The High Note

Maggie Sherwoode is the longtime personal assistant to legendary R&B singer Grace Davis, who still has a successful touring career despite not releasing new material for a decade. Also an aspiring music producer, Maggie remixes Grace's songs in her free time. Grace's egocentric manager, Jack Robertson, believes that her time has passed and she should accept a Las Vegas residency and release live albums rather than record new material.

At a grocery store, Maggie meets aspiring musician David Cliff, watching him perform outdoors. He invites her to a party at his house, where to her surprise she learns that despite slumming it as a musician he is quite wealthy. Impressed by his voice, Maggie lies about being a professional producer and offers to work with him on an album. David accepts and they begin work together with Maggie coaching him through his nerves.

Grace is displeased when a famous music producer modernizes one of her songs, remixing it with excessive synths and pop elements. Appalled, Maggie shows her own version of the song, and she releases Maggie's version, without payment or credit. While pleased to be producing for her, Jack pulls her aside to reveal how her tactlessness ruined potential future deals.

When Grace later expresses her interest in recording a new album to her record label, they discourage her, pushing her towards the Vegas residency. When Maggie encourages Grace to disregard the label and create new material, Grace lectures her on how women of her age ("over 40") and race rarely succeed in releasing new material after successful earlier careers.

Maggie and David begin a romance as recording for his demo comes to a close. At the same time, she learns that Ariana Grande has backed out of opening for Grace's album launch. She initially books Dan Deakins to open for Grace before realizing it would be the perfect place for David to perform his songs. She enlists Dan's assistant to help but is surprised when Dan himself, after listening to David's songs, decides to step away to allow him to perform.

On the night of the party, Maggie tells Jack and Grace that Dan has backed out and promises to fix it. She then asks David, who believed they were going on a date, to sing. Hearing that the party is for Grace Davis, David leaves in a huff, refusing to perform. Maggie tells Jack and Grace she was unable to deliver a backup performer and Grace berates her, mocking her ambitions to become a producer when she cannot even succeed as an assistant before firing her.

Maggie moves back home with her father Max, a radio DJ, and starts planning her future. After encouragement from him, she reaches out to David to continue work on their album and to Grace to thank her for her time working for her. At the same time, Grace realizes that she misses Maggie, who was a faithful assistant who never used her.

Grace arrives at Maggie's home and offers a roundabout apology. After complimenting her production work on the live album, she reveals that she has never worked with a female producer before but wants Maggie to be the first, also telling her that she has begun writing new material.

While Grace is singing for her, David arrives. Before Maggie can introduce them, he reveals that Grace is his estranged mother, something she has kept from the public. He also tells her that Dan Deakins has been passing around his material leading him to an offer of representation from a studio.

Later, David performs at a music festival. He asks Grace to join him on stage, revealing she is his mother, and they sing a duet as Maggie watches. Later in the studio, Maggie produces Grace's new album.

{{Cast listing|

• Dakota Johnson as Maggie Sherwoode
• Tracee Ellis Ross as Grace Davis
• Kelvin Harrison Jr. as David Cliff
• Zoë Chao as Katie
• Ice Cube as Jack Robertson
• Jonathan Freeman as Martin
• June Diane Raphael as Gail
• Deniz Akdeniz as Spencer Cliff
• Bill Pullman as Max
• Eddie Izzard as Dan Deakins
• Diplo as Richie Williams
• Eugene Cordero as Seth
• Marc Evan Jackson as Alec
• Neil Lane as himself
• Melanie Griffith as Tess
• Uttera Singh as Theresa

