Overview
A journey through heartbreak and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- nostalgic
- date night
- music themed movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Stephen Frears's direction, the ensemble performances, verbal wit, and rock-solid soundtrack as the foundation of an entertaining romantic comedy-drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rob repeatedly constructs top-five lists, especially his ranking of past breakups, as the film's organizing device.
Rob, Barry, and Dick define themselves through intense judgments about vinyl, pop music, and record collecting.
Rob's record-store lifestyle and obsessive review of former relationships reveal how unwillingly he has grown beyond youthful romantic habits.
Rob's Chicago used-record shop is the recurring workplace and social arena for his friendships, arguments, and music debates.
Films like High Fidelity, and why
(500) Days of Summer
shares witty romantic comedy, emotionally immature protagonists, and a strong music-centered identity
Grosse Pointe Blank
shares relationship comedy, self-reckoning, and an ensemble of sharply drawn urban friends
Before Sunrise
shares conversational humor, romantic uncertainty, and a young adult protagonist confronting stalled maturity
Almost Famous
shares music culture, romantic entanglements, and an energetic ensemble comedy-drama tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Stephen Frears
- Release Date
- 2000-03-17
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (2274)
Cast
- John Cusack
- Iben Hjejle
- Todd Louiso
- Jack Black
- Lisa Bonet
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Joan Cusack
- Tim Robbins
- Chris Rehmann
- Ben Carr
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is High Fidelity about?
- A self-absorbed Chicago record-store owner revisits his romantic failures through obsessive top-five lists and discovers that emotional maturity cannot be catalogued.
- What is High Fidelity like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of High Fidelity as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is High Fidelity violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in High Fidelity.
- What did critics think of High Fidelity?
- Critics broadly praised Stephen Frears's direction, the ensemble performances, verbal wit, and rock-solid soundtrack as the foundation of an entertaining romantic comedy-drama.
- Which films are like High Fidelity?
- Films with a similar feel include (500) Days of Summer, Grosse Pointe Blank, Before Sunrise, and Almost Famous.
- How long is High Fidelity?
- High Fidelity runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch High Fidelity?
- In United States, High Fidelity streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
