25 Movies Like Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a fantasy comedy that was released in 1993 and was directed by Harold Ramis. Although the film is older, it is a classic must-watch. The film stars Bill Murray, Chris Elliott, and Andie MacDowell. The film revolves around a weatherman who gets stuck in a time loop.

Groundhog Day, as the title suggests, takes place on this day and revolves around a weatherman, Phil Connors, who is a cynical person that gets trapped in a time loop. He is ultimately forced to relive the 2^nd of February over and over until he does what the universe is guiding him towards.

The film earned $105 million, at the box office, against a budget of approximately $14.6 million. The film also garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, and audience members gave the film a 9 out of 10. The film also received multiple awards, including a BAFTA. Our top picks for similar films are Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004), About Time (2013), and Christmas Do-Over (2006).

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1. Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind had its release in 2004 and was directed by Michel Gondry. The film is a romantic science-fiction. Now, although the characters do not relive the same day, they might as well. It follows the story of a couple who have the memories of each other erased, only to be drawn back together repeatedly.

The film stars Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, and Kirsten Dunst, among others. The film was awarded an Academy Award for the Best Original Screenplay, and Winslet was nominated for Best Actress.

The film received excellent reviews and has developed a cult following. It did relatively well at the box office, making $74 million on a budget of $20 million. If you like the idea of two people being brought together by fate as in Groundhog Day, you’ll adore this.

2. About Time

About Time was released in 2013 and is a British romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Richard Curtis. The film follows a young man who has inherited the ability to time travel. He uses the power to try and alter his past to improve his future.

Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, and Bill Nighy star in this beautiful work. The film garnered positive from critics and audience members and grossed $87.1 million against its budget of $12 million.

If you enjoyed the freedom that our weatherman experienced on Groundhog Day, you will undoubtedly find this film entertaining. However, even if you can undo the past, the future is always affected, and people change and grow in both of these films.

3. Christmas Do-Over

Christmas Do-Over, which was released in 2006, is a television film directed by Catherine Cyran. The film is about a man, Kevin, who tries to get involved with his son and his ex-wife’s family for Christmas. Kevin feels that the day couldn’t be worse until his son wishes it could be Christmas every day, and it is granted.

The film stars Jay Mohr and Daphne Zuniga, along with Adrienne Barbeau and David Millbern. The film performed adequately with critics, but audience members were far more impressed and awarded it with roughly an 8 out of 10.

The film has been donned as the Christmas version of Groundhog Day and has similar humor and a strikingly similar plot, so if you enjoyed the latter, you have found yourself the next best thing.

4. What Women Want

What Women Want, which was released in 2000, is a romantic fantasy comedy film directed by Nancy Meyers. The story is about a chauvinistic advertising executive who mysteriously acquires the incredible ability to hear women’s thoughts. The question is, “Will it be a blessing or a curse?”

Starring in the lead roles is Mel Gibson, and Helen Hunt, along with them are Marisa Tomei and Alan Alda. The film, along with the performances, was entertaining, but critics felt the film could have done more with its premise.

Audience members loved the film, though, and it performed well at the box office, making $374.1 million on a rather large budget of $70 million. If you liked how Phil Connors tried to make good of his “curse” then you’ll enjoy watching how the events play out in this film.

5. The Truman Show

The Truman Show, released in 1998, is a comedy-drama directed by Peter Weir. The film follows Truman Burbank, a man who lives an ordinary life, but unbeknownst to him is actually living on a giant set filled with actors, and he is the star of a reality TV show.

The leading man in the film is Jim Carrey, accompanied by Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, and Ed Harris, among others. The film won over critics and received nominations for various awards, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards.

The film tackles an array of themes, but one it has in common with Groundhog Day is existentialism and what one does when one finds reality to be different from what you had expected.

6. Sleepless In Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle, which was released in 1993 as well, is a romantic comedy directed and co-written by Nora Ephron. The story follows a recently widowed man whose son calls into a radio talk show in the hopes of finding someone for his father.

The film stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Bill Pullman, Rob Reiner, and Ross Malinger. Together they pulled off a film that mainly received favorable reviews, and the chemistry between the leads was also commended.

The box office came to $227.8 million on a budget of $21 million. Suppose you enjoyed the cuter and more romantic elements of Groundhog Day. In that case, you will find this film, which was nominated for Academy Awards and BAFTA Film Awards, to be very endearing.

