Squid Game and Netflix's subtitle problem

Americans are finally willing to read subtitles — but what if what we're reading is wrong?

Squid Game.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Netflix, iStock)

Nearly two years have passed since Parasite director Bong Joon-ho razzed the audience at the Golden Globes during his acceptance speech for best foreign-language feature. "Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles," he scolded the organization, which had ruled Parasite ineligible for its top award because its dialogue isn't in English, "you will be introduced to so many more amazing films."

A few weeks after Bong's speech, Parasite became the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture in the Academy Awards' 92-year history. Then the first round of COVID-19 lockdowns began. English-speaking Netflix viewers soon exhausted the likes of Tiger King and began exploring non-English content like The Platform (Spanish), Dark (German), Kingdom (Korean), and Lupin (French). Some 97 percent of U.S. subscribers reportedly watched at least one non-English show in 2020.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.