What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHarold and Maude
Hal Ashby · Film · 1971
If you loved Harold and Maude, start with Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森) (Haruki Murakami, 1987) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Harold and Maude across media.
You loved Harold and Maude because it finds profound, life-affirming beauty in the intersection of dark existential humor and nonconformity.
Books on the same thread
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森)
Haruki Murakami · Book · 1987
Shares 2 threads with Harold and Maude: Existentialism, Coming-of-Age.
Like Harold and Maude, this story navigates the heavy weight of grief and the complexities of human connection, grounding its melancholic atmosphere in a deep, introspective search for meaning.
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway · Book · 1952
Explores: Man vs. Nature, Perseverance, Aging.
This fable captures the same meditative spirit found in Harold and Maude, focusing on how individuals confront their own mortality through a bond that transcends generational divides.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee · Book · 1970
Explores: Racial Injustice, Childhood Innocence, Moral Courage.
Much like the unconventional perspective in Harold and Maude, this novel explores the necessity of maintaining one's moral integrity and innocence while navigating a world defined by deep prejudice.
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger · Book · 1951
Shares a thread with Harold and Maude: Coming-of-Age.
Holden Caulfield shares the same sense of alienation and societal disconnect that defined Harold in Harold and Maude, offering a raw, honest look at the struggle for personal identity.
Series on the same thread
M*A*S*H
Larry Gelbart · Series · 1972
Shares a thread with Harold and Maude: Existentialism.
This series mirrors the dark comedic sensibilities of Harold and Maude, utilizing absurdity and sharp wit as a vital coping mechanism against the backdrop of an unforgiving, harsh reality.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Allan Burns · Series · 1970
Explores: Single Womanhood, Career Woman, Friendship.
The journey of finding one's place in the world, central to Harold and Maude, is echoed here as a woman builds her own community and defines her own independent path.
Sanford and Son
Norman Lear · Series · 1972
Explores: Generation Gap, Family Conflict, Get Rich Quick Schemes.
This show captures the friction of a strained intergenerational relationship, much like the dynamic in Harold and Maude, finding humor in the eccentricities of family members who clash constantly.
The Odd Couple
Garry Marshall · Series · 1970
Explores: Odd Couple, Roommates, Divorce.
The bond between these two mismatched roommates reflects the core of Harold and Maude, proving that even the most unlikely pairings can create a poignant and enduring personal connection.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
This podcast channels the dark, conversational humor of Harold and Maude, blending the macabre with genuine human connection to help listeners process the complexities of life and death.
Morbid
Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart · Podcast · 2026
Explores: macabre humor, skepticism, human mortality.
By balancing heavy subject matter with a lighthearted, observational tone, this podcast captures that specific Harold and Maude spirit of finding humor and community even within the darkest topics.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Harold and Maude about a young man and an elderly woman?
Yes, Harold and Maude follows a young man named Harold who is obsessed with death and funeral visits. He meets an 80-year-old woman named Maude who embraces life, and the two develop a deep friendship and romantic connection that transcends their age difference.
What is the premise of Harold and Maude?
Harold and Maude centers on Harold, who stages fake suicide attempts to escape his unhappy home life. His perspective shifts after he encounters Maude, an 80-year-old woman living life to the fullest, leading the two unlikely companions to form a profound and unconventional bond.
Does Harold and Maude focus on the contrast between its two main characters?
Yes, Harold and Maude highlights the contrast between Harold, who is withdrawn and preoccupied with death, and Maude, who is vibrant and enjoys life. Through their relationship, the film explores how these two opposites find common ground and eventually fall in love.
Why does Harold spend his time at funerals in Harold and Maude?
In Harold and Maude, Harold attends funerals as a way to avoid the misery of his family and home environment. This habit defines his character until he meets Maude, whose outlook on life encourages him to step outside of his isolated world.