Controversial new Netflix feature just made things better for millions of subscribers
Do you ever find yourself straining to hear what's going on or dialling the volume up to 100 because you can't understand what Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven just said in Stranger Things? No, you're not getting old, but simply, you might be used to having subtitles on when watching your favorite show or movie.
If you're a subtitle supporter, then Netflix's latest innovation could be one for you.
The streaming giant reports that 50% of its users opt for subtitles, and with that sitting at 301.6 million global subscribers (excluding those who piggyback on others) in April 2025, that's quite a lot.
Netflix has gone viral for its sometimes hilarious use of closed caption subtitles describing moments like 'Eleven pants', ''stares in Spanish', and 'intensity intensifies'.
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While we can find the funny side of it, some of you are sick of the conventional CC subtitles that include audio cues. Netflix has listened to your complaints and now has a new version of subtitles that only display spoken dialogue.
A 2023 YouGov survey confirms that 23% of those who took part watch television with subtitles in their native language, while that leaps to 31% in those aged 25 to 49, and soars to 61% in the 18 to 24 age group. It's clear there's a trend in younger people choosing subtitles, with the theory being that we're getting more easily distracted, whereas subtitles force us to concentrate on the screen.
The new option can be found in your subtitle options, where you can select 'English' instead of 'English (CC)'. The final season of You was the first to offer the new and improved subtitles, with a proposed rollout that will initially focus on all new Netflix originals.
As you can imagine, the feature is already proving divisive among the ever-grouchy Netflix community.
Over on Reddit, opinions on subtitles remain divided, further pushing generational differences.
One subtitle skeptic wrote: "They ruin the timing of every single line of dialogue."
One supporter said: "Modern TV needs subtitles because quality is so bad. They literally blast all the other sounds and keep the dialogue soo quiet.
A third said: "I have ADHD and maybe it’s a processing thing but I can not hear clearly unless I have subtitles on? Even listening to music a lot of times I google lyrics to hear properly.. I love subtitles lol."
Looking at the bigger picture, someone called out advancing artificial intelligence capabilities and use with subtitles as they concluded: "I've noticed that subtitle quality is getting worse and worse. I think this is due to AI being used to save money but it really bothers me when a big studio or platform releases blatantly incorrect subtitles."
Netflix is looking at expanding the non-audio descriptive subtitles to more shows and movies, although it hasn't given a timeline of when that will happen.
With continued complaints about naturalistic 'mumblecore' acting, we won't be ditching our subtitles anytime soon. Still, the ability to drop 'tentacles squelching' will be a refreshing change.