different philosophical questions about what makes something a “good” translation. For movies and TV shows, I think it’s easier for a sub to be good, since it preserves the original vocal expression of the actors. I get information from how the actors talk, even if I don’t understand the specific words. But again, sometimes voiceover artists just do a fantastic job.

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xczechr@reddit

Depends on the show and the language.

Dark = dubbed

Squid Game = subtitles

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TsundereLoliDragon@reddit

Almost always subtitles.

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Rando1396@reddit

Subtitles. The dialogue was written to sound a certain way in a certain language and I want to hear the authors intent in the music of the speech, even if I then have to read the translation

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MeanTelevision@reddit

Original audio with captioned subtitles.

Sometimes the English dubbed version is all that's available, though.

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petits_riens@reddit

Original language with subtitles for anything live action. I can't help but see it when the mouth movements don't match and it drives me insane.

For animated media, I'm open to dubs. Studio Ghibli dubs in particular are always done very well.

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Rarewear_fan@reddit

Original with subs, always, unless it's Anime.

So much of the live performance, actor skill, tone, etc is lost on a dub. Watch the Squid Game english dub compared to the original during intense scenes and it's night and day.

That, and the lip sync issues really distract me.

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