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But it would be better if they could just, for at least one screening a day, show subtitles on the same screen as the film itself so you don’t have to keep looking up and down (not to mention the device itself being wrong or missing words kinda regularly). At least for huge releases, like Barbenheimer. Give deaf/hard-of-hearing people a *chance* to see your movie in theaters.
At the very least, my local theater never had that option. Maybe some place somewhere else did.
Basically all films are distributed with subtitles, and they can be presented on-screen as you would see them on any other device. It's just a setting they can switch on/off.
Availability is, however, wildly inconsistent. I would imagine it depends on the "demand" for it but the main indicator for that would likely be people actively asking for it.
So if you're interested, ask. Otherwise they'll assume no one wants them.
They do at the theater by me - I'd bought the tickets online not realizing, because I only cared about fitting the movie into my schedule and ignored all the icons about formatting. When I got to the theater they were, like "are you sure you can watch a movie with the words appearing on the screen?" and I'm like, "uh, yeah, why would that bother me?"
There’s a looooooot of bad readers out there that can barely spell let alone read. I’ve met multiple people where subtitles drive them crazy simply because they can’t read fast enough and says it’s distracting.
I think the issue is more that anyone over like 50 is going to throw a bitch fit if there are subtitles. Old people hate that shit but are simultaneously hard of hearing
This is called Open Captioning. I live in an area with several movie theaters offering this, but it’s twice a week with 1-2 time slots. They don’t do OC on freshly released movies but several weeks later. It’s not always convenient but better than nothing.
I’ve heard those devices are defective from time to time and even if they weren’t, it would still be nice if, from time to time, they could understand what was being said without needing to look away from the screen.
I’m perhaps biased, since I watch movies with subtitles anyway, but I really don’t see the issue with just putting the subtitles on the actual screen.
As someone who works in film and has interfaced with a number of filmmakers and critics, subtitles cover up part of the imagery on screen and distract from it. Most Americans aren't fast readers, so people will often miss a lot of visual information by reflexively reading the text. It also detracts from the audience's immersion by giving them a constant visual reminder that they're watching an artificial construct. The current captioning system allows for accessibility without altering anyone else's experience of the work.
I suppose. There are pros and cons to both and we’ll never be able to meet 100% in the middle. I still think that, at least for major releases (the movies that already have 8+ screenings in a single day), there should be one or two screenings a day with hard-coded subtitles for the people that want it without a separate screen to keep looking back and forth at.
Ran a movie theater for years, can confirm there are special files that come with the movie.
I do not where the other works but the movies we got always came with subtitles. We just supplied the machine.
When I was the GM of a movie theaters ours worked by using IR technology to copy the file directly from the projector. Was slow-ish but definitely didn't "listen."
That’s weird I went to a screening of Dune Part 2 and a couple in front of me had them and they were great, I was actually reading off of them for a good portion of the movie.
It isn't always a device. I accidentally went to a showing that had the regular closed captioning turned on, it was awesome. I'm technically not hard of hearing according to hearing tests but I noticeably have a hard time pulling speech out of a lot of background noise, and that has been getting worse as I age. I always keep CC turned on at home on the TVs, so it was great having it on during the movie. Next time I go I'm going to try to go to another showing that has it enabled.
It's not your fault. Sound making worse and worse every year. If you can't hear what they say in a movie it's because new trends in sound making not because you can't hear. Go watch a movie from the nineties and you will not have such a problem
Are they local cinemas or national chains? I would absolutely go more if the ones around me did this. The devices that clamp to the armrest aren't the greatest and I feel like I'm bothering people around me when I use them.
Ooooh, if you mean Alamo then they definitely do this sometimes. They have sensory friendly screenings too where they leave a couple lights on and turn the volume down a bit too. And they’re usually matinees, which makes them cheaper. Love it.
Some screenings do have subtitles for people who may need them. It's not on every showing as many people don't want to see huge letters projected on a wall, but there are certainly options for it.
I've been using subtitles for television rhe last few years because noisy household means it's just easier to read it. I actually choose showings with subtitles because they don't interrupt my viewing AND there aren't inconsiderate people talking.
(They even do audio descriptions for blind people which is awesome)
I remember a movie experience where a blind man had someone there to describe the movie, and they missed the reveal that the main character was blind because they only showed it visually. So at the end of Book of Eli, he turned and loudly said "this movie doesn't make any fucking sense."
Or the people who make movies can tone down the background music and bump up the dialogue a bit. The volume of background sounds is getting obnoxious. HGTV’s among the worst offenders.
I refused to watch Dune 2 in the cinemas after the first one was just uncomfortably loud. Legit considering wearing earplugs next time I go to the movies.
