The Hidden Merits of Dubbed Films

What Is a Dubbed Film?

When watching foreign films (non-Japanese), there are generally two options: watching with subtitles or watching a version where all the voices have been replaced with Japanese dialogue. The latter is called a “dubbed film.”

This has long been a topic of debate.

Some people still say, “You’re not a kid—don’t watch dubbed movies.”

I used to feel the same way when I was a student. I thought watching foreign films with subtitles was cooler, and that dubbed versions were something to be embarrassed about.

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to care less about superficial appearances and more about the essence of things.

And that’s when I started to realize: regardless of what’s considered “cool,” subtitled films have major drawbacks, and dubbed films offer significant advantages.

The Merits and Limits of Subtitled Films

So what are the merits of subtitles?

You get to hear the actor’s real voice and experience the original atmosphere of the film.

Of course, if you’re fluent in English, watching without subtitles is ideal. But for people like me, who can’t catch every word, subtitles are necessary.

Still, subtitled films come with a major disadvantage.

Even a simple line like “Yes” will appear as “Ah” in the corner of the screen.

The Problem of Missing Performances

When watching subtitled films, your eyes instinctively go to the text every time a line is spoken.

At that moment, you’re not looking at the actor’s face.

You might think, “No, I’m watching the performance,” but realistically, no one reads subtitles while keeping their eyes fixed on the actor’s face.

You’re reading the subtitles, and the actor’s face is only in your peripheral vision.

So when you say, “That actor was great,” you’re probably referring to a performance you only half-saw.

Back when I thought dubbed films were uncool, I couldn’t admit this.

But one day, an actor I met told me, “When watching foreign films, I choose dubbed versions so I can focus on the performances.”

Knowing that a professional actor watches dubbed films to study acting made me feel validated.

Subtitles Disrupt Visual Beauty

Another major drawback of subtitles is that they clutter the screen with text.

This might not be obvious unless you’ve worked in visual production.

Films are built from visuals and sound. And visuals are everything.

When a director says, “I want this kind of shot,” the cinematographer and art director carefully design each frame.

For example, they might place a bright area on the left and a dark shadow on the right to guide the viewer’s eye.

But subtitles are often placed right in that shadowed area.

Even though the frame was designed to direct attention to the bright spot, subtitles pull the viewer’s gaze elsewhere.

The white text also throws off the visual balance.

And let’s not forget: when we’re immersed in a film, we forget we’re looking at a flat screen. But subtitles remind us, “This is a screen.”

It’s a subtle but very unnatural intrusion.

Dubbed Voices Can Be Awkward—But So Can Subtitles

Of course, dubbed voices can feel off—poor casting or bad delivery can break immersion.

But subtitles are also unnatural in their own way.

Nowadays, DVDs often include both versions.

The Difference in Information Density

People who rewatch familiar films in dubbed versions are often surprised by how much more information they get.

Subtitles are limited by space, so they condense dialogue.

In reality, characters are saying much more.

Dubbed versions allow for fuller translations, closer to the original dialogue, which means more information.

Even if the language is different, the atmosphere can actually come through more clearly in dubbed versions.

Childhood Memories and the Power of Voice Acting

I grew up watching movies on TV, so dubbed versions were the norm.

When Clint Eastwood appeared, it was natural to hear Yasuo Yamada’s voice. When watching Columbo, it was Aso Koike’s voice. No sense of mismatch.

Skilled voice actors don’t just read lines—they match the performance.

Yamada, for example, was a stage actor, not just a voice actor. He could recreate the original performance.

Dubbing Culture Abroad

In other countries, watching subtitled films is considered niche. Dubbed versions are standard, and no one thinks they’re childish.

In Spanish-speaking countries, American films are dubbed into Spanish. In the U.S., instead of dubbing European films, they often buy remake rights and produce English-language versions.

Wanting to hear English dialogue with subtitles might be a form of “English complex.”

I’ve felt that myself—thinking it’s cool to hear English lines with Japanese subtitles.

I’ve used that aesthetic in my own work, but lately I’ve started to feel it’s a bit unnecessary.

Subtitles or Dubbing—It’s Up to You

Ultimately, it’s a personal choice.

But if you’re someone who, like I once did, feels embarrassed about watching dubbed films, I hope this gives you something to think about.