Why do moviegoers in English-speaking countries tend to avoid foreign movies with subtitles, while in Japan, for example, it's just the opposite?

Friday 16th May, 05:45 AM JST

Latest 15 of 36 Total Comments Show All

Betting at 11:28 PM JST - 16th May

Is the actual question actually true or just the opinion of the person who posted the question? I think it is just an opinion that is not based on fact. I've seen quite a few films in English that were subtitled not dubbed.
blvtzpk at 12:13 AM JST - 17th May

Betting, that was what I was suggesting as well. 'Avoid' is the issue here. Using 'avoid' is suggesting a conscious decision to stay away from something, which I don't think it is. Most people watch movies for pleasure. If dealing with subtitles diminishes the pleasurable experience, does that make you 'avoid' subtitled films, or do your preferences just lie elsewhere? I don't like horror films, but I don't 'avoid' them as if they were something I had have contact with - I just choose not to watch them.

As some others have noted here, there is a huge range movies available in English, and these are usually the one's that people around the world want to see. If you want to see these films and don't speak English, then a subtitled movie is usually your only option.

Foreign (and usually therefore subtitled) movies in English-speaking countries are pretty much a niche. They don't have the big budgets or star power behind them that the big English-language movies do. They attract a smaller market to begin with, subtitles or not. This doesn't diminish their value or quality, but they don't have the appeal that most English-language movies have for most people.

And perhaps subtitles put the lazy off further. Someone who really isn't interested in exploring foreign cinema is probably the same sort of person who doesn't want to "read a movie." In contrast, those who have a genuine interest in cinema wouldn't let subtitles get in the way. Those people would also choose a subtitled film over a dubbed film almost 100% of the time as well.

In short, Japanese audiences really have little choice BUT to watch international films with subtitling - they're not choosing to do this, they have to if they want to see the film. Similarly, English-speaking people aren't usually 'avoiding' subtitled films - they just don't occupy a large part of the film market.

Conclusion: this is a poorly thought-out question to pose.
blvtzpk at 12:16 AM JST - 17th May

Oh, and don't give me the line that viewing a subtitled film is purely reading the film - one's eyes bounce between the subtitles and the image frequently. But it is tiring for some, and as I stated above, can distract from the pleasure experience of a movie.
Sarge at 12:21 AM JST - 17th May

If English is good enough for me, by golly it's good enough for the rest of the world!
Skywards at 01:41 AM JST - 17th May

1) Some movie-watchers want to hear English voices in international films. If I show anime to my friends, the preference is for dubbed anime, not subtitled anime (but the original cast may have better character voices than the English cast). 2) Many subtitled movies vary in the quality of their subtitles i.e. use of a font size or colour that is lost in the movie scenes, making the subtitles hard to read or invisible (if anyone else has watched the Chinese movies on Omni 2 (Toronto, Canada) on Saturday night, you will know of the problem). 3) Ignorance can also be a reason-it may be outside of some moviewatchers' comfort zone to watch foreign cinema. One has to encourage friends about seeing such cinema during movie festivals by knowing what is on the playbill, showing interest in the offerings and ask friends which movie (storyline) interests them most and offer to take them out! A friend of non-French background went with me to a French film last year in Toronto purely because she was keen on seeing the French scenery!
KitsuneYoukai at 03:55 AM JST - 17th May

I think it is because of the foreign language. I think most people in for example, the US are not used to seeing movies with subtitles. They tend to miss out on a lot of the visual part because they are trying to read what's at the bottom of the screen. For those who are Anime watchers and like seeing it in Japanese this is not a problem.
kokuryu at 05:19 AM JST - 17th May

The US movie theaters dont even carry the films, that's why! If they carried them, there would be more of an audience. Me, personally, I love all films, especially foreign films.
Graywolf0813 at 07:46 AM JST - 17th May

I don't get it! I can read and watch the movie at the same time ' I have been watching foreign films for many years ' I love watching foreign films even with subtitles '
PleasureGelf at 08:26 AM JST - 17th May

I don't know whether or not it's true about avoiding subtitled movies but I've always heard that if a foreign movie is successful elsewhere it will be remade for the American audience. Some examples being The Departed, The Lake House or Insomnia. Wikipedia has a fuller list here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofEnglish-languagemoviesbasedonforeign-language_movies
Betting at 08:37 AM JST - 17th May

"I think it is because of the foreign language. I think most people in for example, the US are not used to seeing movies with subtitles. They tend to miss out on a lot of the visual part because they are trying to read what's at the bottom of the screen. For those who are Anime watchers and like seeing it in Japanese this is not a problem.".