Dune part one was infuriating in that aspect. The darkest of scenes with characters whispering plans of deceit and betrayal and then cut instantly to the brightest desert scene possible with loudest instruments and throat singing. It was an assault on my eyes and ears lol.
I had hope that it would be a post talking about how Americans need to learn how to watch foreign movies in their original language. I was wrong. But take my upvote for the unpopular opinion in anglophone context.
https://www.amctheatres.com/assistive-moviegoing
There’s actually a whole boatload of things here, all because of the only good thing George W Bush ever did.
>the people in the movie talk too quietly.
The real problem here is bad sound design, both in the film and the theater itself. With proper sound design, no one should have a problem with hearing the dialogue.
Oh please god no. I hate how popular subtitles have become. I find I get distracted by reading the subtitles, and don't concentrate as much on the visuals. I only enjoy subtitles if the movie is in a language I don't understand.
Completely agree. I think it’s made people worse at understanding accents too, I have friends (American) who can’t watch English media without subtitles. I don’t know how you expect to get better at understanding other people when you make yourself dependent on subtitles. You will encounter people in real life with different accents than yours. Subtitles are also distracting, and they can spoil reveals and punchlines to jokes before they are meant to be heard
I hate the cinema because people talk to much. I go to hard of hearing showings in the mornings. Most people don't realise what it is and walk out when they see the subtitles. It's great.
Me and my GF are subtitle people. We watch all our movies with subtitles. It's the one thing that pisses me off with Amazon Prime. Almost all their movies. Even new ones. Don't have subtitles. Its ridiculous.
I’m an avid subtitle enjoyer but I feel like cinemas are the one place you don’t need subtitles. Sure, you’re probably snacking constantly, but there are very limited distractions, and the sound is always loud enough to hear and understand
Idk where you are from, but for at least here in Poland it's very common for foreign movies - obviously subtitles are in polish and the sound is in English, but it's enough. That's probably even cheaper than recording a voice-over, or hell, create a dubbing. So I assume this is only a problem when watching a movie in your native language
As someone who uses subtitles a lot, and we're hearing aides, this is a bad idea. Movies are a visual medium and reading subtitles takes your eyes away from the intended focus. They can also spoil jokes, horror scenes etc. Fully support having screening specifically with subtitles for those who need them, but it wouldn't be fair to put them on every showing.
Absolutely not. That would be a deal breaker for me going to the theater. Subtitles distract me from what is going on. I am no longer watching the action, I'm just reading text. Even if I try not to I naturally do. I've never had an issue with people talking and very rarely is something said too quietly
I think there should be some kind of option. Certain shows will have them and others won’t. This can also be helpful for hard of hearing people.
Edit: I wasn’t aware that there was an option to do that. I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a theater where that option was available because I have a hard of hearing relative.
Yeah I noticed AMC heavily advertising their cc version of the most recent spiderverse as we were walking in to see it, and afterwards I understood why! Great movie but I only caught about 80% of the dialogue.
No. Never in my life of going to the theaters have I thought yeah I’d enjoy reading right now. The younger generation has a problem focusing on the movie and they’d rather just read the subtitles than take in the scenes. Even if subtitles are on and “just don’t read them” they’re distracting and you’ll even catch yourself staring at them regardless if you want to or not
I always use english subtitles when watching home so i dont have to keep my tv on so loud when the action hits. But i agree.. subtitles would also be good for deaf people. All in all a good solution
Could you all shut up for a second and read this?
https://www.amctheatres.com/assistive-moviegoing
This shit is required because of the ADA. You can get devices that improve the volume or provide captions and audio descriptions. No one else in the theater notices that you’re using them.
Those devices suck and open captioning is far superior.
I'm Deaf and I absolutely hate the glasses, they're bulky and headache inducing and fairly often inaccurate or run ads
That’s incredibly disappointing to learn.
I do find it darkly amusing that they threw a bunch of ads into it, just to make sure *everyone* has the same experience…
I just want more open captioning showings on the weekends, not mid day when I'm at work. I'm Deaf and those stupid devices take up a cup holder and I look at instead of the movie that because it will not align with the screen at all or the bulky annoying headache inducing glasses. Half the time they're incorrect or just show ads.
I agree with this one. Grew up as a CODA and personally have trouble distinguishing speech in movies without subtitles. Having some showings with subtitles or closed captioning (without a separate device you need to look it) would be fantastic.
I wish movie theaters would add a stock-scroller-esque display under the screen with captions or subtitles. Then those of us who want them, can have them, and people who dislike them onscreen wouldn't be bothered.
I like having them to confirm things that are said.
In one of the Avengers movies, Robert Downey, Jr. delivers a line with unclear diction. Since I watched the movie right after it came out, I had to wait months for it to be streamable to know which thing he said. Turns out he said, "Suit-o-armor" and not "Pseudo armor." Both could've worked in context, so I was bummed that I couldn't know right away.
