A weatherman covering Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA, finds every day the same and spends untold iterations falling for and trying romance his new producer.

I’m breaking down movies by their three-act structure. What is three-act structure? I explain it here.

Note: I break the story down into five-minute blocks to make it easier to see the length of each section. Rough time codes follow.

Prolog

Ambitious weatherman Phil Connors meets his spunky new producer, Rita Hanson, and they head to Punxsutawney to cover Groundhog Day, which Phil mocks (introducing the heroes). 5

Act 1

On February 2, Phil awakens in the Cherry Street Inn to “I Got You Babe” on the clock radio. He chitchats with locals and heads to Gobbler’s Knob. 10

Phil gives a half-hearted report on the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil and the festivities. 15

A blizzard strikes the area, preventing all travel out of Punxsutawney, and the crew is forced to spend the night in the town. The next morning, Phil wakes to the same radio and chitchat with locals (introducing the conflict, in which circumstance is the villain). 20

At first, Phil brushes it off as déjà vu (refusing the call to adventure). Recognizing more of the previous day’s events repeating exactly, Phil fears he may be having a nervous breakdown (giving him the motivation to act). 25

Act 2

When he awakens, it is again February 2 (making him realize he is in the extraordinary world of a time loop). He sees a doctor for an X-ray, a small-town psychologist, and two philosophical barflies, but none of them are any help. 30

Deciding nothing matter and he can do whatever he wants, Phil and the barflies lead police on a car chase before being arrested (going into the wilderness). The next morning, Phil awakens in the Cherry Street Inn, confirming he is trapped in a repeating world (plot twist 1). 35

Given there are no consequences, Phil begins spending loops indulging in binge eating and one-night stands. 40

Phil robs a brinks truck and romances women using his increasing knowledge of people and events to manipulate circumstances. But it is hollow, and he realizes what he wants is Rita. 45

Phil spends numerous days learning about Rita’s hopes and dreams, finding ways to get her to open up to him and like him. 50

Midpoint

But, no matter what steps he takes, Rita rebuffs his sexual advances (the crisis, a few minutes late). 55

Phil becomes depressed and spends days idle and giving angry reports from Gobbler’s Knob. 60

Desperate for a way to escape the loop (rallying his morale), Phil kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and commits suicide; he continues killing himself in a variety of ways but always wakes up the next morning (plot twist 2). 65

Phil explains his situation to Rita, using his detailed knowledge of the day to accurately predict events. 70

Convinced, Rita spends all day and night talking with Phil. He wakes alone on February 2 again (the defeat). 75

Act 3

Phil uses the loop to improve himself and help others in various ways. But no matter what he does, he can’t save a homeless old man from dying of natural causes. 80

This is a very weird beat. Maybe it was meant to come earlier but was moved for pacing purposes, because act 3 needed more meat. It obviously demonstrates that Phil has changed and is trying to improve the world, but another defeat just when he’s dedicated himself to altruism is an odd note.

Rita witnesses Phil’s now-expert piano skills as the adoring townsfolk regale her with stories of his good deeds (the secret key). 85

Impressed by his apparent overnight transformation, Rita successfully bids for him at a charity bachelor auction. Phil carves an ice sculpture in Rita’s image and tells her that no matter what happens, even if he is trapped in the loop forever, he is finally happy because he loves her (the climax). 90

He wakes the next morning to “I Got You Babe” but finds Rita is still in bed with him and the radio banter has changed; it is now February 3. 95

Phil revels in his new life. Phil tells Rita that he wants to live in Punxsutawney with her (the decision). 100