High Fidelity

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High Fidelity

R

2000

1h 53m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

162 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

Feb 10, 2014

3.5/4

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

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Feb 10, 2014

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

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Feb 10, 2014

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.

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Andy Punter

InSession Film

Apr 28, 2025

B

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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 16, 2023

3.5/4

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.

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Charlotte Harrison

Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies

Aug 24, 2021

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

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Qinq D

@RT14362661 Oct 26, 2026

High Fidelity is a love letter to music, heartbreak, and the mess we make of our own lives. John Cusack gives Rob Gordon a restless soul and a wounded heart, a man who knows every song in the world yet struggles to find the right words for love. The writing is sharp, funny, and full of truth, with performances that turn a record shop into a home for the lost and the lonely. A film about the songs that shape us and the people we never stop trying to understand.

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James H

@JamesAnthony101 Oct 19, 2026

As a music Fan I can relate to many of the themes and conversations going on. NOt a perfect film but for those who can relate its pretty accurate. The cast are all mostly perfect in their roles.

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K W

@KraigwithaK Oct 14, 2026

We make mixtapes because saying how we feel is too hard. We rank our heartbreaks because admitting we’re the common denominator hurts even more. A film about the records we keep, the people we lose, and the songs that know us better than we know ourselves.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 1, 2026

High Fidelity = a *4.5* star Movie!

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J N

@SunsetSpam Sep 29, 2026

Cool perspective but the movie was a bit out there — 76%

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Sep 24, 2026

Record store owner goes down memory lane to discover the common denominator in all his failed relationships (other than himself). This movie is fun, but it kind of led to the tiresome ubiquity of Jack Black, so maybe the movie is more curse than boon?

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Stephen Frears

Director

John Cusack

Rob

Iben Hjejle

Laura

Todd Louiso

Dick

Jack Black

Barry

Lisa Bonet

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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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