Groundhog Day
Synopsis
A weather man is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting "rat" (as he calls it). This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration. On awaking the 'following' day, he discovers that it's Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. First he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realisation that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing every day.
Production Budget Analysis
What was the production budget for Groundhog Day?
Directed by Harold Ramis, with Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott leading the cast, Groundhog Day was produced by Columbia Pictures with a confirmed budget of $14,600,000, placing it in the low-budget category for romance films.
At $14,600,000, Groundhog Day was produced on a modest budget. Lower-budget films benefit from reduced break-even thresholds, with profitability achievable at approximately $36,500,000.
Budget Comparison — Similar Productions
• Days of Glory (2006): Budget $14,500,000 | Gross $22,963,701 → ROI: 58% • Romeo + Juliet (1996): Budget $14,500,000 | Gross $147,298,761 → ROI: 916% • Sound of Freedom (2023): Budget $14,500,000 | Gross $250,600,000 → ROI: 1628% • Unforgiven (1992): Budget $14,400,000 | Gross $159,157,447 → ROI: 1005% • Faust (2011): Budget $14,400,000 | Gross N/A
Key Budget Allocation Categories
▸ Lead Cast Compensation Romantic films depend entirely on the chemistry and appeal of their leads, making star casting decisions the most consequential budget item.
▸ Location Filming Picturesque, often international locations are central to the romantic genre's visual appeal.
▸ Music Supervision & Soundtrack Iconic songs can cost $250,000–500,000 to license per use, and a well-curated soundtrack is often as important to marketing as the trailer itself.
Key Production Personnel
CAST: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray Key roles: Bill Murray as Phil Connors; Andie MacDowell as Rita Hanson; Chris Elliott as Larry; Stephen Tobolowsky as Ned Ryerson
DIRECTOR: Harold Ramis CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Bailey MUSIC: George Fenton EDITING: Pembroke J. Herring PRODUCTION: Columbia Pictures FILMED IN: United States of America
Box Office Performance
Groundhog Day earned $71,107,962 domestically and $816 internationally, for a worldwide total of $71,108,778. The film skewed heavily domestic (100%), suggesting strong North American appeal.
Break-Even Analysis
Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Groundhog Day needed approximately $36,500,000 to break even. The film surpassed this threshold by $34,608,778.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Revenue: $71,108,778 Budget: $14,600,000 Net: $56,508,778 ROI: 387.0%
Profitability Assessment
VERDICT: Highly Profitable
Groundhog Day was a clear financial success, generating $71,108,778 worldwide against a $14,600,000 production budget — a 387% ROI. After estimated marketing costs, the film still delivered substantial profit to Columbia Pictures.
INDUSTRY IMPACT
The outsized success of Groundhog Day likely influenced studio greenlight decisions for similar romance projects.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Summary: Won 1 BAFTA Award7 wins & 17 nominations total
Awards Won: ★ MTV Movie & TV Awards ★ Saturn Award for Best Actress ★ British Comedy Awards ★ BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay ★ Q1868958 ★ BMI Film & TV Awards
Nominations: ○ BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay ○ MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance ○ Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation ○ Saturn Award for Best Costume
Budget Templates
Build your own production budget
Create professional budgets with industry-standard feature film templates. Real-time collaboration, no spreadsheets.
Start Budgeting Free
