Silent films boomed at the start of film, and quickly got replaced by talkies.
Nowadays people at home are watching a movie, talking to friends, and playing on their phone at the same time. Short format content is often consumed silently. The artform of silent film making is having a resurgence (in 1-5 minute clips)
I’ve browsed coub, tiktok, youtube shorts, instagram reels… all muted while doing something else
The Talkie days are numbered.
I still watch it muted, the sound throws me off. I’m also an absolutely silent masturbator and find it very difficult to be quiet during sex, which I’ve never totally understood, but I suspect it’s related.