This article investigates the translation problem, or crisis point, which may be caused by an Extralinguistic Culture-bound Reference (ECR), with particular focus on subtitling. A model is proposed, wherein all strategies available to the subtitler are listed. These are retention, specification, direct translation, generalization, substitution, omission or the use of an official equivalent. The model also investigates the subtitling process, in that the parameters that influence the subtitler’s choice of strategy are explored. Theses parameters are transculturality, extratextuality, centrality of reference, intersemiotic redundancy, co-text, media-specific constraints and paratextual considerations. Finally, it is proposed that it is unlikely that a truly unsolvable culture-bound translation problem would exist.