Where can I find movies or tv shows that are spoken in Spanish with English subtitles?

October 9, 2009 4:36 PM

Where can I find some movies or tv shows that are spoken in Spanish with English subtitles?

I'm going to be in Buenos Aires, Argentina for awhile and to help improve my Spanish skills I'd like to watch some movies or television shows in Spanish, with English subtitles. But I'm having a hard time locating any; the TV stations here tend to have the opposite: English-language programs with Spanish subtitles. (Which, while helping my reading skills, isn't helping my listening comprehension very much.)

Any idea where I might be able to find what I'm looking for? (In-person or on-line is fine, I have a pretty good internet connection here.)

Thanks!!

posted by inatizzy to society & culture (16 comments total)

most/all movies listed in the foreign movies section under Spanish of your movie rental store, or Netflix, will have English subtitles.
posted by edgeways at 4:41 PM on October 9

Search for these directors -

Almodovar
Amenabar
Medem
posted by fire&wings at 4:46 PM on October 9

Do you get mun2 on your cable network? They broadcast lots of their shows half in English and half in Spanish. Not exactly what you're looking for, but I think it's fantastic to practice your spanish. Here's a video example of what they broadcast.
posted by pazazygeek at 4:49 PM on October 9

movies or tv shows that are spoken in Spanish with English subtitles

That's the usual format for any Spanish-language (or 'foreign') DVD you might rent or purchase.

But are you sure that's what you want? I find I get a lot more value from foreign-language films when they are also captioned in that same language subtitles (captions, I suppose)... and I can imagine the reverse being useful (English audio, Spanish subtitles) too.
posted by rokusan at 4:55 PM on October 9

Spanish-language news shows are not too hard for me, generally. Although there are no subtitles, you pretty much know the news already anyway, and the graphics and slow, enunciated words are helpful.
posted by jgirl at 5:29 PM on October 9

watch the devil's backbone, pan's labyrinth, the orphan.

The foreign section suggestion is good.
posted by djduckie at 5:29 PM on October 9

I was going to suggest the del Toro movies djduckie mentions above, but actually, all kinds of English-language movies and TV shows (on DVD) have (dubbed) Spanish-language tracks and the option of English subtitles. (Off the top of my head, I remember that "Angel" in Spanish is unintentionally pretty funny, because the title character's voice doesn't sound remotely like the actual actor's -- yes, I was bored enough one day to watch "Angel" in Spanish.)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 5:50 PM on October 9

Y Tu Mama Tambien. Warning: It's very R-rated.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 6:13 PM on October 9

Another thing you can do is find out if any of the shows you already like are dubbed into Spanish. Then you can watch them with the english subtitles on. I know this isn't specifically what you asked for, but I'm suggesting it because personally, I enjoy watching shows I already like, dubbed into French, with the English subtitles. You're lucky because in my experience Spanish is more common than French for American shows.
posted by amethysts at 6:25 PM on October 9

In Spanish class, we watched a lot of Que Pasa USA, which is a bilingual comedy (not exactly what you asked for, but possibly still helpful!)
posted by Comrade_robot at 9:28 PM on October 9

I don't know about in other libraries, but here's one way of finding many of them at one of my local libraries. Starting from Advanced Search, do a keyword search for (without quotes) "spanish language materials english subtitles" and click on the Video, DVD, or Quick Flick DVD buttons. You're going to get same false hits, but also a lot of good ones.
posted by bentley at 11:34 PM on October 9

Lo Más TV offers what you're looking for, if I'm understanding you correctly. You can even choose Argentine shows.
posted by PatoPata at 10:39 AM on October 10

Epitafios is a crime/thriller miniseries set in Buenos Aires. It's a little gory.
posted by homuncula at 11:11 AM on October 10

Definitely watch Argentine television, and I would go so far as to say that Mexican and continental Spanish are not going to be too helpful in furthering your ability to understand Argentine Spanish, which is an entirely different beast, and I think most Spanish speakers would agree with me. I liken it to this: my English is American, and while I can understand a Scot, it can be really tough sometimes. My Spanish is Mexican, and it can be really tough for me to understand an Argentine sometimes. My husband and I watch a lot of Spanish news channels, and we always chuckle at how different Argentines sound from other Spanish speaking nations. It can sound like an entirely different language, I am not even kidding.
posted by msali at 11:49 AM on October 10

(Which, while helping my reading skills, isn't helping my listening comprehension very much.)

Be careful. Though any exposure is good, of course, translated subtitles are notoriously inaccurate - usually for reasons of fitting the entire dialogue on the screen rather than sloppiness. I watch a lot of well-budgeted French films with English subtitles and frequently the English subtitles do not accurately reflect what was said.
posted by wackybrit at 12:03 PM on October 10

rokusan, I think you're right - Spanish language with Spanish subtitles would be better than English subtitles. I just didn't even think I could find something like that - any ideas for how or where I can find that?

Thanks for all the other great suggestions, everyone. (And for the warning on the accuracy of subtitles. I'm aware of it but I appreciate the reminder, wackybrit!) Will try to let you know what I end up being able to find here in Buenos Aires.
posted by inatizzy at 11:46 AM on October 11