7. Office Space

Office Space, which was released in 1999, is a black comedy movie directed by Mike Judge. The film is about a handful of people who have grown weary of their jobs and decide to rebel against their boss.

The film stars Ron Livingston, Gary Cole, and Jennifer Aniston, among others. The film was a critical hit, and audience members loved it so much that it developed a cult following. Unfortunately, though, its box office of $12 million against a budget of $10 million did not reflect how great the film truly is.

Now, although they are not stuck in a time loop, many will be able to empathize with the dreary, repetitive nature of an office job. It ultimately feels as though you are merely living the same day over and over again. If you enjoyed the darker humor of Groundhog Day, this is a must-watch.

8. Idiocracy

Idiocracy, released in 2006, is a science-fiction comedy directed by Mike Judge, who also directed Office Space (1999). Judge and Etan Cohen co-wrote the film. The film is about a soldier who takes part in a hibernation experiment. Unfortunately, he is accidentally frozen for 500 years, and when he wakes up, it is a world where humanity has embraced anti-intellectualism.

The film stars Luke Wilson, Dax Shepard, and Maya Rudolph. This film is set in a dystopia, where our protagonist is now the most intelligent human alive, received great critical acclaim, and developed a cult following. This, despite it only making $495,303 against its budget of between $2–4 million.

Our hero here is not trapped in a time loop, but he now lives in a world where humanity is all but doomed, and he is the one who has to solve the problems perpetuated by the unintelligent masses. His frustrations are not that different from those felt by Phil Connors.

9. Click

Click, released in 2006 and is a comedy film that Frank Coraci directed. The film is hilarious, but there are indeed deeper meanings behind the laughter. The film is about a man who acquires a universal remote from an eccentric inventor and soon discovers that the remote allows him to control his reality.

The film stars Adam Sandler, Kate Beckinsale, and Christopher Walken. The film received a mixed reception from the critics; however, this was the only Adam Sandler movie nominated for an Academy Award. Also, audience members found it to be hilarious and touching as well.

This film shows a man who finally has the power to fast forward parts of his life that he does not feel like dealing with, but what happens when the remote learns your patterns and skips things that truly matter? Like in Groundhog Day, a clear message that comes through is that we should not take things for granted or try to rush through life.

10. Edge Of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow, released in 2014, is a science-fiction action film by director Doug Liman. The film follows a public relations officer who has minimal combat experience but is forced to join an assault against aliens who have invaded Earth. Only, each time he enters the battle, he ends up back at the base after losing the fight and realizes that he is stuck in a time loop.

Starring in the film is Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, and Bill Paxton. Their film received great reviews from critics, and it was praised for its direction, plot, performances, and action sequences.

Its massive $178 million budget thankfully saw a return of $370.5 million. The concept of a person being stuck in a time loop and being given a second, third and fourth chance at something is shared between this and Groundhog Day, only now the stakes are much higher.

11. Looper

Looper, which was released in 2012, is a science-fiction action-thriller written and directed by Rian Johnson. The story revolves around “present-day” killers for hire called “loopers” who are hired by a criminal group from the future. The job is to kill people who have been sent back in time to be assassinated.

The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt. Together they, with their director, pulled off a film that is gripping and thought-provoking and which sat very well with critics. The film also received numerous awards for its superb blend of futuristic sci-fi and old-school action.

The film had a budget of $30 million and made a sizeable $176.5 million at the box office. This film does not offer the comedic elements of Groundhog Day, but the concept is just as original and offers exciting thrills for those who are also fans of the action genre.

12. Source Code

Source Code is a science-fiction action-thriller film released in 2011 and directed by Duncan Jones. The film focuses on Colter Stevens, a U. S. Army Captain who is sent into a digital recreation of a train explosion, and he has to try and identify who the terrorist is.

In the lead role, we have Jake Gyllenhaal and with him are Michelle Monaghan, Jeffrey Wright, and Vera Farmiga. The response to the film was positive from critics, and the audience and the film managed to pull in $147.3 million against a budget of $31.9 million.

As in Groundhog Day, the reason that our protagonist is stuck in this loop is so that he may figure something out, only in this case it is trying to figure out who the bomber is. So it is not as lighthearted as Groundhog Day, but it is thoroughly captivating and allows the audience to try and figure things out for themselves as well.

