Movies Like Groundhog Day You Need To Watch

Since its release in 1994, director Harold Ramis' "Groundhog Day" has become a bona fide classic, an endlessly watchable piece of entertainment featuring one of Bill Murray's most iconic performances. Intriguingly, while the time loop element of the film which sees Phil Connors (Murray) repeating the same day over and over is certainly unique, the idea of a cynical person who discovers their soul via magical circumstances has featured in a number of films dating all the way back to 1938's "A Christmas Carol."  

As such, we started thinking about our favorite "transformative" movies that matched the breezy, warm-hearted tone of "Groundhog Day," offering equal doses of laughs and heart. These films also contain unique elements — magical or otherwise — that serve as the launching point for a character's gradual change into a better version of themselves. Without further ado, here are 12 movies like "Groundhog Day" we think you should check out, listed in no particular order.

Mel Gibson stars in this lighthearted comedy from Nancy Meyers that follows chauvinistic advertising executive Nick Marshall, whose life is turned upside down when he develops the ability to hear women's thoughts. Nick initially uses his powers for selfish gain — he steals ideas from rival co-worker Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt), and masters his bedroom technique by honing in on former love interest Marisa Tomei's inward desires — but eventually comes to understand and even empathize with the opposite sex. Nick rekindles his relationship with his daughter Alex (Ashley Johnson), strikes up a romantic relationship with Darcy, and even gains an affinity for rice cakes and episodes of Oprah Winfrey.  

Meyers and writers Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, and Diane Drake unveil a majority of their best gags early in the film before resorting to hokey sentiment in a predictable third act that tacks on a silly subplot revolving around a despondent copy girl (Judy Greer). No matter, "What Women Want" has a breezy tone, light humor, and sharp performances that make for an enjoyable, often hilarious night at the movies.

While not necessarily a magical adventure in the literal sense, James L. Brooks' Academy Award-winning "As Good as It Gets" follows the "Groundhog Day" formula by thrusting Jack Nicholson's cantankerous germaphobe Melvin Udall into a transformative journey guided largely by the power of friendship. Well, that and puppy love.

No, really. Melvin's sudden change occurs after the old coot bonds with an adorable dog, which in turn leads to his helping downtrodden waitress Carol (Helen Hunt) and demoralized artist neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear). Eventually, the trio embarks on a road trip in an effort to support Simon, who needs cash from his estranged parents to aid his recovery following a violent incident that leaves him broke. While the plot morphs into an atypical love story between Melvin and Carol, the colorful characters, wonderful performances, and sharp writing is enough to make "As Good as It Gets" more than worth your time.

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have teamed up on several occasions in films like "The Wedding Singer" and "Blended," but their most memorable collaboration came in 2004's "50 First Dates," a high concept comedy from director Peter Segal. Sandler stars as Henry, a (what else?) playboy who spends his days on Oahu dating beautiful women, working at a Sea World-style aquarium, and piloting his boat around the Hawaiian islands. His life takes a turn when he meets plucky blond Lucy (Barrymore), who he instantly connects with after one date. 

Unfortunately, Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss and instantly forgets Henry the moment she falls asleep. Determined to be with his one true love, Henry attempts to woo her over and over again in the hopes he can somehow break the spell. While laughs are aplenty thanks to a great supporting cast that also includes Rob Schneider and Sean Astin, the film's greatest strength is that it actually cares about Henry and Lucy's plight. The short-term memory loss angle is certainly played for comedy on occasion, but Segal and writer George Wing aren't afraid to lean into the drama, an aspect that elevates "50 First Dates" above the typical Sandler fare.

Ivan Reitman's "Dave" features Kevin Kline as mild-mannered Dave Kovic, a typical man who just so happens to possess a very unique feature: he looks exactly like the President of the United States. When the real POTUS suffers a stroke, conniving members of his cabinet enlist Dave to act in his stead and the genial fellow finds himself neck-deep in the complicated world of politics. Except, where the real President had long turned corrupt, much to the chagrin of his wife (Sigourney Weaver), Dave's kindheartedness positively affects those around him, resulting in a wistful comedy about hope, love, and kindness.

Co-starring Frank Langella, Charles Grodin, Kevin Dunn, and Ving Rhames, "Dave" is one of those rare comedies that seem to improve with age. With its heart firmly set on its sleeve, this Capra-esque tale is as magical as it is hilarious, a brilliant film brimming with strong performances from all involved and oozing with a compassionate message our current political leaders would do well to heed.

In "About Time," Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) learns he can travel through time via a special power passed down from his father (Bill Nighy). Except, this particular form of time travel can only be used to affect moments in Tim's life. So, while he can't go back to the mid-1940s and alter history, he can return to a bad breakup and change his approach to the situation. In true "Groundhog Day" fashion, he can relive a date over and over again until he reaches the desired outcome, or travel back decades earlier to spend a day with his father at the beach. 

In each instance, his meddling results in minor changes to the universe. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst. At one point, after attempting to help fix his sister's problematic life, Tim returns back to the present and discovers his daughter was never born and that he now has a son instead. There's a terrific scene in which Tim visits his deceased father in the past and reveals he can never see him again due to his decision to have another child. Doing so would erase the child's existence. As such, the two leap back further in time to enjoy one last day at the beach as father and son, an emotional scene only Richard Curtis could conjure. "About Time" is a powerful movie bursting with comedy, depth, and heart. Bring a big box of tissues to this one.

In "Stranger Than Fiction," Will Ferrell stars as IRS auditor Harold Crick who begins to hear the voice of author Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) in his head. Whether the man is brushing his teeth at home or pouring over documents at work, Karen's voice supplies narration to his dull, uninteresting life. As it turns out, Harold is the main protagonist of Karen's latest book, a story that sees him die at the end. Thus, he must find the author and change his fate before it's too late.

Directed by Marc Forster, "Stranger Than Fiction" uses its clever concept as a means to spin a wondrous tale about life, love, and redemption. Harold was broken, you see? A man sleepwalking through life with no purpose. When he endures the wrath of free-spirited baker Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), the "tax man" doesn't care enough to react to her insults. However, as his investigations into the literal story of his life reveal greater details — he might be living a comedy or a drama — Harold retakes control of his flaccid existence and learns to appreciate the world around him. More quirky fantasy than outright comedy, "Stranger Than Fiction" has enough depth to tickle your brain, and enough warmth to touch your heart.