Groundhog Day: A self-centred man is forced to relive the same day over and over

The 1993 film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray is a comedy-drama that inspired countless films over the years. From Tom Cruise’s sci-fi action film Edge of Tomorrow, the slasher horror Happy Death Day, and the romantic comedy Palm Springs, Groundhog Day’s time loop trope has been reimagined across multiple genres.

The plot revolves around a self-centred weatherman who inexplicably gets caught in a time loop – forcing him to relive the same day over and over again. He then proceeds to enact his wildest fantasies, but they quickly lose their charm. As the repetitive nature of his predicament begins to take its toll, he attempts to take his own life in the hopes of returning to normalcy. But he wakes   up again unharmed and stuck in the same loop.

The film explores the idea of whether people have the capacity to change if given time. Bill Murray’s character Phil refuses to mend his ways even when an unexplained phenomenon grants him immortality to change for the better. The narrative further examines Phil’s efforts to win the affection of his colleague, Rita, through selfless acts. The plot then hinges on whether Phil can truly become a better human being, win over Rita, and of course, break free from the time loop.

The film features well-written humour and a heartwarming tale about perseverance, redemption, existentialism, and love. Andie MacDowell plays the role of Rita in this Harold Ramis directorial, which is based on the script by Danny Rubin. Groundhog Day has withstood the test of time after redefining the time loop trope in the early 90s. It remains a cult classic and continues to inspire films, TV shows, and more.

You can watch Groundhog Day on OTTplay Premium.

• Written by Ryan Gomez