10 Best Movies Like High Fidelity That You Need Watching Update 04/2024

Movies Like High Fidelity

These are the 10 best films that are similar to High Fidelity.

If you enjoyed High Fidelity, you’ll enjoy these 10 films. They range from romantic comedies with flawed heroes to musicals.

High Fidelity is based on Nick Hornby’s novel of the same name, but it was shot in Chicago instead of London, and it stars Jack Black in one of his most memorable roles to date. The soundtrack to the film is excellent, and there are numerous fourth-wall breaks, musical references, and romantic and friendship-themed scenes throughout.

However, the Stephen Frears film from the year 2000 isn’t the only one to do so. All of these films, from Empire Records with its smitten teens to This Is 40 with its cynical elders, share High Fidelity’s masterful blending of comedy and drama.

1. School of Rock (2003)

School of Rock (2003)

It’s a no-brainer, but High Fidelity and School of Rock have a lot in common. Jack Black and Joan Cusack are the two love interests in this romantic comedy. Fans of music will enjoy the movie’s epic battle of the bands concert in the final act, which is both epic and hilarious.

Jack Black builds on his relentlessly upbeat and fun character from High Fidelity as Dewy Finn, his first major lead role and possibly his best role. A class of well-behaved private schoolers in High Fidelity would seem an odd choice in comparison to the rowdy punks outside the record store.

2. Empire Records (1995)

Empire Records follows a group of teenagers as they band together to save the record store where they all work, the titular Empire Records.

However, for a film that takes place over the course of a single day there’s plenty of heart to be found here.

Corey (Liv Tyler) and A.J. (Johnny Whitworth) develop a budding romance in the film, which is set in a record store that viewers are sure to want to go to. For the most part, she’s smitten with Maxwell, a cheesy washed-up pop star who, in High Fidelity, is Tim Robbins’ equally sleazy Ian/Ray.

3. About A Boy (2002)

About A Boy (2002)

Another Nick Hornby book turned film is About a Boy. Hugh Grant portrays a middle-aged slacker who subsists on the royalties from a Christmas song his father wrote many years earlier.. In spite of his vague interest in music, he prioritizes womanizing over having a son so he can go to a single parents’ group and meet women. When Hoult’s Marcus, a 12-year-old boy, enters his life, everything changes.

Fans of High Fidelity will enjoy it for a variety of reasons. Similarly to Cusack’s fourth-wall-breaking moments in HF, Grant’s voiceover narration helps guide the audience through much of the film, giving them a look at Rob Gordon’s poor but amusing decisions.

4. Almost Famous (2000)

Aspiring music journalist William Miller, 15, poses as an adult in order to land a job writing for Rolling Stone in Cameron Crowe’s coming-of-age masterpiece. During the tour, he gets to see rock and roll shenanigans up close, falls in love, and makes numerous attempts to speak with the band’s elusive guitarist.

William (Patrick Fugit) is endearing in the film, and Frances McDormand (her phone call with Stillwater guitarist Russell is one of McDormand’s most iconic scenes) steals the show as well. As a result of its great soundtrack and focus on touring life, it’s sure to satisfy the cravings of any movie-loving rock fan.

5. (500) Days Of Summer (2009)

(500) Days Of Summer (2009)

Like Rob in High Fidelity, this film’s protagonist has a distorted view of women and relationships. The story revolves around Tom and Summer, the new girl at work, as their relationship develops. She’s the woman of his dreams, Tom thinks, because she likes The Smiths, who have a great song in (500) Days of Summer that he loves. Their relationship, on the other hand, is disastrous, as the story chronicles over the course of 500 days (most of which are miserable).

Fans of High Fidelity will enjoy this film because of the soundtrack, which is filled with ’80s and ’90s indie music, andbecause there are plenty of meta-references to rom-coms and relationships aside from the toxic male lead who spirals into depression and anger when things don’t go his way. The novel (500) Days completely flips the genre on its head with its desperation.

6. Heart Beats Loud (2018)

In this underrated gem, which also features Ted Danson and Toni Collette, Nick Offerman plays the owner of a Brooklyn record store. The song they recorded as a family jam ends up going viral because her father uploaded it to Spotify without consulting her. To cope with his failing business, Offerman puts them all in a band called “We’re Not a Band.”

The music in Heart Beats Loud is upbeat and upbeat, with a focus on the father-daughter relationship. High Fidelity fans will enjoy it, however, as Keegan DeWitt’s original score and the rest of the soundtrack, including Jeff Tweedy and Mitski, are excellent. Also, seeing a hip record shop on screen is always a treat.

7. The Boat That Rocked (2009)

The Boat That Rocked (2009)

The government labels the characters in The Boat That Rocked as “drug takers and lawbreakers” who run a pirate radio station from a boat off the UK’s coast. A pirate band is what they are because they broadcast rock and other alternatives illegally on the airways, the only place in England where rock fans could hear them.

Great British actors like Bill Nighy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Emma Thompson star in the movie. The soundtrack, which features artists from the ’60s such as Tommy James and the Shondells, is fantastic, and there are some particularly moving scenes involving Radio Rock’s demise as a result.

8. This Is 40 (2012)

According to Paul Rudd’s character Pete in Judd Apatow’s This is 40, an aging rocker runs a failing record label. While Pete tries to get his daughters and wife to listen to his music, they prefer the likes of Nicki Minaj, much to his chagrin. Movies like this one are often sweet stories of people reaching milestones in life like turning 40, having children, and following through on their dreams. This one is no exception.

if Rudd’s character Pete has kids, mellows out, and continues to navigate the complexities of being in a relationship, he could be ten years from now Rob from High Fidelity. Billie-Joe Armstrong of Green Day makes a cameo appearance, and The Pixies and Wilco are featured on the soundtrack.

9. Serendipity (2001)

Serendipity (2001)

Serendipity will appeal to fans of High Fidelity’s rom-com moments, such as when Rob reveals the top 5 things he misses about Laura. It’s about two New Yorkers who meet on Christmas Eve and instantly click in one of the best rom-com meet-cutes ever. Only one of them believes in destiny: Sara. She thinks that if they are meant to be together, they will eventually find each other again.

The remainder of the film takes place over a period of several years, with the couple repeatedly missing each other. In comparison to High Fidelity, this is a lot more gooey. However, John Cusack is still excellent in this role.

10. I Love You, Man (2009)

Similarly to High Fidelity, the story revolves around a group of grown men who become close because of their shared nerdy passion for music. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel’s characters in I Love You, Man jam Rush songs in Segel’s garage while Peter’s fiancée, Zooey, (Rashida Jones), wonders where he is as she plans their wedding.

When compared to Rob’s relationship with his record store coworkers Barry and Dick, who are always bickering, Peter and Sydney’s relationship is a certified bromance. However, Barry, who is notoriously picky, would approve of this music-filled romantic comedy because it features Rush. Originally from the south coast of England, Hayden Merrick is now a freelance writer and editor. His first job out of college was at Oxford University Press, where he worked as an editor for the prestigious publishing house. He also writes for The Oxymoron, a satirical comedy magazine, and Nightshift, a music publication, among others.