In a 2023 Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) hosted by Lionsgate, Keanu Reeves gave fans a glimpse into the films, books, and life experiences that mean the most to him.
The open Q&A thread, titled “Hi, I’m Keanu Reeves, AMA”, quickly attracted over thirty thousand comments – and while many of the questions were playful or personal, the actor gave thoughtful answers, especially when talking about the creative work that has inspired him.
One fan asked Keanu for a book recommendation, writing: “Hi Keanu, can you recommend a book that you have recently read and loved?”
His reply said: “Hi, yes… The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy and Stella Maris because that’s the companion book. Enjoy!”
Published in 2022, The Passenger and Stella Maris were the final novels released by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy before his death.
The two works, released within weeks of each other, share interconnected themes and characters, diving into philosophy, grief, and the edges of human consciousness.
Keanu didn’t stop at literature. When another user asked what films he would bring on a long flight, Reeves offered: “…AAAAAAAHHHHHHH… today… let’s go with A Clockwork Orange and The Wizard of Oz.”
The two picks couldn’t be more different on the surface – one a dystopian satire from Stanley Kubrick, the other a Technicolor musical from 1939 – but both are enduring classics, visually daring and emotionally layered.
When asked more directly about his own work, Keanu was humble but energetic. A fan posed the near-impossible question: “What is your favourite film that you’ve worked on?”
“Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!! F***, aaaaaahhhhhhhhh…”, he first exclaimed. Then, he chose a few: “I’ve been very fortunate to work on a few films that have changed my life. I can’t pick just one. But here are a few – River’s Edge, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Matrix trilogy, The Devil’s Advocate, A Scanner Darkly, My Own Private Idaho, Point Break, John Wick.”
Beyond books and films, Reeves also answered a few more personal questions. One Redditor asked: “What is the number 1 item on your bucket list? Thank you for all the amazing work!”
Keanu replied: “…My bucket list is getting really long…the #1s change but today let’s go with sailing across an ocean.”