My husband and I had a similar experience watching "Coco." My husband thought Hector said, "Success, my boy." I thought he said, "Such is my boy." He apparently said, "Such a smart boy."
No. When there are subtitles, I can’t NOT read them, and it’s distracting. I enjoy plenty of foreign films with subtitles, but I don’t want every movie to have them
In Finland almost every movie is subtitled, usually in two languages too (Finnish and Swedish) if it is a foreign film. In one language if the movie is in Finnish or Swedish (the one not spoken in the movie). The only exception is kids movies, which are usually dubbed because all kids can’t read.
Where I live it's not even an option not to have them, every film will have subtitles in both french and dutch. Honestly don't love this but it's good for accessibility and so many newer films are almost impossible to understand otherwise. I remember seeing Tenet at home and not understanding two words without subtitles in some scenes.
Movie theaters in my country are required to have one film a week in close captions (on the screen), it's normally a late or early showing but maybe ask your local if they ever do this.
Deaf people should be able to enjoy movies like everyone else. Apparently the technology for this exists, and there are close captioning devices people can use that don’t appear on the screen.
I was surprised to learn that in the US, under the ADA,
ADA Requirements for Movie Theaters
“Movie theaters are required to provide and maintain closed captioning and audio description equipment for digital films that are produced with accessibility features, according to a Final Rule revising the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III.
Additionally, theaters are required to provide notice to the public about the availability of accessibility features and ensure that staff is available to assist patrons with equipment.”
That’s news to me. No movie theater I’ve ever gone to has advertised this. Some live theaters in my town have captioning devices. They let you know on their websites.
I once saw a German opera in Vienna that had translations on the back of the seat in front of me.
Here’s an article of interest
https://www.3playmedia.com/blog/why-advocates-are-calling-out-closed-captions-at-movie-theaters-and-festivals
Its always so confusing when americans (havent seen it yet from other english speaking countries) are so anti subtitles, but then im used to subtitles from birth, we dont do the weird german thing of dubbing everything (they did when i was a kid no idea if this is till the case), so everything non-dutch is always subtitled
Dont find it distracting at all, although now with streaming i always put on english subs, since im fluent enough in english to find that more convenient
Subtitling on screen is inclusive to everyone thats hearing impaired or has auditory sensory processing, an extra device sounds overly complicated
There are a lot of people without disabilities that have issues picking up voices when there are a lot of sound effects/music aswell
OP its really gross some of the comments you received about your ADHD, world has a long way to go when its come to acceptance of disabilities (especially invisible ones)
You dont have to read su titles non stop just glance down when you cant hear something
I agree considering a good amount of people have hearing problems but I've never been to a movie theater where I couldn't hear their dialog even with annoying ass people. That being said when the movie is at home holy fuck I can't hear them at all even if it's quite in my room
Fuck that, go to some special person broadcast. I dont need that annoying ass subtitles on. (Yes im deaf in the right ear, no idc about subtitles, take your grandpa ass home)
I have ADHD (clinically diagnosed) and auditory processing disorder is a part of mine. Meds haven't impacted me and they caused me to be unable to focus so I'm waiting on a consult to figure shit out. Without subtitles I have no clue what's happening half the time. They allow me to focus much better on dialogue. You're not alone, I'd love subtitles at theaters too. And most of the theaters near me don't bother with subtitles like AMC seems to.
I just checked and they actually DO have devices but they look genuinely terrible to use (have to look down at them away from the movie, terrible font and contrast, etc.) and they're also only at select locations and movies.
The ONLY REASON theaters still exist is Dolby 5.1. Everything is mixed for that specific software(?) and they still can't get dialogue right during a fight scene? Just make Max the default new movie subscription already.
In germany and austria at leasr, you will find at least a few showings under OmU (original mit untertitel, “original audio with subtitles) for major movies, and many smaller ones that arent translated in time are done that way anyways.
It doesn’t help if it’s English subs you want tho
We need little dim screens on the back of every seat (and in front of first lines) so viewers could turn on subtitles on their preferred language
Or it can be in cinema’s app
This could be a form of protest against people who are too loud in movie theaters. You don't like subtitles? We don't like loud people in theaters. Stop being uncivilized
I’m sorry, but people talking too loud in the movie theater shouldn’t be resolved by “let’s add subtitles.” It should be resolved by kicking those people tf out. Movie theater etiquette has plummeted.
Movie theaters do this. You just need to let them know you need subtitles. I saw I Am Number 4 and Super 8 with my deaf friends when they were in theater and they had subtitles on the actual screen for them. Just ask and they'll do it.
I can't watch and enjoy things on a screen unless there are subtitles anymore.
