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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 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. Jan 18, 2013 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 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. Oct 24, 2007 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out It is most successful when it keeps to the tone of an insane fairystory set up at the beginning of the movie. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Rosalyn Drexler Vogue The picture is anti-war, anti-repression, and full of fun; a charming hour and a half of black humor. Rated: 3/4 Mar 8, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Its strength resides in a philosophy of self-exploration through personal fulfillment, bodily acceptance and exploration, artistic creation, and spontaneity. Rated: 4/4 Feb 14, 2022 Full Review Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine 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) Rated: 5/5 Dec 31, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Unca C 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/15/25 Full Review Tim F. 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/10/25 Full Review Nanette B. I absolutely loved this dark quirky comedy. The soundtrack is perfect! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 1 hour and 31 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review john h The dark humor is expressed so weird that people are more shocked while only a niche group of fans will confidently laugh out loud. The film is almost entirely fabricated of an alienated, different and unexpected route of unconventional narrative - which might explain its cult following. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/25 Full Review Kyle C This is a weird movie – probably weirder than you’re expecting. It’s got that sort of Monty Python style of irreverent sketch comedy but with a lot more depth and heart. The film’s timing is spot on in everything from its musical transitions, driving home emotional connections, to its precise camera cuts, bringing out the comedic stylings of the script and the cast. It’s either a feel-good or feel-bad movie, depending on who you ask. Personally, I just left feeling a little off: certainly impacted, but also strangely empty. It’s hard to say what’s missing, if anything, but the film feels like it lacks a conclusion in some way. Regardless, with an excellent soundtrack from Cat Stevens and some really funny, awkward comedy, Harold and Maude is worth checking out if you can sit with the discomfort of it all. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/02/25 Full Review 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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