High Fidelity
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    Causes us to leave the theater quite unreasonably happy.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    100
    With its knowing take on men, messed-up romance and music, is like one long, hook-filled pop song for the eyes.
    All this critic's reviews
  3. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Shawn Levy
    100
    It's so spry and lively and warm that you want to dance to it.
    All this critic's reviews
  4. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    100
    Trenchantly witty and acutely insightful.
  5. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    100
    A guaranteed pleasure for anyone who ever loved pop music, owned a record collection or suffered in love
  6. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    90
    Every single actor here rises to the occasion.
  7. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Zac Crane
    90
    The film is so much like the book, it might as well come with a bookmark to hold your place when you step outside to use the restroom.
  8. Film.com
    Reviewed by: John Hartl
    90
    Hilarious and high-spirited.
  9. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Tom Keogh
    90
    The extent to which Black and Louiso help make this film terribly witty and caustic and worth every minute of its almost two-hour running time is immeasurable.
  10. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    A sharp and satisfying romantic comedy.
  11. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    90
    Witty, exquisitely fine-tuned screen adaptation of Nick Hornby's 1995 novel
  12. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    88
    When director Stephen Frears worked with (Jack Black), he must have yelled "Let 'er rip!" instead of "Action!"
  13. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    88
    The quirky High Fidelity really deserves being called the first must-see movie of the century.
    All this critic's reviews
  14. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Edward Guthmann
    88
    Terrific.
  15. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    88
    Like laughing into a mirror for 113 minutes.
  16. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    88
    Sad, funny, brilliant.
    All this critic's reviews
  17. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    88
    The movie is, to borrow Rob's phrase, unassailably cool.
    All this critic's reviews
  18. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    88
    (Cusack) has never been more effective onscreen.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
  1. matroycem
    8
    This would make my Top 5.
    The secret to making a good film is the soundtrack and this film nails it. Its a story of heartache, love and the b    its inbetween told pretty much first person by a Record Store owner.
    The characters in the film are padded out well and do draw you in and you begin to feel who they are rather than empty vessels. There are some nice little double take moments and moments where the plot is directly told to camera. These feel correct in the context of the film and explain emotions and thoughts of the people on screen. Casting fits well with Jack Black doing his normal over the top character, John cusack as the confused Store owner. Even a Cameo by 'The Boss' Bruce Springsteen does not feel out of place. All in all a good solid film which I have watched several times and enjoyed them all.    … Full Review »
  2. geo86
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. At the beginning of the movie I was thinking of just close it and surf the net. But I didn't !!! There is something that made me want to see more. This is NOT a boring romantic comedy; instead its a vivid enjoyable, fresh, peerless movie. Its like Cusack presenting his relationship more than just acting. I LOVE BONET!!!! and also Jack Black. I think the music references are the spark for everything.… Full Review »
  3. hoops2448
    9
    High Fidelity's best attribute is that it is so incredibly self aware and through that self awareness it exudes this sense of realism. High Fidelity is so incredibly real that your connection with John Cusack's Rob is so strong you get invested and you also understand him despite the fact he is an incredibly well thought out, written and acted character. He is joined by Jack Black and Todd Louiso's Barry and Dick who add a sense of fun to the proceedings which is sorely needed because the main tone set by Rob is one of doom and gloom as he discusses the breakups that ruined him the most. Black especially pulls out all the stops with Barry being a delight because he is just so incredibly self confident despite the fact he is the most despicable of the bunch. This would have been hard to show if it wasn't for Black who really does pull out his best performance. Cusack is great as the bleak Rob and the only reason I don't say this is his best role is because he was just fantastic in Say Anything. (if you thought I was going to say 2012 you deserve to be shot). Overall the film has a confidence you rarely see in films and it knows what its trying to do in a way that by the time you leave the viewing you are extremely happy and satisfied, like me after a roast dinner… Full Review »
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