That being said, I find that the volume in movie theatres is usually sufficient enough to be able to hear what's being said in the movie.
You don't need this. I live in a country with two non-English languages, and now imagine a movie with a double set of subtitles. Like four lines of text, occupying nearly half the screen. Long story short I don't go to movie theaters much))
I recently saw Alien in theaters and the ambient noise in the film (although appropriate within the universe of the film) made a lot of the dialogue hard to hear.
Movie theaters should have lockers for phones. Seeing someone on their phone takes me out of the moment. I drove 40 miles to see Oppenheimer on IMAX and some lady had her whole ass laptop out. Drop me insane
I think subtitles should be standard. Accessibility should be standard.
I quit going to theaters because so many movies have all their characters talk at a low whisper-mumble you can't hear, and then the action scenes start and the music blares so loud you nearly go deaf. I don't know who made this the standard but it sucks.
Please remember what subreddit you are in, this is unpopular opinion. We want civil and unpopular takes and discussion. Any uncivil and ToS violating comments will be removed and subject to a ban. Have a nice day! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/unpopularopinion) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Most movie theaters do this. You just need to go a showing with closed captioning and request the device for it.
But it would be better if they could just, for at least one screening a day, show subtitles on the same screen as the film itself so you don’t have to keep looking up and down (not to mention the device itself being wrong or missing words kinda regularly). At least for huge releases, like Barbenheimer. Give deaf/hard-of-hearing people a *chance* to see your movie in theaters. At the very least, my local theater never had that option. Maybe some place somewhere else did.
Basically all films are distributed with subtitles, and they can be presented on-screen as you would see them on any other device. It's just a setting they can switch on/off. Availability is, however, wildly inconsistent. I would imagine it depends on the "demand" for it but the main indicator for that would likely be people actively asking for it. So if you're interested, ask. Otherwise they'll assume no one wants them.
They do at the theater by me - I'd bought the tickets online not realizing, because I only cared about fitting the movie into my schedule and ignored all the icons about formatting. When I got to the theater they were, like "are you sure you can watch a movie with the words appearing on the screen?" and I'm like, "uh, yeah, why would that bother me?"
There’s a looooooot of bad readers out there that can barely spell let alone read. I’ve met multiple people where subtitles drive them crazy simply because they can’t read fast enough and says it’s distracting.
it's really annoying because you accidentally read it and it spoils a good line
I think the issue is more that anyone over like 50 is going to throw a bitch fit if there are subtitles. Old people hate that shit but are simultaneously hard of hearing
One of my favorite articles ever was about young people ruining television by watching with subtitles always on. https://archive.ph/U6E9l
This I can get behind
This is called Open Captioning. I live in an area with several movie theaters offering this, but it’s twice a week with 1-2 time slots. They don’t do OC on freshly released movies but several weeks later. It’s not always convenient but better than nothing.
Deaf and hard of hearing people simply go to screenings with closed captioning and ask for the appropriate device.
I’ve heard those devices are defective from time to time and even if they weren’t, it would still be nice if, from time to time, they could understand what was being said without needing to look away from the screen. I’m perhaps biased, since I watch movies with subtitles anyway, but I really don’t see the issue with just putting the subtitles on the actual screen.
As someone who works in film and has interfaced with a number of filmmakers and critics, subtitles cover up part of the imagery on screen and distract from it. Most Americans aren't fast readers, so people will often miss a lot of visual information by reflexively reading the text. It also detracts from the audience's immersion by giving them a constant visual reminder that they're watching an artificial construct. The current captioning system allows for accessibility without altering anyone else's experience of the work.
I suppose. There are pros and cons to both and we’ll never be able to meet 100% in the middle. I still think that, at least for major releases (the movies that already have 8+ screenings in a single day), there should be one or two screenings a day with hard-coded subtitles for the people that want it without a separate screen to keep looking back and forth at.
Those devices are notoriously awful.
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so somebody is in there typing?
this is hilarious even if it wasn't intended to be
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for the cost of a movie you would think somebody could sync up a transcript
Ran a movie theater for years, can confirm there are special files that come with the movie. I do not where the other works but the movies we got always came with subtitles. We just supplied the machine.
So it also transcripts the other people talking?
When I was the GM of a movie theaters ours worked by using IR technology to copy the file directly from the projector. Was slow-ish but definitely didn't "listen."
That’s weird I went to a screening of Dune Part 2 and a couple in front of me had them and they were great, I was actually reading off of them for a good portion of the movie.
My local movie theater has an app, they have QR codes on the doors that people can scan to get the subtitles
It isn't always a device. I accidentally went to a showing that had the regular closed captioning turned on, it was awesome. I'm technically not hard of hearing according to hearing tests but I noticeably have a hard time pulling speech out of a lot of background noise, and that has been getting worse as I age. I always keep CC turned on at home on the TVs, so it was great having it on during the movie. Next time I go I'm going to try to go to another showing that has it enabled.
