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Harold and Maude

Play trailer Poster for Harold and Maude PG 1971 1h 31m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Cult classic pairs Cort as a dead-pan disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with suicide and a loveable Gordon as a fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. They meet at a funeral, and develop a taboo romantic relationship, in which they explore the tired theme of the meaning of life with a fresh perspective.
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Harold and Maude

Harold and Maude

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Critics Consensus

Hal Ashby's comedy is too dark and twisted for some, and occasionally oversteps its bounds, but there's no denying the film's warm humor and big heart.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard McGuinness Village Voice 01/18/2013
The fact that [it] isn't very funny and, like its 80-year-old heroic, long outlives its necessary life, is less important than the fact that the characters frequently react gently or like credible human beings to the script's impossible notions. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 10/24/2007
Simpleminded, but it's fairly inoffensive, at least until Ashby lingers over the concentration-camp serial number tattooed on Gordon's arm. Some things are beyond the reach of whimsy. Go to Full Review
Derek Adams Time Out 06/24/2006
It is most successful when it keeps to the tone of an insane fairystory set up at the beginning of the movie. Go to Full Review
Rosalyn Drexler Vogue 03/08/2024
3/4
The picture is anti-war, anti-repression, and full of fun; a charming hour and a half of black humor. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 02/14/2022
4/4
Its strength resides in a philosophy of self-exploration through personal fulfillment, bodily acceptance and exploration, artistic creation, and spontaneity. Go to Full Review
Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine 12/31/2021
5/5
Exemplifies the expression "it shouldn't have worked, but it did" more than any movie I can think of, is a romantic comedy, and also a very dark comedy (50th anniversary) Go to Full Review
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Claudia M Nov 22 My favorite movie! Saw it in college and fell in love. The characters, story, acting, music… love it all. See more Ryan P Nov 16 Harold and Maude by Hal Ashby is truly a unique film that will fill you with different sorts of emotions. It’s filled with rebellion, dark/regular humor, romance, depression, happiness, tragedy, acceptance, and resolve. Furthermore, its plot is rich while being completely unpredictable to what will happen next. It will throw you out in the beginning when he does the first prank, which was hanging himself. Because Harold consistently pulls these pranks, it will eventually sensitize you from the shock of it and bring you to laugh at scenes you wouldn’t have before. I like to believe scenes like that teach you how to laugh at dark humor, which to me I find mind blowing. When Maude was introduced, I thought it would turn out to be like a grandma and son sort of dynamic. It later disproves me when they eventually fall in love. The thought of a relationship between a young man and an elderly woman, would be disgusting right? I didn’t find it that way due to their dynamic expressed in scenes. Sure it was a little unusual and taboo like Romero and Juliette but it was more so of a happy surprise. Maude brings the pleasure of enjoying life to Harold, despite what she is implied to have gone through. It just makes me happy because it makes me think of how my grandma is enjoying life despite her age. I know the film is designed to push norms, but I really felt it teaching me subjects through emotions. In conclusion, I highly recommend watching this movie, unless you are sensitive to subjects like suicide due to the amount of scenes that involve Harold’s pranks. It’s an amazing cult film to watch because it brings hope from hopelessness and life to even its darkest corners. I even cried a little towards the end after seeing Harold losing Maude. See more Unca C Oct 15 I grew up in San Mateo and was 10 when the film was made. Saw it in 1976 at a midnight showing at the Manor Theater I think. it was nostalgia-inducing even 5 years after it was made. It just keeps getting to be more and more a time capsule as I get older. The train car in San Carlos, the old Dumbarton Bridge, The Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, hiking the hills of Woodside, Sutro Baths, Half Moon Bay, Peninsula Hospital, Colma, on and on, everything is familiar. Most of that stuff is still around, but it is all so much different. Beyond that, the story is just such a joy to watch. Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort just nail this to perfection. The soundtrack is such a perfect match. All in 1:31, there isn't really any wasted time. Just a gem of a movie. Every 10 years ar so I watch the movie and it makes me smile and laugh as I did the first time I saw it. My kids all love it as well. Definitely in my top 5. See more Tim F. @tim_foster Oct 10 I haven’t seen it in like 30 years but, I remember enjoying it very much. Probably watched it more than once in n high school. See more Nanette B. @Nanette Oct 5 I absolutely loved this dark quirky comedy. The soundtrack is perfect! See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 3 Funny in 1 hour and 31 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
Harold and Maude

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Harold and Maude

Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Dating Questionnaire Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Dating Questionnaire 2:13 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Maude's 80th Birthday Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Maude's 80th Birthday 2:07 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - It's Rather Hard to Find a Truck Harold and Maude: Official Clip - It's Rather Hard to Find a Truck 2:12 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - He Seems Very Nice Harold and Maude: Official Clip - He Seems Very Nice 2:01 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Harold Meets Maude Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Harold Meets Maude 2:13 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Can I Give You a Lift? Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Can I Give You a Lift? 1:44 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - The Last Date Harold and Maude: Official Clip - The Last Date 2:13 Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Backing Away From Life Harold and Maude: Official Clip - Backing Away From Life 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Cult classic pairs Cort as a dead-pan disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with suicide and a loveable Gordon as a fun-loving 80-year-old eccentric. They meet at a funeral, and develop a taboo romantic relationship, in which they explore the tired theme of the meaning of life with a fresh perspective.
Director
Hal Ashby
Producer
Colin Higgins, Charles Mulvehill
Screenwriter
Colin Higgins
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Mildred Lewis and Colin Higgins Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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