Groundhog Day is an undisputed comedy classic. The 1993 film starring Bill Murray as a cynical weatherman forced to relive the same day over and over again has become a cultural touchstone, with the term “Groundhog Day” now synonymous with feeling stuck in a repetitive loop.
But while Groundhog Day may be the most famous time loop movie, it’s far from the only one. In the decades since its release, many other films have played with the same premise, using it to explore themes of personal growth, romance, horror, and more.
If you’re a fan of Groundhog Day and looking for more movies that capture a similar vibe, here are 18 of the best films that feature characters stuck reliving the same day (or short time period) on repeat:
1. Palm Springs (2020)
Palm Springs is a delightful romantic comedy with a sci-fi twist. Andy Samberg stars as Nyles, a carefree guy attending a wedding in Palm Springs. After a strange encounter in a mysterious cave, Nyles gets stuck in a time loop and resignedly lives the same day over and over.
Things get more interesting when Sarah (Cristin Milioti), the sister of the bride, accidentally gets stuck in the same loop. Together, Nyles and Sarah hilariously navigate their predicament, forming a touching bond in the process.
Palm Springs cleverly builds on the Groundhog Day formula, adding its own fresh and funny spin. The chemistry between Samberg and Milioti is fantastic, and the film strikes a perfect balance of humor and heart. It’s a must-watch for any fan of time loop rom-coms.
2. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Edge of Tomorrow, also known as Live Die Repeat, is an exhilarating sci-fi action flick with a Groundhog Day-esque premise. Tom Cruise stars as Major William Cage, a soldier fighting in a war against alien invaders.
After being killed in battle, Cage wakes up and finds himself stuck in a time loop, forced to relive the same brutal day of combat over and over again. Each time he dies, he returns to the start of the day, slowly learning from his experiences and becoming a better soldier.
With the help of the badass Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), Cage uses his unique situation to try to find a way to defeat the aliens and end the loop. Edge of Tomorrow is a smart, funny, and action-packed movie that makes great use of its time loop premise. The chemistry between Cruise and Blunt is electric, and the film’s clever script keeps you on your toes.
3. Happy Death Day (2017)
Happy Death Day is a horror comedy that puts a slasher movie spin on the Groundhog Day concept. Jessica Rothe stars as Theresa “Tree” Gelbman, a college student who wakes up on her birthday only to be brutally murdered by a masked killer. But instead of staying dead, Tree finds herself waking up again on the morning of her birthday, stuck in a loop where she’s destined to die every single day.
To break the cycle, Tree must unmask her killer and stop them before they strike again. But with each repeated day, Tree starts to reevaluate her life choices and works to become a better person in the process.
Happy Death Day is a surprisingly clever and heartfelt movie. It delivers some solid slasher thrills and dark humor, but it’s really Tree’s character arc and Rothe’s charming performance that make it stand out. If you like your time loops with a side of scares, this is the pick for you.
4. Source Code (2011)
Source Code is a mind-bending sci-fi thriller about a soldier (Jake Gyllenhaal) who wakes up in the body of a stranger and discovers he’s part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.
The catch? He only has 8 minutes to solve the mystery before the bomb goes off and he’s sent back to the start, forced to repeat the same 8 minutes on the train over and over again until he completes his task.
Source Code is a taut, cleverly-constructed film that keeps you guessing until the very end. Gyllenhaal gives an intense and compelling performance, and the movie’s central mystery is satisfyingly complex. It’s a smart, suspenseful take on the time loop premise that sci-fi fans are sure to love.
5. Run Lola Run (1998)
Run Lola Run is a stylish and kinetic German thriller that follows Lola (Franka Potente), a woman who receives a frantic phone call from her boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). Manni, a small-time criminal, has misplaced a bag of money he was supposed to deliver to his boss. If Lola can’t replace the money in 20 minutes, Manni will likely be killed.
What follows are three separate “runs” in which Lola races through the streets of Berlin, attempting to find a way to get the money and save Manni. Each run plays out differently, with Lola’s actions creating a ripple effect that changes the outcome of her story.
While Run Lola Run doesn’t feature a single repeating day like most time loop films, its three alternative timelines capture a similar vibe. The movie is exhilarating to watch, with a pulsing techno soundtrack, frenetic editing, and a captivating lead performance from Potente. It’s a singular and unforgettable film that plays with the malleability of time and fate.
6. Before I Fall (2017)
Based on the popular YA novel by Lauren Oliver, Before I Fall follows Sam (Zoey Deutch), a popular high school senior who seems to have it all – looks, friends, a cute boyfriend. But after dying in a car crash, Sam wakes up to find herself reliving the last day of her life on repeat, forced to untangle the mystery surrounding her death.
