High Fidelity

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High Fidelity

R

Released Mar 31, 2000

1h 53m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

166 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is the owner of a failing record store in Chicago, where he sells music the old-fashioned way -- on vinyl. Although they have an encyclopedic knowledge of pop music and are consumed by the music scene, it's of no help to Rob, whose needle skips the love groove when his long-time girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle), walks out on him. As he examines his failed attempts at romance and happiness, the process finds him being dragged, kicking and screaming, into adulthood.

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Critics Consensus

The deft hand of director Stephen Frears and strong performances by the ensemble cast combine to tell an entertaining story with a rock-solid soundtrack.

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Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

High Fidelity, with its knowing take on men, messed-up romance and music, is like one long, hook-filled pop song for the eyes.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 10, 2014

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

It is still a bit wimpy and sugary, but it's definitely entertaining, and the translation to American accelerates the tempo refreshingly.

Feb 10, 2014

Full Review

Nathan Rabin

AV Club

A film pragmatic enough to concede that almost every relationship is doomed, but romantic enough to realize that it's worth it to carry on in spite of that fact, High Fidelity is one of the smartest and funniest romantic comedies of the past few years.

Feb 10, 2014

Full Review

Andy Punter

InSession Film

For all its flaws, its structural scruffiness, its occasionally indulgent protagonist, High Fidelity remains compelling because it understands something fundamental about fandom, identity, and the fear of commitment.

Rated: B

Apr 28, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Insightful in exploring the manner in which people’s perceptions of each other are colored not by actual shifts in personality but by circumstances that are often beyond anyone’s control.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 16, 2023

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Charlotte Harrison

Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies

Few films capture the healing power of music or the harsh reality of love & break-ups.

Aug 24, 2021

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Derrick S

In all honesty it’s probably a 9/10 but it’s one of my all time faves so I’m giving it a 10. Funny and true to life with a killer soundtrack!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Mason M

I thought High Fidelity was a great film. Both John Cusack and Jack Black give some of their best performances here. And the narration given by Cusack and the complex plot with all the girlfriends was amazingly written. This film's main strength is its writing from the story by Nick Hornby and the screenwriters. All the monologues are great and the dialogue is amazing. But I really don't think that Stephen Frears is a very good director and he makes the ingenious script come off pretty dry. Besides for that, I really enjoyed High Fidelity.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

john h

An unexpected chemistry between Jack Black and John Cusack that almost always plays out emotionally and ends most hilariously. High Fidelity is a connective insight into a "musicphile" who picks up the broken pieces of a shattered window he left on the floor after high school.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/05/25

Full Review

Fer S

I think it's OK. It builds up great but does not deliver much.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

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Maria J

I read some appealing reviews, but I didn't like the movie at all. I stopped looking after 20 minutes. I experienced this movie as childish with irritating and egoistic persons who lead an unrealistic and not fulfilling life. For me it's a boring movie with no depth and humor. Waste of time

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

Full Review

The H

Really great movie, one of those "must watch" type of movies. Great acting & segments, iconic moments, screams early 2000's & is a great throwback for us older folks.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

Full Review

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Stephen Frears

Director

John Cusack

Rob

Iben Hjejle

Laura

Todd Louiso

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Lisa Bonet

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High Fidelity: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Rob Gordon (John Cusack) is the owner of a failing record store in Chicago, where he sells music the old-fashioned way -- on vinyl. Although they have an encyclopedic knowledge of pop music and are consumed by the music scene, it's of no help to Rob, whose needle skips the love groove when his long-time girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle), walks out on him. As he examines his failed attempts at romance and happiness, the process finds him being dragged, kicking and screaming, into adulthood.

Director: Stephen Frears
Producer: Tim Bevan, Rudd Simmons
Screenwriter: Nick Hornby, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, Scott Rosenberg
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: New Crime Productions, Touchstone Pictures, Working Title Films, Dogstar Films
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 31, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.3M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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