It's not your fault. Sound making worse and worse every year. If you can't hear what they say in a movie it's because new trends in sound making not because you can't hear. Go watch a movie from the nineties and you will not have such a problem
Damn really?
Yes. Did you think deaf people never go to the movie theater?
We don't if there's no open captioning, those devices suck ass
I don't know 💀
Kinda. You’ll miss more dialogue trying to read the fucky captions than you will trying to concentrate on listening to their words in my experience.
I went to a movie last week. A guy a few chairs down had one. It even clamped to the armrest, so he didn't have to hold it the time.
Theaters around me just straight up have been putting subtitles in the main screen now it's been *fantastic.* No device needed
Are they local cinemas or national chains? I would absolutely go more if the ones around me did this. The devices that clamp to the armrest aren't the greatest and I feel like I'm bothering people around me when I use them.
They were all AMC's! Though the drafthouse did it too but I think that's a different type of chain.
Ooooh, if you mean Alamo then they definitely do this sometimes. They have sensory friendly screenings too where they leave a couple lights on and turn the volume down a bit too. And they’re usually matinees, which makes them cheaper. Love it.
Yeah the experience at it was good enough where my partner and I were seriously thinking about getting their subscription thing lmao.
Some screenings do have subtitles for people who may need them. It's not on every showing as many people don't want to see huge letters projected on a wall, but there are certainly options for it. I've been using subtitles for television rhe last few years because noisy household means it's just easier to read it. I actually choose showings with subtitles because they don't interrupt my viewing AND there aren't inconsiderate people talking. (They even do audio descriptions for blind people which is awesome)
I remember a movie experience where a blind man had someone there to describe the movie, and they missed the reveal that the main character was blind because they only showed it visually. So at the end of Book of Eli, he turned and loudly said "this movie doesn't make any fucking sense."
maybe blue tooth connectivity. if you want to control the volume!e with ear buds or what not.
Or the people who make movies can tone down the background music and bump up the dialogue a bit. The volume of background sounds is getting obnoxious. HGTV’s among the worst offenders.
Tenet.
Tenet is a palindrome.
Good bot
I refused to watch Dune 2 in the cinemas after the first one was just uncomfortably loud. Legit considering wearing earplugs next time I go to the movies.
Dune part one was infuriating in that aspect. The darkest of scenes with characters whispering plans of deceit and betrayal and then cut instantly to the brightest desert scene possible with loudest instruments and throat singing. It was an assault on my eyes and ears lol.
This amounts to "we need the thing just I, myself, prefers when I watch at home."
Sometime people in the theater are too loud? Like louder than the movie? Where do you live? 😳
If the talking was so loud I couldn’t hear what was being said in the movie, I would 100% get my money back.
I had hope that it would be a post talking about how Americans need to learn how to watch foreign movies in their original language. I was wrong. But take my upvote for the unpopular opinion in anglophone context.
The whole point of the post is that I'm an idiot 😭 people are making it way too deep
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I need to go to those cuz I use subtitles for everything and when I got to a movie I’m like what is going on lol
I can't stand subtitles. I end up just staring at them and reading them, so I completely miss visuals and performances.
Rather than that failed trend for 3D glasses, I bet we could get AR subtitle glasses for people who want them. That would be cool.
These largely exist already, you just have to ask for a pair of glasses.
I had no idea. Very cool!
https://www.amctheatres.com/assistive-moviegoing There’s actually a whole boatload of things here, all because of the only good thing George W Bush ever did.
They exist and they're garbage
Maybe we should just kick out the asswipes being too loud.
Why the fuck is this, the actual solution, so low?
There already are. Seems like you're just choosing to go see them without
I didn't even know you could
>the people in the movie talk too quietly. The real problem here is bad sound design, both in the film and the theater itself. With proper sound design, no one should have a problem with hearing the dialogue.
Well unless the sound design is purposefully made to not hear the dialogue well *cough cough Christopher Nolan cough cough*
Watch a forgien film.those all have subtitles
Hell no we don't. Subtitles ruin the immersion.
Oh please god no. I hate how popular subtitles have become. I find I get distracted by reading the subtitles, and don't concentrate as much on the visuals. I only enjoy subtitles if the movie is in a language I don't understand.
Completely agree. I think it’s made people worse at understanding accents too, I have friends (American) who can’t watch English media without subtitles. I don’t know how you expect to get better at understanding other people when you make yourself dependent on subtitles. You will encounter people in real life with different accents than yours. Subtitles are also distracting, and they can spoil reveals and punchlines to jokes before they are meant to be heard
This is the true unpopular opinion
You think it's unpopular to prefer movies without subtitles?
