"I had never laughed so much." Keanu Reeves' favorite comedy was a resounding failure, but it has become a cult classic

Keanu Reeves, known for his participation in successful film productions, has rated Harold and Maude as one of the four best movies he has seen in a movie theater. This black comedy, written by Colin Higgins and directed by Hal Ashby, tells the story of a teenager, Harold, obsessed with death, who forms an unusual relationship with Maude, a septuagenarian who teaches him to appreciate life.

Dark humor

Despite its peculiar premise, Harold and Maude was a critical and box office failure upon its release in 1971. However, over time, it has become a cult film, gaining followers and generating profits more than a decade after its initial release. Reeves shared that a particular scene, where a character hits their arm with an axe, caused him unforgettable laughter in his adolescence: “I had never laughed so much in a movie theater. It was sublime”, the actor confessed.

Together with Harold and Maude, Reeves mentioned three other films that have impressed him: Eraserhead, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Napoleon, directed by Abel Gance. Each of these works reflects a significant variety of styles and themes that have left a mark on cinema.

The story and impact of Harold and Maude continue to resonate, and the appreciation of actors like Reeves only adds value to its legacy in the history of cinema.