}}

Flora Greeson's screenplay, then titled Covers, was featured in the 2018 Black List, compiling the year's best unproduced scripts. In February 2019, it was announced Nisha Ganatra would direct the film, and that Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner would produce it under their Working Title Films banner.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/late-night-nisha-ganatra-universal-covers-1203131749/|title=Nisha Ganatra Sets Next Directing Gig After 'Late Night' Makes Big Sundance Splash (EXCLUSIVE)|magazine=Variety|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2019|archive-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225180823/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/late-night-nisha-ganatra-universal-covers-1203131749/|url-status=live}} In May 2019, it was announced that Dakota Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Zoë Chao had joined the cast,{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-covers-focus-features-1202619089/|title=Dakota Johnson & Tracee Ellis Ross Tapped To Star In 'Covers' At Focus Features|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=May 20, 2019|access-date=May 20, 2019|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520221013/https://deadline.com/2019/05/dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-covers-focus-features-1202619089/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/kelvin-harrison-jr-zoe-chao-dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-covers-focus-features-1202620222/|title=Kelvin Harrison Jr., Zoe Chao Join Dakota Johnson & Tracee Ellis Ross In Music-Centric Comedy 'Covers'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=May 23, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523164848/https://deadline.com/2019/05/kelvin-harrison-jr-zoe-chao-dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-covers-focus-features-1202620222/|url-status=live}} and Ice Cube and June Diane Raphael were added in June.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/ice-cube-covers-dave-bautista-the-killers-game-1202634540/|title=Ice Cube Joins 'Covers,' Negotiates To Team With Dave Bautista In 'The Killer's Game'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=June 19, 2019|access-date=June 19, 2019|archive-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619151828/https://deadline.com/2019/06/ice-cube-covers-dave-bautista-the-killers-game-1202634540/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/june-diane-raphael-covers-movie-focus-features-working-title-films-1202637066/|title=June Diane Raphael Boards 'Covers' Comedy From Focus Features & Working Title|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=June 24, 2019|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624180218/https://deadline.com/2019/06/june-diane-raphael-covers-movie-focus-features-working-title-films-1202637066/|url-status=live}} Bill Pullman, Eddie Izzard and Diplo eventually joined the cast as well.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/07/covers-movie-diplo-bill-pullman-eddie-izzard-cast-1202654124/|title=Bill Pullman, Eddie Izzard, Diplo Join 'Covers' Comedy|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=July 25, 2019|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725214753/https://deadline.com/2019/07/covers-movie-diplo-bill-pullman-eddie-izzard-cast-1202654124/|url-status=live}}

Principal photography began in May 2019 around Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://celebmafia.com/dakota-johnson-covers-movie-set-in-hollywood-05-30-2019-2007963/|title=Dakota Johnson – "Covers" Movie Set in Hollywood 05/30/2019|website=Celeb Mafia|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2019|archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530220058/https://celebmafia.com/dakota-johnson-covers-movie-set-in-hollywood-05-30-2019-2007963/}} In February 2020 the film was re-titled The High Note.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Focus-Features-Acquires-Worldwide-Rights-to-Sundance-Hit-KAJILLIONAIRE-20200206|title=Focus Features Acquires Worldwide Rights to Sundance Hit KAJILLIONAIRE|website=BroadwayWorld|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630015706/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Focus-Features-Acquires-Worldwide-Rights-to-Sundance-Hit-KAJILLIONAIRE-20200206|url-status=live}}

The High Note soundtrack was released on May 29, 2020, through Republic, Universal. The lead single, "Love Myself" by Ross, was released on May 15.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tracee-ellis-ross-love-myself-high-note-998676/|title=Tracee Ellis Ross Debuts 'Love Myself' From Film 'The High Note'|first=Brittany|last=Spanos|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 15, 2020}}

{{track listing

| headline = The High Note (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-high-note-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1514621516|title=The High Note (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists on Apple Music|work=Apple Music|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203145102/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-high-note-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1514621516|url-status=live}}

| extra_column = Performer(s)

| title1 = Love Myself

| writer1 = {{flatlist|

• Sarah Aarons
• Greg Kurstin}}

| extra1 = Tracee Ellis Ross

| length1 = 3:27

| title2 = Stop for a Minute

| writer2 = {{flatlist|

• Ina Wroldsen
• Rodney Jerkins}}

| extra2 = Ross

| length2 = 3:36

| title3 = Let's Stay Together

| extra3 = Kelvin Harrison Jr.

| length3 = 3:08

| title4 = Share Your Love with Me

| extra4 = Aretha Franklin

| length4 = 3:18

| title5 = You Send Me

| extra5 = Kelvin Harrison Jr.

| length5 = 2:53

| title6 = Oh No Not My Baby

| extra6 = Maxine Brown

| length6 = 2:37

| title7 = Bad Girl

| extra7 = Ross

| length7 = 2:51

| title8 = Track 8

| writer8 = {{flatlist|

• Aarons
• Ajay Bhattacharyya
• Lennon Stella}}

| extra8 = Harrison Jr.

| length8 = 3:22

| title9 = Mind Over Matter

| extra9 = Anthony Ramos

| length9 = 2:36

| title10 = Chemistry

| writer10 = {{flatlist|

• Brittany "Chi" Coney
• Denisia "Blu June" Andrews
• Travis Marsh}}

| extra10 = Harris Jr.

| length10 = 3:01

| title11 = Jealous Guy

| note11 = Live at the Bitter End 1971

| extra11 = Donny Hathaway

| length11 = 3:09

| title12 = New to Me

| writer12 = {{flatlist|

• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Steve Brown}}

| extra12 = Ross

| length12 = 3:21

| title13 = Like I Do

| writer13 = Aarons

| extra13 = {{flatlist|

• Harrison Jr.
• Ross}}

| length13 = 2:54

| title14 = You Send Me

| note14 = Darkchild Mix

| extra14 = Harrison Jr.