I'm not trying to flame you Kitsune, but what you are saying is based on actual fact or just your personal opinion? It seems like you're just making a gross generalisation here (as are most posts on JT...).
budmc at 11:06 AM JST - 17th May

Whoever wrote this comment about English-speaking countries avoiding foreign movies with subtitles is ignorant of the facts!!!

The Japanese movie and television media, except for ANIME, make no real efforts to market in the US. IF the Japanese media sold to WAL-MART or other major outlets, or even provided small lots to individual US buyers, the US would certain buy.

I currently have over 75 Japanese dvd's with English subtitles. Several were purchased from Media Play, but after they went out of business ended up buying on Ebay. Unfortunately, most of those seem to be bootleg copies and many subtitles have Chinese names not Japanese!!!

NETFLIX offers several Japanese with English Subtitle DVD's, and NETFLIX variety of Japanese titles increase each year :-)

If you know any Japanese movie or drama dealers willing to sell all-region or region 1 Japanese dvds with English subtitles to US, then just let me know!

A market exists - the Japanese just are not pursuing it!

JAPAN TODAY editors should proof read and ensure facts are stated, not wild accusations about English-speaking countries avoiding foreign movies!
motytrah at 12:21 PM JST - 18th May

Subtitles are the least of the problems foreign films in the US. Fact is very few foreign films get major distribution in the US. They usually play very limited schedules in small art theaters, or only make it to DVDs. Outside of Anime, Hollywood would rather remake a foreign film then invest any money in wide distribution.

Though most foreign films actually play with subtitles at the art house theater. They only get dubbed in the very rare instance when they get picked up for wide release. The question is wrong because the issue is most people simply won't pay money to see a foreign film. The only exception is Anime.
Stallion at 01:51 AM JST - 19th May

Betting, that was what I was suggesting as well. 'Avoid' is the issue here. Using 'avoid' is suggesting a conscious decision to stay away from something, which I don't think it is. Most people watch movies for pleasure. If dealing with subtitles diminishes the pleasurable experience, does that make you 'avoid' subtitled films, or do your preferences just lie elsewhere? I don't like horror films, but I don't 'avoid' them as if they were something I had have contact with - I just choose not to watch them.

As some others have noted here, there is a huge range movies available in English, and these are usually the one's that people around the world want to see. If you want to see these films and don't speak English, then a subtitled movie is usually your only option.

Foreign (and usually therefore subtitled) movies in English-speaking countries are pretty much a niche. They don't have the big budgets or star power behind them that the big English-language movies do. They attract a smaller market to begin with, subtitles or not. This doesn't diminish their value or quality, but they don't have the appeal that most English-language movies have for most people.

And perhaps subtitles put the lazy off further. Someone who really isn't interested in exploring foreign cinema is probably the same sort of person who doesn't want to "read a movie." In contrast, those who have a genuine interest in cinema wouldn't let subtitles get in the way. Those people would also choose a subtitled film over a dubbed film almost 100% of the time as well.

In short, Japanese audiences really have little choice BUT to watch international films with subtitling - they're not choosing to do this, they have to if they want to see the film. Similarly, English-speaking people aren't usually 'avoiding' subtitled films - they just don't occupy a large part of the film market.

Conclusion: this is a poorly thought-out question to pose.
bushlover at 02:17 AM JST - 19th May

We Americans just think that foreign films are just too boring to watch anyway so why bother reading the subtitles to try to understand the limited action in the film? And some English language films from the like of England, Canada, and New Zealand well even they are too boring to watch despite not having any subtitles. Good ol made in America movies are popular worldwide for their high quality plots and action.
jonobugs at 10:02 PM JST - 23rd May

There seems to be quite a few good answers to the posted question, but there is probably at least one more option that no one has mentioned.

It seems that English has become an international language whether you like it or not. So, there is a need for many non-English companies to learn English. I feel that in Japan, the need isn't as great, but there is still a demand. So why not combine learning with pleasure? If you're watching an English film in it's original format, you'll get a chance to hear how English is spoken.

In English speaking countries, that just simply isn't the case with the majority of movie goers. Of course there are small pockets of the population who might be interested in watching a foreign film to help with their language studies, but by far this is uncommon.

Of course this is just one reason. Many others have pointed out that many English speaking movie goers don't want the hassle of reading sub-titles, which I have to agree with. I've heard many people use that very reason. Also, as one other person mentioned, foreign films tend to have an 'artsy' feel to them. The reason for that is that it's usually only the better foreign films that make it over to be distributed on a wider release. Of course there are many poorer movies that make it over, but usually only on DVD. There is a demand for foreign films, and they are usually released in their original language in theatres with subtitles (at least in Vancouver, Canada). However, the market is pretty small in comparison with the Hollywood movies. Some people have used the argument that if there were more releases, etc, then people would go but I tend to believe that if the DEMAND were greater, then the theatres would oblige and release more foreign films.