History YMMV / GroundhogDay

* EpilepticTrees - One of the more outlandish theories is that Phil was trapped in Groundhog Day for ''several thousand years''. (Although in an earlier, discarded draft of the script, he ''was''.) Harold Ramis estimates that it was closer to about 30-40 years.

* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory - Harold Ramis has pointed out that people tell him this film is an obvious allegory for (insert religion of choice here) where Phil breaks the loop after following said religion's key principles.

* FridgeBrilliance - It's essentially a solid hour and a half of character development. I mean you could say that Phil did a 180 just to ensure a Hollywood happy ending, but actually getting from point A to point B through the rambling inner monologue of the protagonist in a logical way without making anyone carry the IdiotBall is something to appreciate. Especially if the finished version is funny.

* VindicatedByHistory - It did okay at the box office and the critics of the time liked it well enough. Within 10 years it would come to be widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: In real life, the sun doesn't come up until around 7:00 A.M. in Western Pennsylvania during February. In the film, it's already broad daylight by 6:00 A.M.

** Though the nature of the reincarnation loop itself and the fact that his goal is to escape it fits Bhuddism better than any other religion.

* {{Tearjerker}} - 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.
** 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.

* DoubleStandard: arguably present in the unspoken backstory of the film, which explains that Phil was cursed by a woman he dated and parted with on bad terms, so she deliberately trapped him in a day he'd complained bitterly about before. Apparently being a jerk in a relationship is a bigger crime than trying to condemn someone ''to their own personal Hell''. (According to the commentary, this backstory was not considered canon to the finished film.)

** Also, he develops a talent for ice sculpture, a type of sculpture not known for it's permanence.

*** Absolutely! Phil gets more character development in those 5-10 minutes or so than he had in the entire rest of the movie up to that point.

** This isn't that far out, actually - considering that he learns, from scratch, how to make ice sculptures with a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw!]], speak ''fluent'' French (if not [[{{Omniglot}} more tongues]]) and play the piano.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: Phil committing suicide...jarring. Repeatedly committing suicide? Depressing. Him casually recounting this and then declaring himself [[AGodAmI a god]] to Rita the next day? Strangely hilarious.

* FridgeHorror: During the course of the movie, Phil gets to know every person in Punxsutawney(down to the most trivial of details in their life), learns to play the piano(JAZZ piano), can sculpt a perfect human likeness in snow, can do ice sculptures and speaks French. Pretty cool, right? Until you realize how much time it takes to learn just ONE of those skills. Phil, quite possibly, spent YEARS inside the loop. Years... reliving the same day... over and over and over and...

** This isn't that far out, actually - considering that he learns, from scratch, how to make ice sculptures with a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw!]], speak ''fluent'' French (if not [[{{Omniglot}} more tongues]]) And play the piano.

** This isn't that far out, actually - considering that he learns, from scratch, how to make ice sculptures with a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw!]]. And play the piano.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: In real life, the sun doesn't come up until around 7:00 A.M. in Western Pennsylvania during February. In the film, it's already broad daylight by 6:00 A.M.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Phil shows up at a late showing of ''Bronco Billy'' dressed as the titular character along with a woman dressed as Ms. Lily. Who she is, how she knows Phil, and why they're showing up in costume for the movie are never explained.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: In real life, the sun comes up around 7:00 A.M. in Western Pennsylvania during February. In the film, it's already broad daylight by 6:00 A.M.

* YouFailGeographyForever: It is ''never'' broad daylight outside at 6am on February 2nd in Western Pennsylvania. Take it from a long-time night shifter in Pittsburgh, the sun is just barely coming up when I leave work at 7am at that time of year.

* YouFailGeographyForever: It is ''never'' broad daylight outside at 6am on February 2nd in Western Pennsylvania.

* VindicatedByHistory - It did okay at the box office and the critics of the time liked it well enough. Within 10 years it would come to be widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory - Harold Ramis has pointed out that people tell him this film is an obvious allegory for (insert religion of choice here) where Phil breaks the loop after following said religion's key principles.