02/01/2026
The beloved 1993 film Groundhog Day is widely regarded as a cinematic representation of Buddhist principles, specifically samsara (the cycle of reincarnation/suffering) and karma. Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray), trapped in an endlessly recurring day, mirrors the journey to enlightenment by shedding ego and selfishness to act with compassion, as a bodhisattva. Key Buddhist connections include samsara, the repetitive, mundane nature of the day representing the cycle of birth and death, viewed as suffering to be escaped; karma and transformation, as Phil is forced to endure more than 10,000 identical days, learning that his selfish actions (“bad karma”) keep him trapped, while selfless service (“good karma”) allows him to break the cycle; and the Bodhisattva Path, where Phil—instead of escaping the loop alone—starts to use his time to help others in the town, embodying the Mahayana ideal of a bodhisattva who helps all beings. Finally, the film encourages viewing each moment as a new beginning (mindfulness and “Beginner’s Mind”), breaking habitual, negative patterns to live with awareness. Some have called the film an “underground Buddhist classic” due to its emphasis on overcoming ego and cultivating compassion.
