Phil (Bill Murray)’s Timeline and Summary
- Phil starts the movie by giving a rundown of the weather on a local Pittsburgh TV station. He then briefly chats with the anchor about his imminent trip to Punxsutawney to cover the Groundhog Day festivities. It's clear he's not impressed.
- Phil and his news team travel to Punxsutawney, where Phil stays in a separate place from his producer and cameraman because he likes to have things his own way.
- Phil heads to the Groundhog Day festival and gives a lackluster performance for the camera. He can't wait to get out of Punxsutawney as soon as possible. But a blizzard shuts down the highway and traps him in the town for the night.
- Phil wakes up on a day that should be February 3rd. But he soon finds out that he's living through Groundhog Day all over again.
- Phil quickly discovers that he can't escape Groundhog Day, so he decides he's going to start spending the day doing whatever he wants. He gets into a police chase and then uses his knowledge to trick a pretty woman named Nancy into sleeping with him.
- Eventually, Phil decides to turn his attention to getting his producer Rita to sleep with him. But no matter how much he learns about her, she always sees through his efforts to get her into bed.
- Phil eventually gets so sick of reliving the same day that he tries to kill himself. But it doesn't work because he just keeps waking up at the beginning of Groundhog Day.
- Finally, Phil decides that he's going to devote himself to making as many people happy on Groundhog Day as possible. He becomes a really nice guy and learns a few valuable skills (like playing piano and ice sculpting) along the way.
- One day, Phil does as many kind things as he possibly can. He ends the day with Rita and wakes up the next morning on February 3rd. It looks like all his kindness has earned him Rita's love and they can now live their lives happily together.