You know something I’ve learned over the years? It’s really hard to celebrate Groundhog Day -unless you throw on the movie Groundhog Day, 
but year after year of Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day feels a lot like… Groundhog Day. At this point, it’s hard to separate the holiday from the movie. Is the holiday about reliving the same day over and over until you learn to be a better person or is it about a weather-predicting gopher/woodchuck/giant animal critter (groundhog) reacting to a shadow? I don’t even know anymore. Bill Murray’s movie drove less attention toward shadow-fearing rodents and more toward what we now like to call the, “Groundhog Day Loop.” -the film might not have invented the formula, but it sure as hell branded it.
The popularity of the Groundhog Day plot spawned quite a few mimics. Fitting, considering the plot is all about repetition.
We wanted to share these reiterations with you to offer up a little variety. You know, so you can relive your Groundhog Day tradition slightly differently this year:
TV Episodes:
The X-Files: Monday
“A woman desperately attempts to alter the outcome of the events of a day she is forced to relive again and again.”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Life Serial
“Buffy’s powers are tested by Andrew, Jonathan and Warren, who seek to expose and exploit her weaknesses in an effort to ultimately destroy her.”
Farscape: Back and Back and Back to the Future
“The crew comes across a ship that is molecularly de-stabilizing. They get stuck in a time warp.”
Supernatural: Mystery Spot
“Sam realizes he is re-living the previous day and tries to prevent Dean’s death, but to no avail.”
Fringe: White Tulip
“A mad scientist tries to save his wife by traveling back in time, but must repeat the process time and time again before succumbing to fate.”
The Outer Limits: Deja Vu
“During tests to open a wormhole, a scientist is caught in a time loop…”
Web:
First Day
Yeah, we have a Web series to contribute! This one is actually a really fun series, and very well produced. First Day follows a high school student, Cassie, whose first day at a new school is caught on loop. Cassie has to figure out what it takes to create the perfect first day before she can continue on to the next.
Movies:
Boris and Natasha
The Rocky & Bullwinkle-inspired evil duo has a device that allows them to go back in time a few seconds, thus repeating various acts again and again until they are satisfied with the results.
Run Lola Run
Our heroine Lola must replay her day over and over in an attempt to save her boyfriend from the fate of the mafia. This film is a bit more ‘meta’ than Groundhog Day in that Lola’s repetitive pursuit is played off as more of metaphorical repetition than an absolute, but the theme still holds.
The Last Day of Summer
This one’s for the kiddies. Young Luke wishes the last day of summer would never end, and his wish comes true. He gets to experience the same last day of summer over and over again until he ultimately gets sick of it.
12 Days of Christmas Eve
Molly Shannon stars in this Christmas movie as a nurse who lets her morally questionable patient know that he has 12 chances to get his life together and create the ideal Christmas Eve (hint: this involves reconnecting with his family. Shocking, I know). He must relive the same day twelve times or until he gets it right.
Sliding Doors
Though not quite a “loop,” Sliding Doors is a film that shows how one life can take two very different paths based solely on the simple act of making or missing a train. This movie, starring Gweneth Paltrow, attempts to show those two life-paths simultaneously. Really, we just added this movie to the list because we like it’s style. We recognize it’s a stretch.
Groundhog Day
We couldn’t finish up without including the obvious. Also, it’s currently available on Netflix Instant Watch, so what are you waiting for?! Relive Groundhog Day 2011 the same way you have all the rest! (You never learn…)
There you have it. Your new and approved Groundhog Day playlist. We’re sure there are more shows and movies that have adopted the Groundhog Loop into their storylines, so if you know of any don’t hesitate to shout them out from the comments section.
Oh, and just in case you were curious, the REAL groundhog had a very successful morning of bravery and showmanship. The little guy didn’t freak out at his shadow like he has every other year I can remember, so that means we’re in for an early Spring! Hard to believe with all that snow, right? But hey, in the groundhog we trust:
