Happy Death Day

Theresa 'Tree' Gelbman, a sharp sarcastic college student, wakes up to a day that refuses to end. After a brutal assault, she discovers the same daylight hours reset, dropping her back at the start each time she dies. With every loop she revisits the campus routine, the same conversations, and the same peril, while the clock relentlessly ticks toward another fatal moment. Tree tests new choices, follows small leads, and learns to use the loop to stay one step ahead. She must identify the person behind the murder and understand why this deadly cycle keeps returning, all while keeping her friends in the dark.

Released in 2017, Happy Death Day was directed by Christopher Landon from an original screenplay by Scott Lobdell. The film fuses horror with comedy, leaning on a Groundhog Day style premise while staying playfully unpredictable.

Box Office revenue worldwide reached $125,479,266, making it a surprising hit given its modest production budget of $4.8 million, and it found a broad audience across ages.

By blending a slasher premise with a lighthearted humor, the movie helped push the time loop horror subgenre into the mainstream. Tree Gelbman became a recognizable lead, and the concept sparked discussion about how women navigate danger with wit and resilience.

Critics praised the brisk pacing and Jessica Rothe's performance as Tree, with appreciation for humor that never undermines tension. The film treats fate and agency with a light touch, showing that quick choices can alter danger and make fear feel earned.