Filmmaker reacts to Groundhog Day (1993) for the FIRST TIME!

[@JamesVSCinema]

Finally getting around to checking this film out! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Have a great day!

[@deanpoole4458]

James i just watched the good,the bad and the ugly,i think you would really enjoy it if you havent already seen it

[@davewolf6256]

You’re shirt is dope! Where did u get it from?

[@bshirah]

Hey, James. Where did you get that blue ring?

[@dlweiss]

I think he "broke out" of the loop because he finally grew enough as a person to no longer "need" the loop. He gains enough wisdom and perspective that goes from viewing the town as a horrible backwoods prison (that he can't wait to escape) to viewing it as a wonderful place filled with lovely people (that he'd be happy to spend his life in). And I think the implication is that he's come to see the rest of the world that way too.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Gotcha! Yeah this film doesn’t call that out and more so just let’s the audience make what they think out of it. Less explaining is better for this film anyway hahaha

[@rxtsec1]

That and the fairy tale aspect. True love

[@DownUFO]

It can all tie back to the groundhog tradition: if Phil sees his shadow, there’s more winter. Your shadow is basically a hollowed out version of yourself absent of light. So it was only once he was able to see past that dark image of himself, he could wake up to a new day that felt fresh and worth living. But as long as his shadow kept popping to the front of his view, he would live in a permanent hell and every day would just be another meaningless repeat.

[@rxtsec1]

@@DownUFO never heard that before

[@luketimewalker]

@@DownUFO amazing take, I love it

[@rodc7]

There's been a long standing theory that during the film, Phil goes through the "5 Stages Of Grief". I saw this earlier today: Denial: Of course, Phil initially resists the idea that he's reliving the same day over and over. Anger: Though Phil mainly expresses it as annoyance and irritation, some overt anger does come out. For example, he slams a man against the wall, saying, "Don't mess with me, pork chop. What day is this?" He vents some aggression by punching Ned for no good reason. Anger is an activating emotion, preparing the person to do something, while the kind of resigned misery he suffers later falls more under the umbrella of depression. Bargaining: Phil plays around with his situation, experimenting with his circumstances and for a time simply trying to have fun with it. This runs into the start of his depressed period when he drives himself and the groundhog over a cliff in an attempt to end his loop one way or another. Depression: Distraught and emotionally weary, Phil kills himself time and time again only to restart the day yet again every time. Whereas his earlier punch to Ned also helps him have a bit of fun, he's having no fun, he just resents it all. Receiving some social support from news producer Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell) helps him begin to lift out of this dark slump. Acceptance: At last, Phil starts to find peace by learning new skills. The character attempts some bargaining here, but now for the sake of others, as demonstrated by his efforts to save the life of an elderly man only to learn that some things are beyond him. This realization and newfound acceptance of his situation lead him to try to make the day the best one he can for everybody else. Ramis said in an interview, "The hero stops thinking about himself and starts performing service."

[@codymoe4986]

While I would never condone violence, cold cocking Ned was justified...

[@leonelsjanofwipper3418]

This movie was shot in reverse order. Harold Ramis knew Murray well enough to know he would become increasingly grumpy during the shoot and he wanted a happy Bill at the end and a grumpy one at the beginning.

[@St.Maliki]

I've heard this fun "fact" multiple times now and it simply can't be true. Shooting a movie is crazy expensive and to set up the exact same sets, bring in the exact same extras, purchase the exact same permits....etc, would be a crazy waste of resources and the biggest continuity nightmare of all time. Much easier and cheaper to film all of the dinner shots one day, all of the ceremony shots another, and so on. There's likely some truth to it. Perhaps they filmed him happier in the early part of the day and grumpier later on in the day. Perhaps the non- repeated sets/ shots were done intentionally in that order. But there is just no way a producer would quadruple his budget just because Mr.Murray can get a bit cranky.