As Sam investigates her life, she starts to see her ostensibly perfect world in a different light. Stuck in a loop, she has the opportunity to make different choices and transform herself for the better.
Before I Fall takes an introspective approach to the time loop premise, using it as a way to explore themes of bullying, popularity, and personal growth. Deutch’s performance brings nuance to Sam’s character arc, and the film’s ultimate message about living life to the fullest is poignant without being cloying.
7. Naked (2017)
Naked is a goofy Netflix comedy that stars Marlon Wayans as Rob, a charming screw-up who wakes up naked in an elevator on the morning of his wedding day. Every time he falls asleep or passes out, Rob finds himself transported back to that same moment, stuck in a time loop until he can figure out how to make it down the aisle.
Less philosophical than other time loop comedies, Naked leans into the silliness of its premise, mining Rob’s Groundhog Day predicament for broad laughs and physical comedy. Wayans is an energetic presence throughout, committing fully to the film’s ridiculous scenarios.
While it never quite reaches the heights of the best time loop movies, Naked is an amiable diversion that coasts on its funny central performance. If you’re looking for something lightweight and undemanding, it’ll do the trick.
8. ARQ (2016)
ARQ is a twisty, low-budget sci-fi thriller that follows Renton (Robbie Amell) and Hannah (Rachael Taylor), a couple who wake up one morning to find their home invaded by masked men. The intruders are there to steal Renton’s newest invention – the ARQ, an energy device that can end the global energy crisis.
But after being fatally shot in the melee, Renton and Hannah awaken to find themselves stuck in a time loop, reliving the same terrifying morning again and again. With each loop, they learn a little more about their attackers and the true nature of the ARQ.
ARQ is a clever, puzzle-box of a movie that keeps you guessing with each new iteration of its time loop. The chemistry between Amell and Taylor helps ground the film’s high-concept sci-fi trappings, and the movie’s brisk pace keeps you engaged throughout.
9. The Endless (2017)
The Endless is a mind-bending horror film that follows two brothers, Justin and Aaron (played by directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead), who years ago escaped what they believed to be a UFO death cult. When they receive a mysterious videotape from their former “family,” they decide to return for a visit, only to find themselves unable to leave.
Stuck in an endless time loop, the brothers start to question the nature of their reality as increasingly strange and sinister events unfold around them. Are the cult’s supernatural beliefs real, or is something else trapping them in this cycle?
The Endless is a surreal and unsettling film that uses its time loop premise to explore themes of brotherhood, belief, and the inescapable pull of the past. Benson and Moorhead bring a naturalistic charm to their lead roles, and the movie’s eerie atmosphere will stick with you long after the credits roll.
10. When We First Met (2018)
When We First Met is a Netflix romantic comedy about Noah (Adam Devine), a hopeless romantic who falls for his friend Avery (Alexandra Daddario) upon first meeting her at a Halloween party. Three years later, he’s stuck in the friend zone, watching Avery get engaged to another man.
But when Noah discovers a magical photo booth that sends him back in time to the night he and Avery first met, he sees an opportunity to change their relationship before it even starts. With each trip back, Noah tries to turn himself into Avery’s perfect man, learning more about her (and himself) in the process.
When We First Met doesn’t reinvent the time loop wheel, but it’s a sweet and well-acted rom-com that makes the most of its charming cast. Devine is endlessly likable as Noah, and the film has fun playing with different versions of his fateful first encounter with Avery.
11. Premature (2019)
Premature is a coming-of-age drama with a Groundhog Day twist. It follows Ayanna (Zora Howard), a young black woman in Harlem who falls for Isaiah (Joshua Boone), a handsome music producer, the summer before she leaves for college.
But after their romantic first day together ends in tragedy, Ayanna finds herself reliving the same day on repeat, forced to make sense of what happened and decide what she truly wants for her future.
Raw, poetic, and beautifully acted, Premature uses its time loop premise to explore the complexities of black girlhood and the bittersweet nature of first love. Howard is a revelation in the lead role, capturing Ayanna’s intelligence, vulnerability, and strength.
12. Blood Punch (2014)
Blood Punch is a horror comedy that follows Milton (Milo Cawthorne), a brilliant chemistry student who breaks out of court-ordered rehab with the help of Skyler (Olivia Tennet), a woman with a plan to manufacture enough meth to set them up for life.
But when they arrive at an isolated cabin to cook, Milton realizes they’re caught in a time loop, reliving the same violent day over and over again.