13. Déjà Vu

Déjà Vu, which was released in 2006, is a science-fiction action film that Tony Scott directed. The film centers on an ATF agent who travels back in time to try and stop a domestic terrorist attack from taking place. Additionally, he also hopes to save the woman with whom he has fallen in love.

Starring in the film is Denzel Washington, Jim Caviezel, and Paula Patton. The critics were torn about how they felt about the film; however, the film won several awards and received excellent reviews from viewers.

Again we have a film where time travel is involved, and unlike in Groundhog Day, the stakes are very high for our hero. It is a far more intense and action-packed film, but with stellar performances and a great premise, it is certainly worth watching.

14. Triangle

Triangle, released in 2009 and is quite different from Groundhog Day in that it is a psychological thriller. However, this film, directed by Christopher Smith, makes excellent use of the idea of living the same scenario repeatedly, and the plot is exceptional. It is about a group of friends on a yacht who take refuge aboard an abandoned ship during a terrible storm.

The film stars Melissa George, Michael Dorman, and Liam Hemsworth. The film was noted for chartering into strange waters and offering an intelligent addition to the genre. The box office return was approximately $1.3 million, which meant it suffered a loss after spending $12 million.

The film is much darker and sinister than Groundhog Day, but it will most certainly have you hunting for clues and wondering what on Earth is going on. If you enjoy a thriller that has had some serious thought go into it, then you will be thrilled by this.

15. When We First Met

When We First Met, released in 2018 and is a romantic comedy directed by Ari Sandel. The film is about Noah Ashby, who falls in love with Avery Martin, who unfortunately gets engaged to someone else. At the wedding, he enters the photo booth, and the next day, he finds that he has gone back in time and now hopefully has a chance to pursue Avery.

The film’s cast includes Adam DeVine, Shelley Hennig, Alexandra Daddario, and Andrew Bachelor. The film received low ratings from critics, but audience members felt differently and gave it an almost 9 out of 10. The film did not enjoy a theatrical release, but instead was made available for streaming on Netflix.

The idea of a man trying to pursue someone with who he has fallen in love is a commonality between this film and Groundhog Day and the lessons that one learns along the way.

16. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, released in 2016, is a fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. The film follows a boy who discovers clues to a mystery that leads him on a journey across time, where he finds the home. There are, as he soon learns, terrible dangers that shroud the place and its residents.

The cast of the film includes Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, and Chris O’Dowd, among others. The overall reviews for the film were mixed, with the plot being criticized, but the direction and visuals being praised.

At the box office, the film earned $296.5 million after spending $110 million on production. The idea of being stuck in time is also prevalent in this film and is as charming as Groundhog Day. The only difference is that those in this film stay in the time loop by choice.

17. The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect of 2004 is a science-fiction thriller written and directed by Eric Bress. The film is about Evan, who has blackouts and memory loss during his childhood. When he is older, he realizes that he can travel back in time to those moments and does so in the hope of changing the present.

The film stars Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart, along with Eric Stoltz and William Lee Scott. Critics poorly rated the film, but that did not stop it from earning nominations and awards. It was also a commercial success and made $96.8 million on a budget of $13 million.

Although there is little room for laughs with this film, the idea that our actions have more significant repercussions than we believe is true for this film and in Groundhog Day and that we can always learn from past events.

18. 50 First Dates

50 First Dates, released in 2004 and is a comedy movie directed by Peter Segal. The film follows a womanizing marine veterinarian, Henry, who falls in love with Lucy, an art teacher. Unfortunately for him, though, she suffers from a form of amnesia and, by the following day, forgets him. He then starts out to win her over all over again.

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore are the lead characters in this film, and with them are Sean Astin and Dan Aykroyd. Although critics gave the film average reviews, the on-screen pair won an MTV award for the Best On-Screen Team. Audiences also thoroughly enjoyed it.

Like in Groundhog Day, we see a man who ultimately falls in love with a woman and then does all he can to win her affection. In this case, he might as well be living the same day over as the woman he adores does not remember anything from the previous day, just as in Groundhog Day.

19. Naked

Naked, which was released in 2017, is a comedy film that Michael Tiddes directed. The film is a remake of the Swedish film of 2000. The film focuses on Rob Anderson, who is nervous about getting married. He ultimately ends up reliving the same nerve-wracking period over and over until he does things correctly.

The film stars Marlon Wayans, Jonathan Todd Jackson, and Regina Hall. Unfortunately, the film did not do well with the critics, and audience members were also mixed about their feelings towards the movie.