[@lup7271]

@@St.Maliki most of the time the order they make the film is basically what works best, so the first scene might be shot day 100 and the one after that day 30 and the one after that day 5 etc

[@leonelsjanofwipper3418]

Films are never (or very rarely) shot in chronological order and I doubt they shot this in complete reverse order. I also guess Murray would get grumpy during a day of long shoots and not during the weeks of shooting. So I presume that during a day when they f.i. shot the Ned insurance agent scenes they started with the happy ones and ended with the grumpy ones.@@St.Maliki

[@WastedPo]

@@St.Maliki - I agree with you that a lot of "fun fact" stories about movies that are spread on the internet are total nonsense. ("Did you know that Heath Ledger as the Joker had no idea the hospital behind him would blow up?! It's true!" "Did you know that the glass window going into the tour truck in Jurassic Park as the T-Rex attacked was a total accident?! So the screams from the kids were actually real fear!") I have no idea if this one is true. However, on the other hand, I could almost believe it about this movie, simply because it has such a limited set of locations. It's possible they could've shot the scenes in reverse order without too much change to the budget.

[@St.Maliki]

@WastedPo no possible way. Do you think they somehow got the exact same weather days apart?... amongst a million other things?

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

His consciousness is the constant. Everything else repeats. Imagine in this story, all the timelines spinning off from each day. In the film, each day has no consequence, but you have to wonder if each action has a storyline that continues on its own.

[@gluuuuue]

Btw, I love the subtlety in how Bill (Phil) finally escapes, because it's completely unstated and left to the viewer to figure out, again often after many many many viewings: what helps him escape is his stops trying to deal with his dissatisfaction with how the world and people around him are and changes himself. And that night he finally does, he says for the first time, "I'm happy *now*."

[@MinnesotaLG]

I read that someone calculated how long he was actually in the loop for, and they came up with 33 years, basing that theory off the notion that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at anything, in which he does multiple things such as ice sculpting, piano, and throwing cards into a hat, etc. - There 38 separate days shown on screen - 414 "days mentioned" (including the "six months, four to five hours a day" spent throwing playing cards into a hat) - and the colossal 11,931 days spent learning. - This equals about 12,380 days which is 33 years and some change.

[@FiggityJones]

Just one of the best reactors casually dropping one of my favorite movies ever. Today is gonna be a good day.

[@JamesVSCinema]

You get it my friend 🙏🏽

[@firsealtonberry9712]

And so is tomorrow! and the day after... the day after... the day after... ... ... .. . uh oh...

[@jerryhayes9497]

This idea (of a man trapped in the same day) has been used in Sci-Fi a lot of times. But it's usually the same premise. The guy stuck in the same day has to figure out how to stop some disaster from happening so he can break the cycle. But this film pondered the idea of..."What if there is no disaster to avert? What if our protagonist was stuck in the same day for weeks? Or months? Or even years? How would that effect him psychologically??" It's a clever concept for a movie 🎥

[@Nicholasmcmath-cr1xl]

Agree

[@michaelminch5490]

And what if the disaster he has to prevent (or fix) is himself?

[@gerhen4505]

For some reason I really enjoy that the only communication he gets from whatever is doing this to him is the song he hears every single morning. I got you babe.

[@filipohman7277]

Awesome Movie and Work Bro, Thanks 👍👍👍👍 Greetings from Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸

[@Arsolon618]

Yes that's a young Michael Shannon. Also, the MC of the groundhog ceremony, who is also the MC of the Date Auction, and the guy who Bill saves from choking at the restaurant, is played by Bill Murray's older brother! Look closely they have very similar faces.

[@LordVolkov]

'Spot the Murray sibling' is a fun game for Bill's movies.

[@jculver1674]

Also, the actress who plays Michael Shannon's fiance is the voice of Princess Bubblegum on Adventure Time.

[@michaelminch5490]

I believe the guy he runs into at the top of the stairs as he leaves his room is his other brother.

[@mycroft16]

I love the evolution in this he goes through... annoyance, hey I can do anything I want, boredom, desperation, multiple suicide attempts, resignation, trying to help others... it all fees so very natural a progression. And Bill Murray is so good in this.

[@Alatoic01]

I remember reading (not sure if true or not) that the explanation of reliving the same day was because in the beginning of the movie Bill Murray slept with a girl from work, then ghosted her, and she was a witch and put a spell on him. I really hope this was never filmed and glad that if it was in the script then it was removed, the best mysteries are the one wit out an explanation.

[@danielflynn9141]

The execution of this film is what I appreciate the most. The effort made to preserve the continuity must have been a Herculean feat, and one that is really collaborative. If the lighting was slightly off in one of the scenes that is a repeat of the same day, the illusion would have been broken. The filmmaking here is solid.