Darkly funny and gleefully gory, Blood Punch is a low-budget gem that makes the most of its single location and high-concept premise. The dynamic between Milton and Skyler is engaging, and the film’s twisty plot keeps you on your toes. It’s a must-watch for horror comedy fans.
13. 12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
12 Dates of Christmas is a holiday rom-com about Kate (Amy Smart), a woman who re-lives Christmas Eve (including a blind date with a man named Miles) over and over again. She must discover how to break the cycle, but as she does, she realizes she’s falling in love with Miles.
While it’s a bit cheesy and predictable, 12 Dates of Christmas is a feel-good movie that makes for perfect cozy viewing during the holiday season. Smart is charming in the lead role, and the film delivers all the warmth and romance you want from a Christmas flick.
14. Camp Slaughter (2005)
Camp Slaughter is a low-budget horror flick that follows a group of present-day teens partying at a campsite, only to find themselves stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day in 1981 when a brutal mass murder took place.
With each loop, the teens try to unravel the mystery of the camp slaughter and find a way to escape with their lives. Camp Slaughter is a bit rough around the edges, but it’s an ambitious indie horror film that makes good use of its time loop premise. Genre fans will appreciate its old-school slasher vibes and gory practical effects.
15. Triangle (2009)
Triangle is a psychological horror film about a group of friends on a yachting trip who encounter a strange storm. They take refuge on a passing ocean liner, only to find it eerily deserted. As they investigate the mystery of the ship, they find themselves stuck in a terrifying time loop where their actions have deadly consequences.
Tense, mind-bending, and masterfully crafted, Triangle is a standout entry in the time loop horror subgenre. It keeps you guessing until the very end, delivering plenty of chilling twists and turns along the way. If you’re a fan of movies that mess with your head, this is a must-see.
16. Haunter (2013)
Haunter is a supernatural horror mystery about Lisa (Abigail Breslin), a teenage girl who died under sinister circumstances and is now trapped in a time loop along with her family, reliving the same day in 1985 over and over again.
Lisa retains awareness of the loop and uses her “reset” ability to investigate the mystery of her death. In the process, she reaches out to help a present-day girl avoid the same fate.
Featuring a compelling lead performance from Breslin, Haunter is a clever and emotionally resonant take on the time loop premise. It’s equal parts spooky ghost story and poignant family drama, with a mystery that keeps you engaged throughout.
17. The Final Girls (2015)
The Final Girls is a meta horror comedy about Max (Taissa Farmiga), a high school senior mourning the loss of her actress mother, Amanda (Malin Akerman). When Max and her friends attend a special screening of Amanda’s most famous movie, the 80s slasher flick Camp Bloodbath, they find themselves magically transported into the world of the film.
Stuck in a loop where they must relive Camp Bloodbath‘s plot again and again, Max and her friends must find a way to survive and break free of the movie. But Max also sees an opportunity to reconnect with her mother – or at least the version of her mother that exists on screen.
The Final Girls is a funny, surprisingly emotional love letter to 80s horror. It cleverly plays with the tropes and clichés of the slasher genre while telling a moving story about grief, acceptance, and the enduring bond between mothers and daughters. It’s a smart, heartfelt movie that balances laughs and scares with aplomb.
18. Repeaters (2010)
Repeaters is a Canadian thriller that follows Kyle (Dustin Milligan), Sonia (Amanda Crew), and Michael (Richard de Klerk), three young people in a rehabilitation center who find themselves stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again.
As they navigate their predicament, each of them uses the loop for their own purposes – to seek vengeance, to find love, to try to become better people. But their actions in each loop have consequences, both for themselves and the people around them.
Repeaters takes a grounded, character-driven approach to its Groundhog Day premise, using the time loop to explore themes of addiction, trauma, and the possibility of change. The three lead actors deliver raw, honest performances that keep you invested in their struggles.
Conclusion
The time loop premise has proven to be a remarkably flexible and enduring one, sparking imaginations across every genre – from romantic comedies to psychological thrillers, from meta horror flicks to introspective dramas. The best of these movies use their high-concept setups to explore fundamental human questions: How do we change and grow? What would we do differently if given the chance? What does it mean to live life well?
Whether you’re a die-hard Groundhog Day fan or simply love movies that play with the nature of time and repetition, the 18 films on this list offer something for everyone. Some will make you laugh, some will make you scream, some will make you ponder the mysteries of the universe. But all of them are united by their clever, creative takes on a classic premise.
So the next time you find yourself feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, living the same day over and over again, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. Pop in one of these movies and let yourself be transported – if not to a different day, then at least to a different story. Because even in a time loop, there’s always something new to discover.