| length14 = 2:59

| title15 = Love Myself

| note15 = Film Version

| extra15 = Ross

| length15 = 3:39

}}

The High Note was originally scheduled for a wide theatrical release on May 8, 2020, but due to movie theater closures beginning in mid-March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was cancelled.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/todd-haynes-dark-waters-lands-november-release-covers-opens-summer-2020-1234611|title=Todd Haynes' 'Dark Waters' Lands November Release; Nisha Ganatra's 'Covers' Opens in Summer 2020|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Pamela|last=McClintock|date=August 25, 2019|access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-date=August 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826230136/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/todd-haynes-dark-waters-lands-november-release-covers-opens-summer-2020-1234611|url-status=live}}

The film made $87,800 from 50 theaters (mostly drive-ins) in its opening weekend.{{Cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2020/06/weekend-box-office-last-of-may-memorial-day-trolls-world-tour-wretched-high-note-1202950241/ |title= The 'Trolls World Tour' Has Held The No. 1 Spot At The Box Office Since Opening, Not 'The Wretched' – Update |last=D'Alessandro |first= Anthony |website= Deadline Hollywood |date= June 3, 2020 |access-date= June 3, 2020 |archive-date= November 13, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201113035324/https://deadline.com/2020/06/weekend-box-office-last-of-may-memorial-day-trolls-world-tour-wretched-high-note-1202950241/ |url-status= live}} In its third weekend it made $59,000 from 64 theaters, for a running total of $293,000.{{Cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2020/06/king-of-staten-island-sits-out-weekend-box-office-invisible-man-universal-top-10-coronavirus-pvod-1202959765/ |title= 'Invisible Man' Reclaims No. 1 In Weekend 16 As Universal Owns Bulk Of Top 10 Despite 'King Of Staten Island' Sitting Out |author= Anthony D'Alessandro |website= Deadline Hollywood |date= June 8, 2020 |access-date= June 8, 2020 |archive-date= December 25, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201225001119/https://deadline.com/2020/06/king-of-staten-island-sits-out-weekend-box-office-invisible-man-universal-top-10-coronavirus-pvod-1202959765/ |url-status= live}} By June 28, it had grossed $420,000 in the United States.{{Cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2020/06/weekend-box-office-zootopia-avengers-jon-stewartirresistible-1202974215/ |title= 'Zootopia' Leads At Weekend Box Office Still Hampered By COVID-19 |author= Anthony D'Alessandro |website= Deadline Hollywood |date= June 30, 2020 |access-date= June 30, 2020 |archive-date= July 8, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200708235228/https://deadline.com/2020/06/weekend-box-office-zootopia-avengers-jon-stewartirresistible-1202974215/ |url-status= live}} It was also released in several countries with relaxed COVID-19 theater restrictions, including South Korea, the Netherlands and France, and grossed $1.7 million as of August 28.{{cite web |title= The High Note (2020) |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt9308382/ |website= Box Office Mojo |access-date= July 22, 2020}}{{Cite web |url= https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/High-Note-The |title= The High Note (2020) - Financial Information |website= The Numbers |access-date= August 29, 2020}}