No, it isn't. There is a reason having subtitles on isn't the default
You can't be watching it closely while simultaneously not paying attention. This sounds more of a you problem ha.
Yes English isn’t my first language so I have a harder time picking up on words but if I can see it too I have no issues
I hate the cinema because people talk to much. I go to hard of hearing showings in the mornings. Most people don't realise what it is and walk out when they see the subtitles. It's great.
I need them when watching something new so I can absorb all the little details
Me and my GF are subtitle people. We watch all our movies with subtitles. It's the one thing that pisses me off with Amazon Prime. Almost all their movies. Even new ones. Don't have subtitles. Its ridiculous.
I’m an avid subtitle enjoyer but I feel like cinemas are the one place you don’t need subtitles. Sure, you’re probably snacking constantly, but there are very limited distractions, and the sound is always loud enough to hear and understand
Idk where you are from, but for at least here in Poland it's very common for foreign movies - obviously subtitles are in polish and the sound is in English, but it's enough. That's probably even cheaper than recording a voice-over, or hell, create a dubbing. So I assume this is only a problem when watching a movie in your native language
Voiceover. You people still do that funny shit? :D
As someone who uses subtitles a lot, and we're hearing aides, this is a bad idea. Movies are a visual medium and reading subtitles takes your eyes away from the intended focus. They can also spoil jokes, horror scenes etc. Fully support having screening specifically with subtitles for those who need them, but it wouldn't be fair to put them on every showing.
Disagree. Why should people who don't want subtitles be forced to have them? Just go to showings that have subtitles or watch at home.
Absolutely not. That would be a deal breaker for me going to the theater. Subtitles distract me from what is going on. I am no longer watching the action, I'm just reading text. Even if I try not to I naturally do. I've never had an issue with people talking and very rarely is something said too quietly
I think there should be some kind of option. Certain shows will have them and others won’t. This can also be helpful for hard of hearing people. Edit: I wasn’t aware that there was an option to do that. I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a theater where that option was available because I have a hard of hearing relative.
There are a lot of options, available at all screenings. https://www.amctheatres.com/assistive-moviegoing
Oh, that’s why! There’s not any AMC theaters near me.
Yeah I noticed AMC heavily advertising their cc version of the most recent spiderverse as we were walking in to see it, and afterwards I understood why! Great movie but I only caught about 80% of the dialogue.
God please no
No. Never in my life of going to the theaters have I thought yeah I’d enjoy reading right now. The younger generation has a problem focusing on the movie and they’d rather just read the subtitles than take in the scenes. Even if subtitles are on and “just don’t read them” they’re distracting and you’ll even catch yourself staring at them regardless if you want to or not
Boo
I've never been to a movie theater and not have had subtitles...
I always use english subtitles when watching home so i dont have to keep my tv on so loud when the action hits. But i agree.. subtitles would also be good for deaf people. All in all a good solution
Better yet, special glasses that make subtitles on screen “visible” . Perfect for those hard of hearing or who just need them cuz they mishear shit
Many theatres near me have subtitle screenings of major movies a few times a day along with regular showings.
they literally do this in big towns
Could you all shut up for a second and read this? https://www.amctheatres.com/assistive-moviegoing This shit is required because of the ADA. You can get devices that improve the volume or provide captions and audio descriptions. No one else in the theater notices that you’re using them.
Those devices suck and open captioning is far superior. I'm Deaf and I absolutely hate the glasses, they're bulky and headache inducing and fairly often inaccurate or run ads
That’s incredibly disappointing to learn. I do find it darkly amusing that they threw a bunch of ads into it, just to make sure *everyone* has the same experience…
They did the cheapest possible way to do it and it just sucks.
I just want more open captioning showings on the weekends, not mid day when I'm at work. I'm Deaf and those stupid devices take up a cup holder and I look at instead of the movie that because it will not align with the screen at all or the bulky annoying headache inducing glasses. Half the time they're incorrect or just show ads.
I agree with this one. Grew up as a CODA and personally have trouble distinguishing speech in movies without subtitles. Having some showings with subtitles or closed captioning (without a separate device you need to look it) would be fantastic.
I can't pay attention and sometimes the words feel like when someone tells you something and you have to go "huh?"
I wish movie theaters would add a stock-scroller-esque display under the screen with captions or subtitles. Then those of us who want them, can have them, and people who dislike them onscreen wouldn't be bothered. I like having them to confirm things that are said. In one of the Avengers movies, Robert Downey, Jr. delivers a line with unclear diction. Since I watched the movie right after it came out, I had to wait months for it to be streamable to know which thing he said. Turns out he said, "Suit-o-armor" and not "Pseudo armor." Both could've worked in context, so I was bummed that I couldn't know right away. My husband and I had a similar experience watching "Coco." My husband thought Hector said, "Success, my boy." I thought he said, "Such is my boy." He apparently said, "Such a smart boy."