[@lyletuck]

So, focus on the question: WHY did the loop end? What was different? He FINALLY went through a day without thinking of himself or serving his own needs every second of his day. He was doing good things just for the sake of being good and trying to make his world or life a better place. He was doing things for other people with absolutely no expectation of getting anything from them in return. BANG, loop ended. "...it is better to be truthful and good - than to not." -Freddy Benson, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"

[@chaost4544]

"Cause and Effect" is a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode with a similar premise and was aired about a year before Groundhog Day released in theaters. There's other random scifi stuff in previous generations that has done the Groundhog Day premise however Groundhog Day was so good at what it did the movie trope was named after the film.

[@emsleywyatt3400]

The largely forgotten TV movie 12:01 is another example.

[@kirasant]

I think it would be cool to explore this mechanic further. Cus take it from the town's angle. To them this dude comes to town, fixes so much in their lives, saves kids and shit, knows everyone and everything about them, and then just leaves after one day. It would look like an angel was passing through. What if this this phenomenon happened in other places whenever the mystical powers that be needed an angel for a day?

[@bigredtlc1828]

Harold Ramis used to talk about all the letters he got from people saying how moving the film was to them, almost at a spiritual level. Andie McDowell mentions that in the movie, having so many do-overs. I think I remember Ramis saying he was thinking Murray was stuck in that day for over 30 years. Interesting concept of a film. Thanks for reacting!

[@luketimewalker]

I once stumbled upon a buddhist page that viewed this film as a great parable!

[@msdarby515]

We're all kind of living the same day over and over. What makes you love your life? Embracing it and making the most of it.

[@JamesASharp]

This comedy is a classic. It's almost a miracle based on the fact that this movie was a troubled production. Great reaction bro! 👍🏿

[@cmgianaras1]

I believe the filmmakers say he was trapped in that loop for around 34 YEARS

[@gdhaney136]

I've watched this over and over and over and over. I love Bill Murray, and this is one of my top 10 favorites. Great story.

[@JSLeeds]

The “stable Time loop” is a genre all its own, and even better it crosses over to horror, sci-fi, and drama.

[@HaganeNoGijutsushi]

This is not a stable time loop though; a stable time loop is when time travel can't change the past, and events wrap together in a loop (e.g. 12 Monkeys). But yeah, plenty of movies with the Groundhog Day loop concept, like Happy Death Day.

[@JSLeeds]

@@HaganeNoGijutsushi nothing like a bracing “well actually” to start my day. I stand corrected.

[@jainthorne4136]

There is actually some basis in science for if the groundhog sees his shadow. Cold winter weather is marked by high cirrus clouds that let in the sunlight. Therefore the groundhog would see it's shadow. Warmer weather brings fuller and lower cumulous clouds that often blot out the sun so it wouldn't see it's shadow.

[@chrisleebowers]

1:49, "I don't think it's been done prior... but you can let me know if there was a 'Groundhog Day' before this movie" "Repeat Performance" (1947) is about a woman who lives *one year* over again "Le 15 Mai" (1969) is the first movie about characters living a single day over again There's a few other movies and then there's a Star Trek TNG episode, S5 E18 "Cause and Effect" (1992) aired the *year before* this movie was released.

[@Scott_Forsell]

Man, I'm basically retired. Most days are exactly the same as yesterday. I take a walk for an hour. I shower, etc. I eat breakfast (Cap'n Crunch, two slices of bacon, a piece of cinnamon raisin toast buttered). I catch up on the news. I practice drumming. I watch a show, or a movie, or play a game. Have lunch in front of a screen. Space out and watch YT. Take a nap. Space out again. Watch something. Crash. Everyday is basically the same and I [bleeping] love it. Being retired and single is like every dream you had as a teenager pissed as [bleep] you had a 6 to 12 shift at the Gas 'n' Go. I don't have to do jack diddly squat. All day. I can have tacos for breakfast and waffles for dinner and watch Kurasawa movies all day long. I can play Stardew Valley for 38 hours in a row. Or Morrowind.or C:DDA. It's glorious! I cannot recommend retirement enough. 5 stars. 10 out of 10. I have low-key stupid fun daily. I can take a nap whenever it suits me. Do you realize how gd awesome that is?

