- The movie opens with some jaunty Dixieland music before we see our main character Phil Connors standing in front of a plain blue screen and giving the weather report. We can tell from his sarcastic and cocky tone that Phil is a bit of a jerk.
- The last thing Phil mentions in his weather report is that he'll be heading to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania the following day to visit the nation's oldest Groundhog Day festival. And guess what? The name of the famous groundhog is also Phil. How clever is that?
- We find out after the broadcast that Phil thinks his local news station is beneath him and he wants to spend as little time in Punxsutawney as possible.
- At this point, we also meet Phil's cameraman Larry and his new producer Rita. Both will be going with him to Punxsutawney.
- We get some more opening credits as Phil and his team drives into Punxsutawney. Phil mentions how dumb it is that so many people get worked up over a groundhog seeing its shadow. His producer Rita thinks it's cute and nice. So yeah, they're two very different types of people.
- They arrive at their hotel and Phil refuses to stay there. He says he stayed in this place two years ago and it was a "flea bag." Larry mentions that Phil is a bit of a primadonna. But Rita has booked a separate bed and breakfast for Phil, which makes Phil happy.
- After Phil is gone, Larry and Rita make fun of him behind his back.