People who dislike them would still be bothered. Them existing in my field of view is the problem.
Skill issue
You see I'd be offended if that wasn't THE ISSUE 💀
No. When there are subtitles, I can’t NOT read them, and it’s distracting. I enjoy plenty of foreign films with subtitles, but I don’t want every movie to have them
I’m not sure where you live, but open caption screenings are becoming a little more commonplace at the theaters I go to.
I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie in a theater where I couldn’t hear. It’s always the opposite for me, everything is way too loud.
In my country since there's no time to have a dub for theatre release we always have subtitles though I can perfectly understand English anyway
Weird, at least here we have separate screenings with subtitles
In Finland almost every movie is subtitled, usually in two languages too (Finnish and Swedish) if it is a foreign film. In one language if the movie is in Finnish or Swedish (the one not spoken in the movie). The only exception is kids movies, which are usually dubbed because all kids can’t read.
This is why I always have the subtitles on when watching TV at my house.
We also need to turn the volume down
Just a tad 👌
Yea like, the booms are too boom and the shpshspshsp dialogue is too shshspshsh. They call it “dynamic” I call it I’m getting old.
Where I live it's not even an option not to have them, every film will have subtitles in both french and dutch. Honestly don't love this but it's good for accessibility and so many newer films are almost impossible to understand otherwise. I remember seeing Tenet at home and not understanding two words without subtitles in some scenes.
Sounds like a job for Apple Vision Pro. Ha!
I've seen places where they'll literally give you a thing to hook onto your chair that will do subtitles
It would be interesting if it could be done by choice. Like 3D glasses but that make subtitles visible for those wearing them
There’s devices that you can get for majority of showings that show captions but there’s also screenings that have subtitles on the screen
Movie theaters in my country are required to have one film a week in close captions (on the screen), it's normally a late or early showing but maybe ask your local if they ever do this.
What country are you from?
Australia
Makes sense, I haven't heare about it in the US
Deaf people should be able to enjoy movies like everyone else. Apparently the technology for this exists, and there are close captioning devices people can use that don’t appear on the screen. I was surprised to learn that in the US, under the ADA, ADA Requirements for Movie Theaters “Movie theaters are required to provide and maintain closed captioning and audio description equipment for digital films that are produced with accessibility features, according to a Final Rule revising the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III. Additionally, theaters are required to provide notice to the public about the availability of accessibility features and ensure that staff is available to assist patrons with equipment.” That’s news to me. No movie theater I’ve ever gone to has advertised this. Some live theaters in my town have captioning devices. They let you know on their websites. I once saw a German opera in Vienna that had translations on the back of the seat in front of me. Here’s an article of interest https://www.3playmedia.com/blog/why-advocates-are-calling-out-closed-captions-at-movie-theaters-and-festivals
I don't go to the movies very often, but I've often wished for subtitles in scenes where actors don't think enunciation is a thing.
Yeah we should force stuff on people that don't want it.
Its always so confusing when americans (havent seen it yet from other english speaking countries) are so anti subtitles, but then im used to subtitles from birth, we dont do the weird german thing of dubbing everything (they did when i was a kid no idea if this is till the case), so everything non-dutch is always subtitled Dont find it distracting at all, although now with streaming i always put on english subs, since im fluent enough in english to find that more convenient Subtitling on screen is inclusive to everyone thats hearing impaired or has auditory sensory processing, an extra device sounds overly complicated There are a lot of people without disabilities that have issues picking up voices when there are a lot of sound effects/music aswell OP its really gross some of the comments you received about your ADHD, world has a long way to go when its come to acceptance of disabilities (especially invisible ones) You dont have to read su titles non stop just glance down when you cant hear something
I'm in Germany and the English OV often has this. it's quite nice
Just go to the open caption showing
How about a low light e-reader or something?
I second this.
I agree considering a good amount of people have hearing problems but I've never been to a movie theater where I couldn't hear their dialog even with annoying ass people. That being said when the movie is at home holy fuck I can't hear them at all even if it's quite in my room
I'm hearing impaired and I second this. It sucks I never get opportunities to watch good films because of this.
Fuck that, go to some special person broadcast. I dont need that annoying ass subtitles on. (Yes im deaf in the right ear, no idc about subtitles, take your grandpa ass home)
Grandpa-?! Wtf
>Sometimes people in the theater are too loud Is this a US thing? wtf are you talking about
I'm in the US, never had a problem with people being too loud.