[@Raven5150]

This move takea place in the mcu in dr strange when he uses the time stone to make dormomu rage quit some how bill murrey was cought in a glitch and experienced the time loop

[@MajaZaguan]

We have the same tradition in Eastern Europe, but with the bear. If the bear comes out of its cave and sees the shadow, six more weeks of winter. Nobody holds an actual bear, though, it's just a saying, but we do pay attention if the weather is sunny or overcast on a specific day (I think it's February 15th). Cheers from Serbia!

[@lukeskowronek6736]

This is one of my most rewatched movies.

[@dalemundy2279]

I absolutely love this movie. Bill Murray's facial expressions are truly stunning! The emotions that play across him as the situation repeats itself was amazing.

[@nanip2029]

Someone did the math and he spent something like 36 years in the loop 😮📆

[@juliejordan3090]

After seeing this so many times, seeing it here, I caught the moment his fortunes started to change - when he was 100% honest with Rita in the restaurant without being after anything.

[@The.Pickle]

This is one of my favourite films, and yeah it gets dark. I know it's really funny, but the first time I saw it, it made me feel profoundly sad, watching him trapped in that loop, over and over. The part where he jumps off the building and the un-preventable death of the old homeless man, these parts that really got to me; if there was a darker music score over these scenes and they lingered on them a little longer, it would have a *really* dark vibe...but it's a comedy, a really good one at that.

[@scgreek1114]

One of my favorite films. A 2-hour exploration of situational ethics and who you really are when nothing else matters. Had this been written slightly differently and classified as a drama instead of a comedy, Bill Murray might have won an academy award.

[@AbrahamdeLacy-xm8sb]

It's a moral story of learning how to be a good person. Trial and tribulations, ten thousand miles long, and when finally you have learned, stripped yourself of ego, appreciate other people for what they are … you are invited to the fellowship of man. Cheers James 🍺

[@itt23r]

In answer to your question of whether there was any rhyme or reason fro the time loop, it is subtle but the screenwriters do seem to have included a reason. After Phil gives his snarky speech on the very first Groundhog's Day, Rita, his boss, tells him to try it again without the sarcasm. But Phil blows her off. And the inplication of that act is that some power somewhere apparently heard the exchange and decided to condemn Phil to relive the same day over and over until he does do it the way Rita asked. And on the very day the movie shows him actually doing a wonderful speech it is the day he is released from his prison.

[@misterwhyte]

Mate, from one filmmaker to another, your reactions are awesome. I recently decided I also wanted to do movie commentary and though I haven't released any yet, I tried and realized how hard it is to do an analysis on the fly so kuddos to you! I hope I get to your level one day. I'm definitely keen to see your creative side now. Cheers from Down Under Side note: yes, it is Michael Shannon! It's his first role in a movie

[@michaelcorman4859]

Just subbed, looking forward to your future reactions.

[@misterwhyte]

@@michaelcorman4859 Thanks mate!

[@misterwhyte]

@@danholmesfilm Yeah the editing is so much more time consuming than I expected. That being said, it's just like everything else, the more you do it do, the better you get and the faster you go.

[@hopswigh]

I remember seeing this when I was younger and thinking it was a really cool idea. My FAVORITE variation of this concept is Palm Springs which is a Hulu exclusive with Cristin Milioti and Andy Sandberg. I think you would REALLY enjoy it as there is a lot more to digest and break down from the writing, content and locations.

[@bellydansah]

LOVE this movie, it's legit hilarious

[@christiankalk4668]

Probably the most similar movie out there, but still distinct. Worth a look.

[@HenryCabotHenhouse3]

The loop ended because Phil changed enough that Rita fell in love with him. It was Rita that broke the loop.

[@DavetheGrue]

You have to remember the concept was new back when this was made; it impressed people with an originality that's lost watching it today. There have been so many versions of the story, e.g. Edge of Tomorrow, Happy Death Day, etc.

