If you loved
Harold and Maude
Hal Ashby · Film · 1971
You love Harold and Maude because it celebrates how unlikely connections with eccentric outsiders can fundamentally reshape your perspective on life.
Books on the same thread
Love Story
Erich Segal · Book · 1970
Much like the central romance in Harold and Maude, this story explores how two people from starkly different worlds find a transformative bond that defies societal expectations and class boundaries.
Orphan Train
Christina Baker Kline · Book · 2014
If the intergenerational friendship in Harold and Maude resonated with you, this narrative offers a similar emotional journey as two women from different eras bridge their gaps to heal.
They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera · Book · 2021
This story mirrors the morbid yet life-affirming spirit of Harold and Maude, focusing on how the presence of an inevitable end forces characters to embrace the urgency of existence.
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)
Haruki Murakami · Book · 1987
Fans of the existential melancholy found in Harold and Maude will appreciate this deep dive into how loss and grief define the way young people navigate their intense relationships.
Series on the same thread
Doom at Your Service
Im Meari · Series · 2021
This drama captures the same existential curiosity present in Harold and Maude, pairing a character facing their mortality with a supernatural force to explore the true meaning of life.
Goblin
Kim Eun-sook · Series · 2016
The whimsical yet melancholic tone of Harold and Maude is echoed here as an immortal entity seeks a human connection to escape the weight of his own unending existence.
Grace and Frankie
Howard J. Morris · Series · 2015
If you enjoyed the unconventional, free-spirited nature of Maude, you will appreciate this story of two women who reject social norms to reinvent themselves and their lives after sixty.
Endless Love
Hilal Saral · Series · 2015
This story mirrors the intense, forbidden attraction found in Harold and Maude, focusing on how two individuals from disparate backgrounds fight to preserve their bond against external pressures.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Just as Harold and Maude subverts expectations of social interaction, this podcast explores the desire for authentic human connection in a world dominated by superficial professional structures and personas.
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Armchair Umbrella · Podcast · 2026
The vulnerability and focus on the messy human condition in this podcast mirror the raw honesty that made the unconventional relationship in Harold and Maude so deeply compelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Harold and Maude?
Harold and Maude follows a young man named Harold who frequently stages suicide attempts to escape his family. His life changes when he meets an eighty-year-old woman named Maude, who teaches him how to embrace life, leading the two of them to form a deep friendship and romantic bond.
Who are the main characters in Harold and Maude?
The main characters in Harold and Maude are Harold, a young man obsessed with death and funeral visits, and Maude, an eighty-year-old woman who lives life to the fullest. Their connection develops after they meet, proving that their age gap and different perspectives do not matter.
Does Harold and Maude focus on the relationship between the two leads?
Yes, Harold and Maude centers on the relationship between the two title characters. Despite their opposing outlooks on life, they realize their differences are insignificant, eventually becoming best friends and falling in love as they navigate the world together outside of Harold's miserable family environment.
Why does Harold spend his time at funerals in Harold and Maude?
In Harold and Maude, Harold attends funerals and stages fake suicide attempts as a way to cope with his current home environment. He uses these activities to retreat into his own world, distancing himself from the misery he experiences with his family until he meets Maude.