Editing Groundhog Day (film) (section)

==Release==
===Context===
{{see also|1993 in film}}
[[File:The Emoji Movie premiere at the Fox Theatre, Westwood Village 4.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[premiere]] of ''Groundhog Day'' took place on February{{nbsp}}4, 1993, at the [[Fox Theater, Westwood Village]] in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]].]]
1993 was considered the year of the family film.<ref name="LAtimesYear1993" /> This was seen as a response to criticism of Hollywood for overusing violence and sex in films, as well as a need for feel-good entertainment in a time of [[recession]].<ref name="LATimesFamily" /><ref name="NYTFAmily" /> As production costs rose, films pitched at both adults and children offered a greater chance being profitable both at the theater and in the ensuing [[home video]] [[Video rentals|rentals]]. By 1993, the three all-time highest-grossing films in North America were family-oriented: ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'', ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'', and ''[[Home Alone]]''. Family films encouraged repeat business and offered more opportunities to sell merchandise.<ref name="LATimesFamily" /><ref name="NYTFAmily" /> Columbia Pictures chairman Mark Canton said that [[PG-Rating|PG-rated]] films were much more likely to make over $100{{nbsp}}million, compared to adult-oriented fare. ''Groundhog Day'' was rated PG, allowing children access with parental permission. The film was seen as a potential [[Sleeper hit|sleeper success]].<ref name="VarietyPG" /><ref name="VarietySleeper" />

''Groundhog Day'' was one of many family films released that year, including ''[[Free Willy]]'', ''[[Last Action Hero]]'', and the highly anticipated ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'', which would go on to become the highest-grossing film to date.<ref name="HoustonPress1993" /> Not all releases that year were family-centric; it would become considered one of the greatest years for film across a range of genres.<ref name="Deseret1993" /><ref name="RogerEbert1993" /> There were blockbusters like ''[[Mrs. Doubtfire]]'' and ''[[Indecent Proposal]]'', critical favorites such as ''[[Schindler's List]]'' and ''[[Philadelphia (film)|Philadelphia]]'',<ref name="TheNumbers1993" /><ref name="RogerEbert1993" /><ref name="Collider1993" /> and future classics, like ''[[Dazed and Confused (film)|Dazed and Confused]]'', ''[[Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]'', and ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''.<ref name="Collider1993" /><ref name="Tribeca1993" /><ref name="TheVerge1993" />

The premiere of ''Groundhog Day'' took place on February{{nbsp}}4, 1993, at the [[Fox Theater, Westwood Village|Fox Theater]] in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]]. Murray did not attend the low-budget event, whose guests included comedian [[Rodney Dangerfield]] and actresses [[Catherine O'Hara]], [[Mimi Rogers]], and [[Virginia Madsen]]. $40,000 of the entry ticket sales profits were donated to the [[Scleroderma Research Foundation]] and Turning Point Shelter.<ref name="LATimesPremiere" /> A second premiere took place the following day in [[Crystal Lake, Illinois]], followed by an auction of [[prop]]s and signed equipment from the film. All proceeds were donated to the Woodstock school district.<ref name="ChicagoTribunePremiere" />

===Box office===
In North America, ''Groundhog Day'' received a wide release on February 12, 1993, across 1,640 theaters. The film earned $12.5{{nbsp}}million—an average of $7,632 per theater. The film benefited from a four-day weekend due to the [[Washington's Birthday|President's Day]] holiday Monday. This increased its weekend total to $14.6{{nbsp}}million—enhancing the theater average to $8,934. This made it the second-biggest opening for a film released in winter, behind ''[[Wayne's World (film)|Wayne's World]]'' ($18{{nbsp}}million) released the year before. ''Groundhog Day'' finished as the number one film of the weekend, ahead of romantic drama ''[[Sommersby]]'' ($9.9{{nbsp}}million), and adventure comedy ''[[Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey]]'' ($8.1{{nbsp}}million), both in their second week of release.<ref name="BOMWeekendBrkDwn" /><ref name="LATimesPresidents" /><ref name="LATimesReleaseWKND" /> Screenings of the film were approximately 80% sold out. 65% of audiences polled said they would "definitely recommend" it.<ref name="VarietyFigures" />

The film retained the number-one position in its second weekend with a further gross of $9.3{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="LATimesFeb23" /> In its third weekend, it dropped to second place with $7.6{{nbsp}}million, behind the debuting crime thriller ''[[Falling Down]]'' ($8.7{{nbsp}}million).<ref name="BOMWeekendBrkDwn" /><ref name="LATimesMar2" /> ''Groundhog Day'' remained in the top 10 grossing films for a further four weeks, earning a total of $57.6{{nbsp}}million. It spent the remainder of its run outside the top 10 apart from two brief resurgences—one during the long Easter weekend in mid-April where it rose to number 2, and approximately 15 weeks into its run, where it rose to number 7 after being released in low-price ticket theaters.<ref name="BOMWeekendBrkDwn" /><ref name="LATimesLowPrice" /><ref name="TheNumbersWeekend" />

In total, the film earned an approximate box office gross of $70.9{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="TheNumbers" /> Though it did not break any records, the film was considered a success, if a modest one.<ref name="TheGuardianDirectors" /><ref name="LATimesHit" /><ref name="PasteHit" /> It finished as the [[1993 in film|10th highest-grossing film of 1993]] behind ''Free Willy'' ($78{{nbsp}}million) and ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'' ($84{{nbsp}}million).<ref name="LAtimesYear1993" /> When accounting for films released at the end of 1993 that earned most of their box office in 1994, ''Groundhog Day'' becomes the 14th highest-grossing film of 1993.<ref name="TheNumbers1993" /> Industry experts suggest that as of 1997, the [[Film distribution|box office returns to the studio]]—minus the theaters' share—was $32.5{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="VarietyRentals" /> Outside of North America, the film is estimated to have earned a further $34.2{{nbsp}}million, giving it a cumulative worldwide gross of $105{{nbsp}}million and making it the 19th highest-grossing film of the year worldwide.<ref name="TheNumbers" /><ref name="BOMOverview" />{{sfn|Klady|1994|pp=1,42}}