[@lawrencefrost9063]

Before Groundgod Day, the "time loop" trope has been used many times. The oldest one might be 1892 as you can see. However no one has done the trope justice like this movie (perhaps edge of tomorrow can claim this too) "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean Howells (1892): This is a short story in which the main character experiences Christmas Day over and over again. The story humorously explores the consequences of living the same festive day repeatedly. "Doubled and Redoubled" by Malcolm Jameson (1941): This short story involves a protagonist who finds himself caught in a repeating loop, living the same events over and over again. He tries to change the outcome each time but remains stuck in the loop. "By His Bootstraps" by Robert A. Heinlein (1941): Another science fiction short story by Heinlein, this work involves time travel and paradoxes, with a character encountering multiple versions of themselves across different points in time. "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" by Kurt Vonnegut (1950): In this short story, a college professor discovers he has telekinetic powers and starts using them to affect global events, leading to a time loop where history repeats itself. "All You Zombies" by Robert A. Heinlein (1959): While not a strict time loop, this science fiction short story involves time travel and a complex series of events that continuously loop back on themselves, leading to a surprising revelation. "The Twilight Zone" (TV Series, 1959-1964): The episode titled "Shadow Play" (1961) features a character trapped in a recurring nightmare, where he relives his impending execution over and over again. "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" (1967): This Japanese novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui involves a girl who gains the ability to time leap, causing her to repeatedly relive certain events.

[@arcanask]

@@lawrencefrost9063 There is a film of the same name for The Girl Who Leapt through Time made in 2006. It's loosely based on the book. It's animated wonderfully.

[@DavetheGrue]

@@lawrencefrost9063 I appreciate the detailed reply, and in fact I've read the Heinlein stories and seen the film they made of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. But I think you're kind of proving my point, because every one of those examples would be obscure to the general public. I meant there hadn't been a mainstream film like this before, as opposed to several since. I didn't mean no one had had the idea before.

[@jacksonmartin8899]

The point of this film is that our circumstances don't change until we do. The mechanism for starting or ending it isn't the point. Phil goes through all the stages that anyone would go through in a life if they had the opportunity to learn and grow.

[@deanpoole4458]

Yep micheal shannons first role,theres a video of him on youtube talking about his different characters and he mentions this☺️

[@blackswan7568]

DAMN! You called out Michael Shannon's cameo. I never noticed that, and when you called that out, I looked it up, and it turns out you were right😆

[@ijones81]

The film is very similar to old Frank Capra films, where the true story and love for the movie can be derived from the side characters you get to know along the way. The arc for Phil is amazing hits you to think that you don't need to live a 1000 lives to change but everyday we need to try to improve. Love and be compasionate, always be willing to compromise and eager to learn new things and care for those around you.

[@mindcrome]

You can use this movie as a metaphor to reaching a state of Nirvana, or dealing with depression. (It is really hard to have a no context experience if now you are just seeing the movie.). It is the small changes that so when you look back you are a different person.

[@dleatherman4539]

Phil's journey in this movie always seemed to me like he was going through the stages of grief for his ego. By the time the end comes, he has accepted the fact that he was an ass, put it behind him and is ready to be more outwardly focused and appreciative of life.

[@claegason2521]

Wikipedia says they used the Kubler-Ross model of the five stages of grief as a guide while scriptwriting

[@blitzstange]

Edge of Tomorrow focused more on the main characters training by keeping him trapped in a military environment. Groundhog Day focuses on the experience of reliving the same day over and over as the only limitation. I quite like both films. They both address going from fear and confusion, to abusing the situation, then a deep inescapable depression, and finally acceptance and growth. The biggest difference is I don't watch Edge of Tomorrow every year on Edge of Tomorrow Day. :P

[@krissiep1317]

😂

[@RinzlerWraith]

my local tv station, plays this film on repeat all day on the actual groundhog day, the funny thing is, is they don't change the tv listings to reflect that.

[@Lebowski55]

This is one of most brilliant comedies of all time!

[@freeheeler00]

Love wins the day buddy! Yay! Honestly, I wish they made films of this caliber today in terms of original, fun ideas.

[@houdin654jeff]

February 2nd is my birthday and I have depression. This movie has always been deeply meaningful to me and it gets better each time I go back to it. Phil is a jerk at the start. He’s self centered, he’s rude to everyone, even people who don’t know he’s being rude to them like the bed and breakfast lady, and he only seems to pursue people or situations that can get him something (attention, sex, money, etc.). Once the loop starts, after an adjustment period, this gets cranked up to 11. When he tries this with Rita, she can see through it, despite all his foreknowledge and attempts to bed her the way he’s done with, seemingly, everyone in town. All he can do to be with Rita is to better himself, which is far harder and takes much more time, but is ultimately more fulfilling. His last day in the loop is spent helping others, getting one last piano lesson, and playing at the dance. While that last one could be seen as showing off, he’s making the day better for people by being entertaining, not entertaining to make himself feel whole. He already feels that way, so he is not needy. He’s accepted that this might be everything he experiences forever and has achieved serenity, which is why Rita goes to bed with him and wakes up next to him… which at last feels all right for us the audience as well. The self centered jerk has gone, so he’s allowed to leave February 2nd. It’s a perfect movie, glad you’ve finally seen it.

