History TearJerker / GroundhogDay

* As Phil learns the fragility (and preciousness) of life through his repeated and futile attempts to save a dying, homeless old man whom he was mean to in the first ''years'' of his stay on Groundhog Day.
** This is especially heartbreaking because the old man looks EXTREMELY happy and grateful from the very first moment Phil meets him in the evening.
** Also, WordOfGod states that execs originally wanted this subplot dropped because it was [[ExecutiveMeddling too much of a downer]] for a comedy. The director insisted that it stay in, and rightly so; because it shows the egotistical Phil that he is not in fact "a god", and it was ''the'' pivotal step to him learning how to genuinely and unselfishly love humanity.
*** Absolutely! Phil gets more character development in those 5-10 minutes (or possibly 5-10 days) or so than he had in the entire rest of the movie up to that point.
----> '''Doctor''': Sometimes people just die.
----> '''Phil''': ''Not'' today.

----> '''Phil''': Come on, breathe, Pop! ''Breathe!''

** Not to mention that the montage also includes a reaction scene where [Rita and Larry are at the morgue and have to identify Phil's body. Rita immediately bursts into tears and Larry, who looks a little shaken up himself, tries to comfort her. At this point, Phil was still acting like a jerk to them, but it's clear that they still cared about him.]]

** Also, the [[spoiler:DeathMontage]] shortly after. It may be [[BlackComedy darkly funny]], but Phil [[spoiler: is now so anguished that he's been DrivenToSuicide, and it's made worse by the fact that it ''doesn't take''--he just wakes up at 6 AM the next morning. What's more, he ''keeps trying'' to kill himself]]. Try to imagine just ''how'' Phil has to be feeling at that point.
** Not to mention that the montage also includes a reaction scene where [[spoiler: Rita and Larry are at the morgue and have to identify Phil's body. Rita immediately bursts into tears and Larry, who looks a little shaken up himself, tries to comfort her. At this point, Phil was still acting like a jerk to them, but it's clear that they still cared about him.]]

* The real life effect the film's TroubledProduction had on Creator/BillMurray and Creator/HaroldRamis' relationship. They had very different ideas of what the film's tone should be, leading to several fights on set that were exacerbated by Murray's failing marriage. After filming wrapped, the two former good friends didn't speak to one another for several years... [[BittersweetEnding and only reconciliated shortly before Ramis passed on in 2014.]]

* In the musical, the reveal that [[spoiler:Ned's wife has died]]. Ned proceeds to give a completely somber and poignant song about the importance of appreciating the time you have, alongside Phil's above-mentioned attempts to save the homeless man, ending on another repetition of his insurance jingle which now has a ton of subtext behind it.

----> '''Phil''': Come on, breathe, papa! ''Breathe!!''

** "I told you. I wake up every day, right here, right in Punxsutawney, and it's always February 2nd... and there's ''nothing I can do about it''."

* Phil's conversation with Ralph and Fred at the bowling alley as he admits he's going through a GroundhogDayLoop:

--> '''Fred''': ''*takes a shot*''

--> "Come on, breathe, papa! ''Breathe!!''"

** Especially sad when you know what's going to happen in the next two scenes... [[spoiler: Phil believes he has killed himself and Punxsutawney Phil, but then finds he is still trapped in the loop.]]

---> '''Phil''': What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered?
---> '''Fred''': ''*takes a shot*''
---> '''Ralph''': That about sums it up for me.