Groundhog Day: What’s It Really About?

Last Updated on October 2, 2023

We all have those movies that we watch whenever we’re in the mood for some good old fashioned nostalgia. Maybe it’s a rainy or snowy day and you’re sitting on your couch with a good whiskey and looking for something light and comforting to escape into. For me, among the best of comfort films is Harold Ramis’ 1993 comedy masterpiece, Groundhog Day. The movie stars comedy legend and SNL alumni Bill Murray as Phil Conners, a slick-yet-jaded weatherman who dreams of climbing the career latter above and away from his current new station. But when Phil is sent to the small town of Punxsutawney, he finds himself in an incite time loop where he’s forced to relive the same day over and over again. 

The movie has been picked apart by fans and critics alike since its release in the early 1990’s and there has been no shortage of theories surrounding some of the film’s main themes. And our goal at Joblo.com is to revisit this iconic film and develop our own theories on what it may be about. 

One theory is that the movie is an allegory for reincarnation and the Buddhist religion. Some other folks believe there’s a message about how Phil may be the catholic messiah and many, many fans of the film who think the entire story is secretly criticizing just about every religion you can imagine. And, maybe there is something to that, but what about some of the themes and meanings that lean away from religion and faith? Some believe that the movie symbolizes the importance of mental health and work life balance as Phil only seems to break the loop once he truly embraces himself and his friends and his relationship to the town.

In any case, the movie is packed with interesting metaphors and moments to pick apart and you aren’t going to want to miss our detailed breakdown of these wild theories! If you like this video, make sure to check out our last episode on Fight Club!