In its opening weekend, The High Note was the second-most rented film on FandangoNow, third-most from the iTunes Store, and 11th-most on Amazon Prime Video.{{Cite web |title=Box Office: 'The High Note' & The Most-Watched Movies At Home This Weekend |url=https://uproxx.com/movies/high-note-box-office-adam-sandler-invisible-man/ |last=Roweles |first=Dustin |website=Uproxx |date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809204940/https://uproxx.com/movies/high-note-box-office-adam-sandler-invisible-man/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title='The High Note' Starts Strong on VOD as Netflix's 'Lovebirds' Drops Fast|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/the-high-note-vod-netflix-lovebirds-drops-1202234817/|last=Brueggemann|first=Tom|website=IndieWire|date=June 1, 2020|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209171228/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/the-high-note-vod-netflix-lovebirds-drops-1202234817/|url-status=live}} In its second weekend it fell to fourth on FandangoNow and 10th on iTunes, but ranked second on Spectrum.{{Cite web |title= Universal Continues VOD Reign with Upcoming 'The King of Staten Island' |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/universal-continues-vod-reign-with-the-king-of-staten-island-1202236052/ |last= Brueggemann |first= Tom |website= IndieWire |date= June 8, 2020 |access-date= June 15, 2020 |archive-date= June 9, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200609165545/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/universal-continues-vod-reign-with-the-king-of-staten-island-1202236052/ |url-status= live}}{{Cite web|title=Box Office: The Weekend's Most-Watched New Movie Sits At 0% On Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://uproxx.com/movies/last-days-of-american-crime-box-office-the-help/|last=Roweles|first=Dustin|website=Uproxx|date=June 7, 2020|access-date=June 7, 2020|archive-date=June 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607223813/https://uproxx.com/movies/last-days-of-american-crime-box-office-the-help/|url-status=live}} It remained in the top 10 on all services in its third weekend.{{Cite web |title= Da 5 Bloods,' 'The King of Staten Island,' and 'Becky' Are This Week's Blockbusters |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/da-5-bloods-the-king-of-staten-island-becky-vod-blockbusters-1202237567/ |last= Brueggemann |first= Tom |website= IndieWire |date= June 15, 2020 |access-date= June 15, 2020 |archive-date= December 25, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201225001206/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/da-5-bloods-the-king-of-staten-island-becky-vod-blockbusters-1202237567/ |url-status= live}} After lowering its rental price, it returned to the #10 spot on FandangoNow and Apple TV in mid-July.{{Cite web|title='The Old Guard' Opens to Number One on Netflix as 'The Outpost' Flies High Again on VOD|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/the-old-guard-outpost-vod-box-office-1234573047/|last=Brueggemann|first=Tom|website=IndieWire|date=July 13, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808012452/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/the-old-guard-outpost-vod-box-office-1234573047/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title= 'The Rental' Is Second Film Ever to Be #1 on Both Theatrical and VOD Charts at Same Time |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/the-rental-2nd-vod-theatrical-same-time-number-one-release-1234576501/ |last= Brueggemann |first= Tom |website= IndieWire |date= July 27, 2020 |access-date= July 27, 2020 |archive-date= March 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210323013336/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/the-rental-2nd-vod-theatrical-same-time-number-one-release-1234576501/ |url-status= live}}

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critics consensus reads, "The High Note doesn't quite soar above rom-com formula, but audiences seeking some comfort viewing should find themselves solidly in harmony with this well-acted genre entry."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_high_note|title=The High Note|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{Cite web |title=The High Note |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-high-note |website=Metacritic |access-date=June 1, 2020}}

Writing for Forbes, Scott Mendelson gave the film a positive review, writing: "It's leisurely-paced, relatively grounded and rooted in the specific pleasures of watching good actors play nice people who deal with their specific conflicts as nicely as possible."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2020/05/25/high-note-review-dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-kelvin-harrison/|title=Dakota Johnson And Tracee Ellis Ross' 'The High Note' Is A Charming Musical Dramedy (Review)|first=Scott|last=Mendelson|magazine=Forbes|date=May 25, 2020|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=July 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723212151/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2020/05/25/high-note-review-dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-kelvin-harrison/|url-status=live}}

Owen Gleiberman of Variety said the film "can't decide if it's a behind-the-music-industry drama or a go-for-your-dream fairy tale" and that "the feel-good factor hovers over this movie like a fuzzy bland cloud."{{cite magazine |date= May 25, 2020 |last= Gleiberman |first= Owen |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |title= 'The High Note': Film Review |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-high-note-review-dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-1234611281/ |magazine= Variety |access-date= May 28, 2020 |archive-date= May 26, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200526042821/https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-high-note-review-dakota-johnson-tracee-ellis-ross-1234611281/ |url-status= live}}

The Guardian ranked The High Note 47th on its list of the "50 best films of 2020 in the US".{{Cite news|date=2020-12-03|title=The 50 best films of 2020 in the US: 50–1|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/dec/01/the-50-best-films-of-2020-in-the-us-50-41|access-date=2020-12-19|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=2020-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218190446/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/dec/01/the-50-best-films-of-2020-in-the-us-50-41|url-status=live}}

• Drama Movie by People's Choice Awards (nominated)
• Drama Movie Star by People's Choice Awards – Tracee Ellis Ross (nominated){{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/here-are-nominees-2020-people-s-choice-awards-t192942|title=Here are the nominees for the 2020 People's Choice Awards|date=October 2020 |access-date=2020-10-19|archive-date=2020-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001235013/https://www.today.com/popculture/here-are-nominees-2020-people-s-choice-awards-t192942|url-status=live}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}

{{Nisha Ganatra}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:High Note, The}}

Category:2020 films

Category:2020 comedy-drama films

Category:2020s American films

Category:2020s English-language films

Category:American comedy-drama films

Category:English-language comedy-drama films

Category:Films about music and musicians

Category:Films directed by Nisha Ganatra

Category:Films produced by Eric Fellner

Category:Films produced by Tim Bevan

Category:Films scored by Amie Doherty

Category:Focus Features films

Category:Working Title Films films