One thing for sure about this Netflix film is that the premise basically steals from the plot of Groundhog Day and then makes the lead character naked. It may not hold up against the latter, but it will probably still give you a few laughs.

20. Palm Springs

Palm Springs, released in 2020 and is a science-fiction romantic comedy that Max Barbakow directed in his directorial debut. The film is about a pair of strangers who meet at a wedding and then get stuck in a time loop. They then begin to form a relationship as they live out the same day repeatedly.

The film stars Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J. K. Simmons, and Peter Gallagher. The film received praise for the performances as well as the concept. It earned two nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and won the award for Best Comedy at the Critics’ Choice Awards.

The film had a budget of $5 million and made a box office return of $765,535, but was then made available on Hulu for streaming. This would be worth your time if you enjoyed the humor and how the characters found love in Groundhog Day.

21. The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things was released in 2021 and is a science-fiction romantic comedy that Ian Samuels directed. The film follows two teenagers, Margaret and Mark, who are stuck in a time loop and have to repeat the same day, during which they create the titular map.

The film stars Kathryn Newton and Kyle Allen, along with Jermaine Harris and Anna Mikami. Together their performances, but particularly Newton’s, was praised, and the film did well critically.

The film is available for viewing on Prime Video, and unlike Groundhog Day, we now have two individuals who live out the experience of having to repeat the same day over. Some found the premise familiar, but you will find this fulfilling if you like the humor and romance that sprung out of Groundhog Day.

22. Before I Fall

Before I Fall, which was released in 2017 and is a teen drama that Ry Russo-Young directed. In this film, the 12^th of February is merely another day in Sam’s wonderful life until it is the end of her. After dying, she finds herself stuck in a loop where she has to live out her last day repeatedly and during which she discovers what is behind the mystery of her death.

The film stars Zoey Deutch, Logan Miller, and Halston Sage. The film received a bit of a mixture of reviews from critics and viewers alike. And its budget of $5 million saw a small return of $18.9 million.

If you enjoyed the more serious aspects of Groundhog Day and the journey of self-discovery that the character goes on during the course of the repeated days, then you’ll want to consider giving this a watch, even if it is a teen film.

23. The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, released in 2019 and is a drama film directed by Ali LeRoi. Tunde Johnson is a gay African-American teenager who finds himself stuck in a time loop that has him reliving the day of his racially-motivated murder by a police officer.

The film stars Steven Silver, Spencer Neville, and Nicola Peltz. The film sat well with critics, and audience members loved the film, which added a slightly different angle to the time loop trope.

If you took Groundhog Day and made the subject matter severe and the atmosphere much more solemn, add in matters of racial crimes and police brutality, then this is the film that you would get. If you are up for something of that nature, be sure to give this excellent film a watch.

24. Happy Death Day

Happy Death Day came out in 2017 and is a black comedy slasher that Christopher Landon directed. The film follows a college student who, like others on this list, happens to die. In this case, she is murdered on the night of her birthday and ultimately ends up reliving the harrowing night. She must work to find the killer and stop herself from being murdered.

Starring in this film are Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, and Ruby Modine. The critics gave the nod to Rothe’s performance and gave the film, overall, good reviews. One key point they noted was the familiar premise.

The film had a budget of $4.8 million and gained a return of $125.5 million. So commercially, it was a success. The film has been called the marriage of Groundhog Day and Scream (1996). So if you want something like Groundhog Day, but darker, then this is the film for you.

25. Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange is an interesting addition to this list, but this MCU film, released in 2016 and directed by Scott Derrickson, deals with the time stone, so just stay with us. The film is about a neurosurgeon who goes on a journey of learning the mystic arts after a car crash that ends his career.

Benedict Cumberbatch takes the lead role, and with him are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, and Rachel McAdams, among others. Critics were very impressed with this superhero movie, and so were the fans of the MCU. The film made $677.7 million on its budget of approximately $165 million.

Although the entire film is not about a character stuck in a time loop or time travel, there is one particularly iconic scene in which this is featured. The general way the film plays with the concept of time will also pique the interest of fans of Groundhog Day.

Sources:

IMDB: Groundhog Day

IMDB: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

IMDB: About Time

IMDB: 50 First Dates

IMDB: What Women Want

IMDB: The Truman Show

IMDB: Sleepless in Seattle

IMDB: Office Space

IMDB: Idiocracy

IMDB: Click

IMDB: Edge of Tomorrow