20 Things You Didn't Know About High Fidelity

Happy 20th birthday to a comedy classic.

By Jack Pooley /

If you didn't feel old already, you're about to: the John Cusack-starring rom-com High Fidelity turns 20 years old today, an anniversary best celebrated by the recent release of the (surprisingly decent) Hulu spin-off TV series.

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Directed by Stephen Frears from a script co-penned by Cusack himself, the film isn't simply a spirited adaptation of Nick Hornby's 1995 novel, but one of the most passionate and entertaining movies about music ever made.

With its droll sense of humour, delightful odd yet undeniably relatable characters, and unexpected emotional resonance, High Fidelity has enjoyed success as a cult hit even if it didn't ignite the box office upon original release.

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And like any great movie, there are dozens of fascinating stories about its creation, from a certain veteran filmmaker who almost ended up making the movie, to a star-making performance that nearly didn't happen, and just how that insane Bruce Springsteen cameo came about.

As we raise a glass to 20 years of High Fidelity, here are 20 facts you probably didn't know about it...

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