Cinemas with original version films in Vienna

If you do not possess proficiency in German language or you just want to watch a movie without dubbing in Vienna, there are more options for you and different cinemas with original version films. Lack of language skills is no reason for missing out the latest flicks on the big screen.

Austria: the dubbing nation

While most countries show movies in their original language with subtitles, Austrians have developed a predilection for dubbed dialogues. The dubbing culture of German-speaking countries is stronger and more developed than anywhere else. In the early days of cinema, there were three options to translate a foreign film  - subtitling, dubbing and remaking the film as accurately as possible in the local language. Subtitling was the easiest to accomplish but the most tiring for the viewers, remaking the most popular but the most expensive as well and dubbing the most controversial. In the beginning, dubbing brought a sense of unease to the audience, but with the time, spectators got over their initial shock and found it increasingly convenient to listen to dialogues in German, rather than having to decipher the subtitles. However, the way a character speaks is a very important form of expression in a film, which dubbed movies are missing.

Cinemas in Vienna

Being a melting pot of many cultures and nations, Vienna has many international cinemas up its sleeve. Some of them show original version films with or without subtitles, some play the latest blockbusters, while the others focus on oldies or art-house films. The city of Vienna has 28 cinemas and 147 cinema halls, so there is something for every taste. In this article, I will present you a few cinemas, where you can watch the movies as they were made.

English Cinema Haydn

English Cinema Haydn, located in the most popular high street of Vienna - Mariahlifer Strasse, has the history longer than one century. It was established in 1912, and nowadays it shows exclusively original version films without subtitles, mostly major Hollywood productions. It has a good reputation among Viennese and offers reasonable pricing and good quality.

English Cinema Haydn, Vienna

Mariahilfer Str. 57-59, 1060 Wien, Austria

Artis International

Artis International is a very cozy little cinema located in the heart of the 1st Vienna district, in the oldest part of the city. It also offers original version films without subtitles. It shows films similar to those of English Cinema Haydn, with the addition of family and children movies.

Artis International, Vienna

Jordangasse 5, 1010 Wien, Austria

Votivkino

Votiv Cinema focuses on the European movie industry. It is the perfect place to enjoy the latest French, British or German films. Since they offer numerous films that come from non-English speaking countries, they show them all as original versions with German subtitles.

Votivkino, Vienna

Währinger Str. 12, 1090 Wien, Austria

Cinema De France

Cinema De France, like its sister Votiv Cinema, is focused on European films. It offers both original version films with or without subtitles and films dubbed in the German language. It is located close to the university, and therefore very popular with students.

Cinema De France, Vienna

Heßgasse 7, 1010 Wien, Austria

Burg Kino

Burg Kino is the most classic cinema in Vienna, with the comfortable seats covered in red velvet and the big cinema halls with loges. It was founded in 1912 and is one of the oldest still operating cinemas worldwide. The program of Burg Kino is a bit more sophisticated. It has devoted particular attention to films by some of the most important today's directors, artistic films and classics, aside from selected Hollywood production.  All films are the original versions, some with German subtitles.

Burg Kino

Opernring 19, 1010 Wien, Austria

For all those of you who come to the Austrian capital and are not fond of dubbing the movies, you can visit some of the cinemas with original version films in Vienna.