The iconic 1993 Groundhog Day became the very representation of a time loop, where a protagonist is forced to live through the same day/period of time over and over again until they get it — whatever "it" is — right. Directed by the late Harold Ramis, the cult classic has inspired many movies and TV shows that tried to recapture its magic in a new, fresh format.
The original story follows Phil Connor (Bill Murray), a cynical weather reporter, who is sent to cover the Groundhog Day holiday in a chilly Punxsutawney and finds himself trapped in a time loop, having to relive the same day over and over again. Going from enjoying the consequence-free life to attempting to commit suicide to accepting his fate and trying to improve the world around him, Phil finds himself falling in love with his producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and uses the repeating days to get to know her and win her affection. Eventually, Phil breaks the time loop and emerges a better man.
While Groundhog Day wasn't the first one to touch on the time loop concept and the idea of fruitless repetitive actions — even Greek mythology had Sisyphus doomed to fruitlessly push a rock up a hill over and over again — it certainly popularized it for the Western audience. Many movies have since used the Groundhog Day concept of a time loop to create something new and different.
Before I Fall (2017)
Often described as 'Groundhog Day set in high school,' Ry Russo-Young's teen drama is based on Lauren Oliver's YA novel of the same name and stars up-and-coming Zoey Deutch as Samantha Kingston, a Mean GIrls-type senior on top of the metaphorical food chain. The story takes place on Valentine's Day — or more precisely, Cupid Day, which the school celebrates on February 12th. After the Cupid Day party, Sam and her friends get into a fatal car accident. True to the Groundhog Day premise, Sam wakes up the next day only to find it's a repetition of the last. From there, Sam goes through the usual stages of anger, sadness, and acceptance, finding ways to mend her relationships, improve the lives of those around her, and, ultimately, become a better person.
Though the movie lacks in some aspects compared to Groundhog Day — for one, Sam isn't really a bad person, so her transformation seems less drastic, compared to Bill Murray's character — its high school setting is perfect for portraying the repetitiveness of life and the real-world consequences of bullying. And while the Before I Fall ending might be more tear-jerking than cheerful, it's surprisingly fitting and does an excellent job at closing a time loop.
Run Lola Run (1998)
Tom Tykwer's wild, action-packed, and remarkably well-made time loop spin has become a cult classic, expanding its influence way outside of the original German audience. The story follows Lola (Franka Potente), who has twenty minutes to come up with 100,000 marks and reach her boyfriend, Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu), before he gets killed. The scenario plays out three different ways, with slight alterations affecting the outcome. While not exactly a traditional time loop film in the vein of Groundhog Day, Run Lola Run does utilize similar ideas.
The movie is incredibly fast-paced, leaving little room for the protagonist's self-torment while still allowing for character development and zooming in on the fates of the side characters, impacted by Lola's tiniest actions in a Butterfly Effect style. Fueled by a blood-pumping soundtrack and unique cinematography, Run Lola Run is a beautiful mix of crime drama and exhilarating action.
Happy Death Day & Happy Death Day 2U (2017/2019)
Directed by Christopher Landon and produced by Blumhouse Productions, Happy Death Day takes the time loop concept into darker territory. The story follows Theresa "Tree" Gelbman (Jessica Rothe), who has to relive her birthday — seemingly not the worst day to be stuck in — with a minor hiccup of repeatedly getting killed by a masked college mascot. Tree goes on to deduce the killer's identity, unearthing secrets and growing as a person along the way.
Happy Death Day 2U is arguably one of the rare cases where the sequel is just as good or even better than the original. In it, Tree gets transported into an alternate reality, where she's still trapped in a birthday time loop, but her life's crucial details differ. She then turns the tables on the killer, subverting all expectations and tropes. It's a must-watch for anyone who wonders what Groundhog Day would look like as a slasher.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Doug Liman's Edge of Tomorrow, a.k.a. Live. Die. Repeat, offers a brand-new sci-fi take on the time loop concept, throwing the alien invasion into the mix. Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka's light novel All You Need is Kill, the movie follows a somewhat cowardly and inexperienced Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), forced to take part in a combat operation against alien invaders occupying Earth. He promptly dies, only to find himself trapped in a time loop thanks to the alien blood and having to relive the same day over and over again. However, instead of resolving personal issues and becoming a better man from a moral perspective, Cage uses the loop to train in combat under the command of Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) and learn how to beat the invaders once and for all.
Edge of Tomorrow is a fast-paced, thrilling, and pure fun sci-fi experience that offers a fresh take on the common Groundhog Day time loop trope and infuses it with high-stakes action, impressive visual effects, playful humor, and undeniable character chemistry. While the possibility of a sequel remains up in the air, many fans are still hoping Live. Die. Repeat and Repeat will see the light of day.
Palm Springs (2020)
While on paper, this sci-fi romantic comedy seems to tread dangerously close to the Groundhog Day territory, Palm Springs managed to tell its own story, with a fresh premise, different dynamic, and more profound relationship questions. The film follows two wedding guests, Sarah (Cristin Milioti) and Nyles (Andy Samberg), who get stuck in a time loop caused by a vortex in a nearby cave. The two grow close, making the most of the repeated day until one of them finds a way to break the loop while the other wants to stay.
Palm Springs goes beyond situational comedy and sci-fi sprinkled romance. It zooms in on two people, trapped together in one day and having to deal with their relationship, as well as larger struggles and ramifications, with no apparent possibility of escape or avoidance. While the film might seem like an irreverent take on the time loop concept that doesn't take itself too seriously, it's refreshingly not afraid to tackle difficult questions and genuine emotions head-on.