Iconic Movie Scenes: High Fidelity (2000) – The Music, The Misery, and the Playlist

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Mar '25 (edited) • Miscellaneous Posting

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably seen High Fidelity or read the book—or maybe both. And if you’re a lot like me, you’ve probably wanted to make a playlist of all the music from the movie, bought the soundtrack, and over the years, slowly expanded your collection to include all the tracks that didn’t make it onto the CD.

High Fidelity is this excellent 2000 rom-com-drama directed by Stephen Frears, starring John Cusack, Jack Black, and Tim Robbins. It’s based on Nick Hornby’s 1995 British novel, but they moved the setting from London to Chicago and tweaked the main character’s name. Hornby was actually surprised by how faithful the adaptation was, saying "at times, it appears to be a film in which John Cusack reads my book."

Following a breakup with his most recent girlfriend, Rob Gordon (John Cusack) recounts his most painful breakups, seeking to find a reason for his failed romances. The movie has this cool, quirky style where Rob talks directly to the camera, like he’s telling you his story as it unfolds. And, of course, Jack Black is in it, so you know it’s gonna be a blast. Plus, the music? Absolute gold. It’s basically a love letter to music nerds.

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