[@carronline1]

the thing about this movie is you have no idea how long he has actually been there, each scene could be a different day, and said it takes around 10,000 hours to master anything and he did that with the piano, ice sculping, not to mention how long it takes to get to know an individual he was able to do that with everyone as well as experiencing the same day enough to know exactly when everything is gonna happen by memory without needing to think about it

[@crystalracklyeft9780]

Groundhog day is to time loop movies, what 1968's Night of the Living Dead is to the whole zombie movie/tv show genre. It may not be the best version of it's kind, but there's a strong argument that had the movie never come out, maybe the genre wouldn't be so popular as to be reused in so many tv series, movies, etc. Often when it happens in an episode and the protagonist is explaining the predicament to their friend, friend often will say "you mean like in groundhog day?"

[@Gavrev]

Thinking back to when I saw this in the cinema, what I truly loved about this film was that it extended beyond the base comedy (which is superbly played by Murray and cast alike) and held the audiences hand through inevitable darkness for the redemption arc. There's always going to be a dark side to extremes, any kind of wish granting, existential omnipotence, superpowers, whatever you choose.. I remember not knowing where it was going to go, but ultimately glad that it unfolded the way it did, and felt it imparted as much gratitude in the audience as for Phil.. a real inner journey.

[@ChrispySauce]

They didn't want to do an explanation but the studio was forcing them to, so they were going to do that scene last so that they could say that they didn't have enough time to do it

[@williammatthews693]

Can you feel it James? Can you? Can you feel the 90s in this movie wash over you? You said, "It's a good thing." You're damn right it's a good thing! The best of things!

[@dorkbrandon4422]

The 80s movies were iconic but the 90s were the perfection of movie theatre experiences

[@CribNotes]

I went to see this movie at the theater on opening weekend with NO IDEA what it was about. Loved it! As a result, to this day 30 years later, if I know I'm going to see an anticipated movie, I refuse to watch any trailers for it. I will close my eyes and plug my ears till the trailer is over. The next movie in 1993 I saw with no clue about it was Jurassic Park! LOLOL. Every movie I see in the theater is no spoiler FRESH!

[@ExtremeFilmEnthusiast]

Would have loved if you included more from the final day here. Important bit is that after some point he started to do certain things every other day - save the kid, save guy from choking, do the surgery and spend time with dying old man. He never knew when/if he would break out of loop, so he made sure that he did these necessary things every other day no matter what.

[@MelissaAndersonTheFutureLegend]

That radio show that kept on repeating is actually my alarm tone every morning...

[@jmclen7]

Like any parable, there’s a lesson to be learned. He couldn’t break this cycle until he became a better person. He was a champion of his own ego. When he turned that energy towards helping others, he became an unstoppable force for good. Of course this curse was a blessing but it’s the kind of blessing we can only experience through film. We don’t get redos. The power of this movie is that it makes us think about what’s important and where we should spend our time knowing we won’t get one endless day to workshop all our ideas. I saw this at the theater when it came out. I was a teenager and was with a bunch of friends. They all hated it and I loved it. For me, this is a classic. It does have that early 90s stank on it though. No doubt about it.

[@aklimar2208]

Don't know about time loop movies before this, but I read a book called Replay some years back that was written in 1986. The main character dies at the same moment each time, but each "replay" of his life he starts closer and closer to the day he dies adding to the suspense of what happens when the start catches up to the end.

[@AustinCameron]

The fact that the camera shows their reaction to the truck falling off the cliff implies all the various timelines continue on....

[@ingsve]

If the groundhog sees his shadow it simply means that the sun was shining on that day as opposed to it being cloudy so that there would be no distinct shadow. So the season prediction is basically about whether the weather is nice on a particular day or not.

[@Ravenwind999]

This movie is based on a book actually. In the book, he repeated this day for 100 years. In the movie he repeats the day for 10 years. I love this film, though. Thanks for reviewing it!! 🤗🤗

[@richard_n]

He broke the cycle because he grew as a person and finally had the perfect day. I heard that the book this movie is based on says he was in the time loop for like a thousand years or something before he got it right.

[@lawrencefrost9063]

Before Groundgod Day, the "time loop" trope has been used many times. The oldest one might be 1892 as you can see. However no one has done the trope justice like this movie (perhaps edge of tomorrow can claim this too) "Christmas Every Day" by William Dean Howells (1892): This is a short story in which the main character experiences Christmas Day over and over again. The story humorously explores the consequences of living the same festive day repeatedly. "Doubled and Redoubled" by Malcolm Jameson (1941): This short story involves a protagonist who finds himself caught in a repeating loop, living the same events over and over again. He tries to change the outcome each time but remains stuck in the loop. "By His Bootstraps" by Robert A. Heinlein (1941): Another science fiction short story by Heinlein, this work involves time travel and paradoxes, with a character encountering multiple versions of themselves across different points in time. "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" by Kurt Vonnegut (1950): In this short story, a college professor discovers he has telekinetic powers and starts using them to affect global events, leading to a time loop where history repeats itself. "All You Zombies" by Robert A. Heinlein (1959): While not a strict time loop, this science fiction short story involves time travel and a complex series of events that continuously loop back on themselves, leading to a surprising revelation. "The Twilight Zone" (TV Series, 1959-1964): The episode titled "Shadow Play" (1961) features a character trapped in a recurring nightmare, where he relives his impending execution over and over again. "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" (1967): This Japanese novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui involves a girl who gains the ability to time leap, causing her to repeatedly relive certain events.

[@codymoe4986]

I'm not sure if this is next level researching skills, or you just randomly being an expert on the subject... Congrats and thanks, regardless...

[@frankman90210]

this script is tight as a drum and conveys some real heady subjects super casually.

[@johnw8578]

I read somewhere that the writers originally had Phil stay in the loop for 50,000 years, but then later made it like 75 years or so. I like the 50,000-year loop idea better.

[@barowt]

A movie that goes in the class of great writing, directing, acting, everything.

[@steffurness]

Man comments on the main character's animosity, then goes on to rib us bc he already knows the concept of the movie and "there's nothing YOU can do about it from behind a computer screen." Thanks for the laughs, James, as always !! 😆😆

[@taylormarzano3677]

My family lives just outside of Woodstock (where most of this was filmed) whenever I visit I always go to the town. There is a plaque thing in the sidewalk where he steps off the curb. The city has some nice food attractions and always something going on in the city square. It still looks alot like it does in the movie.

[@AneudiD78]

I initially thought that he was stuck in the loop for years, but it turns out it was more like 30 years. All the things he learned took many years to master.

[@flawed1]

This is my favorite movie, and I swear, the way the bartender shots are edited makes me think the bartender knows what’s going on. He’s some omnipotent being or something

[@codymoe4986]

Hah! Have watched this film, "countless" times, had the same thought during this reaction...jinx!

[@pFoz]

Fun fact: when the oj trial happened, the jury was sequestered for several months. They had a movie night - and this was the movie they rented.

[@mycroft16]

One of the reasons I love this era of films is that they didn't have to explain themselves. You went to see it, you accepted what it gave you, you had fun. I doesn't need to explain how it happened, or why. It just did. I hate that audiences now seem to need to be spoonfed an entire backstory for things before they can suspend their disbelief and just have a good time. Weird Science would seriously offend them.

[@tremorsfan]

There was a short film made in 1990 called 12:01 PM which involves the time loop being a single hour.

[@feintcircles]

I had a short odd instance of this happen to me when I was a kid. I woke up in the middle of the night sick with a fever. I got up and walked across the house to tell my parents I was sick. As soon as I opened their bedroom door I woke up back in my bed. Still feeling sick I stumbled out of bed and made my way across to my parents room. I opened their bedroom door again and woke up in my bed suddenly. This happened 7 or 8 times. Halfway through I started panicking. I couldn't break out of this loop. It was crazy. Probably nothing more than a fever dream, but I remember all of this so clearly. Never had anything like that happen again.

[@0chuklz0]

There was someone that sat down and did the math for how long it would take for him to learn the skills to the level he is at in them, and it came out to something over a thousand years.