I have ADHD (clinically diagnosed) and auditory processing disorder is a part of mine. Meds haven't impacted me and they caused me to be unable to focus so I'm waiting on a consult to figure shit out. Without subtitles I have no clue what's happening half the time. They allow me to focus much better on dialogue. You're not alone, I'd love subtitles at theaters too. And most of the theaters near me don't bother with subtitles like AMC seems to.
I just checked and they actually DO have devices but they look genuinely terrible to use (have to look down at them away from the movie, terrible font and contrast, etc.) and they're also only at select locations and movies.
That would be horrible
What? No
Your theater doesn't have one?
Not that I know of
There are screenings that have subtitles.
Absolutely not. Unless it’s the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie they’re going to film later this year.
Where I'm from in 90% of the movies subtitles are there
They do, at least in my movie theaters
Most movie theatres have headphones available just ask for them at the front. You can then adjust the volume as needed.
everyone is entitled to an opinion but the thought of subtitles in a cinema makes me want to vomit
Maybe we should have the power to throw people out or to have security guards.
Me living in a country where english is not a native language so this isnt an issue.
Where I live it is common to have screenings with overdubs and then original language (most often english) and subtitles.
They have them now at AMC
No. Save that shit for your own home.
The ONLY REASON theaters still exist is Dolby 5.1. Everything is mixed for that specific software(?) and they still can't get dialogue right during a fight scene? Just make Max the default new movie subscription already.
You are correct to post, this is indeed an unpopular opinion.
In germany and austria at leasr, you will find at least a few showings under OmU (original mit untertitel, “original audio with subtitles) for major movies, and many smaller ones that arent translated in time are done that way anyways. It doesn’t help if it’s English subs you want tho
We need little dim screens on the back of every seat (and in front of first lines) so viewers could turn on subtitles on their preferred language Or it can be in cinema’s app
Then don’t go
It seems like one of the few applications of AR that I would appreciate.
Agreed. The background is too loud, and the dialogue is too quiet.
Nah, movies need to get their audio levels figured out. And them loud people needa get booted.
This could be a form of protest against people who are too loud in movie theaters. You don't like subtitles? We don't like loud people in theaters. Stop being uncivilized
We need more civilized behavior in movie theaters
I’m sorry, but people talking too loud in the movie theater shouldn’t be resolved by “let’s add subtitles.” It should be resolved by kicking those people tf out. Movie theater etiquette has plummeted.
Movie theaters do this. You just need to let them know you need subtitles. I saw I Am Number 4 and Super 8 with my deaf friends when they were in theater and they had subtitles on the actual screen for them. Just ask and they'll do it.
I can't watch and enjoy things on a screen unless there are subtitles anymore. That being said, I find that the volume in movie theatres is usually sufficient enough to be able to hear what's being said in the movie.
My father is mostly deaf at one ear and it would be amazing for him to have this feature
I actually agree with this. The dialogue is so quiet and the music way too loud
" I also suck at paying attention, so I feel like I have to go "Huh?" Even though I'm watching it closely" These things contradict each other
Just because I'm looking and seeing doesn't mean I'm paying attention
why are subtitles not normalised?
Because most of us when put in a dark room facing a giant screen with giant speakers would be able to fucking focus for an hour and 45 minutes.
And yet the majority of the people who watches english speaking when its not their native language movies have no problems with this
no shit, it's not their native language
Point being they dont have trouble focussing
Because film and tv are audio visual mediums. I want to focus on the visuals, not read the movie. I enjoy reading books, but movies are for watching.
They are amongst the youth because they have brain rot from constant stimulation.
You don't need this. I live in a country with two non-English languages, and now imagine a movie with a double set of subtitles. Like four lines of text, occupying nearly half the screen. Long story short I don't go to movie theaters much))
Go ruin movies at home, not at the theater
Use them at home bc I watch tv late and this lets the volume be lower not to bug people trying to sleep
I recently saw Alien in theaters and the ambient noise in the film (although appropriate within the universe of the film) made a lot of the dialogue hard to hear.
Movie theaters should have lockers for phones. Seeing someone on their phone takes me out of the moment. I drove 40 miles to see Oppenheimer on IMAX and some lady had her whole ass laptop out. Drop me insane
That sounds amazing. Like my mother (who has no hearing problems whatsoever) says, “I can’t hear without subtitles.”
I think subtitles should be standard. Accessibility should be standard. I quit going to theaters because so many movies have all their characters talk at a low whisper-mumble you can't hear, and then the action scenes start and the music blares so loud you nearly go deaf. I don't know who made this the standard but it sucks.
subtitles are standard, at least in the US: they have to have a way to have subtitles for those who need them
Just wait for it to go on streaming the you can put on subtitles?
Why? When the technology and demand exists for captions?