[@FINNSTIGAT0R]

There's a theory that Phil dies after the first Groundhog Day in the snowstorm and after that he goes to purgatory, which is the timeloop, and only after he genuinely changes to a good person he gets into heaven, represented as the loop's end.

[@MrLassner11]

im not 100% on this but as far is i remember, the director once said in an interview that he always liked the idea of phil being stuck in this loop for a thousand years

[@codymoe4986]

From what I've gathered from the comments, the director claimed a few dozen years, while the writer was more keen on many, many more...

[@misteryman526]

I believe somebody worked out that it was a minimum of 33 years and 300 somthing days that Phil was stuck in his time loop, but Sam Raimi revealed he thought it was much longer since in his view it would take at at least 10 years to master any one skill to the level that Phil did (such as his piano), so there was the real possibility that he might have spent many decades (centuries) just existing in this one day and learning everything possible in this town.

[@tcteun]

Watching this movie for the first time and not knowing there will be a time loop was such a good experience

[@matthewmarcinko9157]

I was born on February 2nd, GROUNDHOG DAY! So this is my birthday movie! I've watched this film every year for many years on my birthday, as much of a tradition on my birthday as anything else! And I've been to Punxatawney, PA on Groundhog Day, and it is a BLAST!

[@shadecat7068]

If you are into screenplays then you know that to make this work is not an easy task. I think the idea was beautifully constructed and executed.

[@sntxrrr]

Classic with an original twist plus Bill Murray in top form makes this a timeless movie that is just as good today as it was decades ago.

[@15two]

they made a musical version of it with songs by tim minchin and its actually pretty good. they expand more on some of the supporting characters and it really serves to make them feel like people that are affected by phils actions rather than props that act around him. rita has a song where she discusses the good things shed do if she were in a time loop, nancy (the girl phil sleeps with) has a song that puts phils philandering into an even worse light (since he essentially manipulated her), and ned is given a backstory where it turns out his wife passed away so he puts his energy into selling life insurance and it serves as a bit of a wake up call to phil that he doesnt really have the right to be a douche just because the next day they wont remember. the songs slap too, amazing use of motifs to show repetition

[@tylerhackner9731]

Classic film

[@stsolomon618]

Groundhog day, love that film. I also experience this on March 2020.

[@TheGavrael]

The joke at the movie theater is one of my favorite subtle jokes in any movie "One adult and uh..."

[@hopposai787]

people have done the math and to have gained that level of knowledge not just of the entire town and every person in it, but all the skills like the piano and ice carving as well. the time he spent in that town was literally thousands of years or even over 10 thousand.

[@marennicholson5444]

I’ve had a dozen family arguments regarding how long he was actually there

[@Alex-hm7nt]

One of my all time favorite movies. It's def gets better as you grow older! Edit: when he says the 2nd time "it's Groundhogs Day...again". It cracks me up so hard since you easily could say/apply that if you did cover that event lol

[@LuckyNemo03]

I think I remember somebody doing the math on how long he was stuck in the loop and it was an insane number of days, and honestly he should’ve lost his mind.

[@lifeandfaith]

My mom and I were extras in this movie. Somewhere in the park near the gazebo. I have never spotted us.

[@neiladlington950]

Your reaction doesn't surprise me. I first watched this on VHS tape back in the 90's. Alright movie at first glance but I found my self tuning in any time it was playing nearby. The more you watch it the more your mind puts more stories into it to the point where it can get quite philosophical. But that's me and I'm older than the average viewer here I think.

[@ThomasSoles]

Poor Bill was trapped in this horrible loop for 33 years and 350 days. That much redundancy would absolutely destroy your sanity. And the seperation once the loop ended and you had not actually aged a day would probably be a shock too.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Our brains can only take so much

[@bazil9394]

Who said he was there for 33 years?

[@maurer3d]

@@bazil9394 It's an estimate for the minimum time it would take to learn the skills he learned to the level he did (assuming he isn't a genius). The original script had him stuck for 10000 years.

[@SaltyFrank1990]

"Imagine waking up, your'e in a nightmare, a never ending nightmare". Welcome to life everyone.

[@jimtatro6550]

This movie was filmed in large part in Woodstock Illinois, a town about 10 minutes from where I grew up. I remember seeing casting calls for extras but I didn’t have a chance to apply.

[@writhms]

It's estimated that he was stuck in the time loop for 33 years. Director Harold Ramis has said 8 years but there is no definite answer.