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Happy Death Day

Play trailer 1:00 Poster for Happy Death Day PG-13 Released Oct 13, 2017 1h 36m Horror Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 157 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Tree Gelbman is a blissfully self-centered collegian who wakes up on her birthday in the bed of a student named Carter. As the morning goes on, Tree gets the eerie feeling that she's experienced the events of this day before. When a masked killer suddenly takes her life in a brutal attack, she once again magically wakes up in Carter's dorm room unharmed. Now, the frightened young woman must relive the same day over and over until she figures out who murdered her.
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Happy Death Day

Happy Death Day

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Critics Consensus

Happy Death Day puts a darkly humorous sci-fi spin on slasher conventions, with added edge courtesy of a starmaking performance from Jessica Rothe.

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Critics Reviews

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Philip Kemp Sight & Sound Happy Death Day isn't particularly scary, and clearly isn't meant to be - the pleasure lies in the games it plays with its basic storyline, along the way tossing in enough offbeat humour and whodunnit twists to keep us entertained. Nov 9, 2017 Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times If you can't enjoy [Happy Death Day], give up on film. Rated: 4/5 Oct 30, 2017 Full Review Ben Sachs Chicago Reader On another level, Happy Death Day is a low-key celebration of cinema. Landon and Lobdell revel in how their story could only happen in the movies, piling on preposterous complications with self-aware glee. Oct 26, 2017 Full Review Sharai Bohannon A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast It's about time we had a fun, fast, and femme-led time loop movie for this millennium. The slasher is easy, breezy, and deadly as it wastes no time getting to its end game. Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 30, 2024 Full Review Tina Kakadelis Beyond the Cinerama Dome Happy Death Day is a blast, a pure delight. It perfectly straddles the lines between comedy, horror, and romance, somehow juggling all of these genres to create a breezy romp of a movie. It’s a well-deserved addition to the time loop genre. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies The tongue-in-cheek approach by the filmmakers and their willingness to laugh at themselves makes this a better experience than the corny title would have you believe. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 21, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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kay c A different twist on your normal slasher movies. Im a chessy horror fanatic and this one I cant get enough of. Glad it is on the big screen again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/22 Full Review otpysti m As a comedy, it's not funny; as a detective story, it’s riddled with plot holes; and as a horror movie, it’s just not scary. That said, the cinematography is decent, and at some point, it feels like the director simply gave up. The film tries to make you guess who the killer is, but with all the mistakes and illogical twists, there's no point in even trying to figure it out—just as there’s not much point in watching it either. In summary, it’s better to skip this one, though stumbling upon it accidentally wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. However, I’m genuinely surprised it managed to get a sequel! Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review praphasiri p HAPPY DEATH DAY Released on October 13, 2017 Rating: 4/5 Happy death day is a uniquely engaging film that manages to blend horror, mystery, and dark comedy in a way that feels both fresh and deeply human, inviting viewers to laugh in the face of terror while reflecting on the value of second chances and personal growth. In this singular narrative, Tree Gelbman, portrayed with surprising depth by Jessica Rothe, finds herself caught in a relentless time loop that forces her to relive her birthday repeatedly—a day that begins with ordinary college life and quickly spirals into a harrowing confrontation with a masked killer. What makes the film particularly interesting is not merely its inventive plot device but the way it employs the repetitive cycle as a potent metaphor for life’s persistent challenges and the promise of transformation that arises from learning from one’s mistakes. With each doomed iteration of her day, Tree is given the chance to confront her personal flaws, reassess her priorities, and gradually evolve from a self-absorbed young woman into a determined survivor who strives to rewrite her fate. The film’s clever balancing of suspense and humor is both refreshing and emotionally resonant; moments of bone-chilling terror are interspersed with absurdly funny scenes that capture the human tendency to seek levity even in the darkest circumstances. The inventive death scenes, as gruesome as they are humorously absurd, keep the audience on edge while offering a playful commentary on the inevitability of errors and the opportunity to set things right. Beyond its thrilling plot twists and innovative narrative structure, “Happy Death Day” taps into a universal truth: life is a series of repeated challenges and opportunities for reinvention, where every setback carries the promise of a fresh start if one is willing to learn and adapt. The film’s engaging screenplay, brisk pacing, and a haunting yet memorable musical score work together to create an atmosphere that is equal parts eerie and uplifting, drawing viewers into a story that is as much about personal redemption as it is about survival. By taking risks with its genre and infusing a traditional slasher framework with existential musings and genuine heart, the movie not only entertains but also prompts its audience to reflect on their own lives—on moments when they have stumbled, learned, and ultimately grown stronger. In summary, I would rate “Happy Death Day” a solid 4 out of 5, deducting one mark for occasional tonal inconsistencies in its blending of horror and comedy, which sometimes momentarily disrupt the immersive experience. Furthermore, the film’s audacious mix of genres challenges conventional expectations, offering a cinematic experience that is both unpredictable and emotionally rich, while its clever narrative twists, memorable set pieces, and sincere character development ensure that every moment is engaging and thought-provoking from beginning to end, indeed remarkable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Hayden C Expected a horror slasher and got a great comedy. I looked at the rating and saw it was PG-13 and got kinda worried but I realized that all the gore was replaced by great comedy. I love how you see her as a crappy person but then you see her change over time. Also the romantic part with Tree and Carter is great as they have great chemistry. The twist at the end was surprising and I loved many of the suspense scenes. Great movie that doesn’t need to rely on kills. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Brian L Definitely a great movie, I'll be honest when I saw the trailer before it hit the movies. I wasn't totally sold on this movie. But as always when I took the time to watch it. I was completely wrong, very great movie. It's not scary, but Definitely worth a watch. I 10/10 recommend this movie. 🔥 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/07/25 Full Review Jonny Meliot R The way he revolutionized two movie clichés in such a simple and striking way is so brilliant. I feel like every time I watch this movie it gets 5% better. Jessica Rothe is a brilliant girl and a resourceful actress who deserves more roles than that. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Happy Death Day

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Movie Info

Synopsis Tree Gelbman is a blissfully self-centered collegian who wakes up on her birthday in the bed of a student named Carter. As the morning goes on, Tree gets the eerie feeling that she's experienced the events of this day before. When a masked killer suddenly takes her life in a brutal attack, she once again magically wakes up in Carter's dorm room unharmed. Now, the frightened young woman must relive the same day over and over until she figures out who murdered her.
Director
Christopher Landon
Producer
Jason Blum
Screenwriter
Scott Lobdell
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Digital Riot Media, Blumhouse Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Crude Sexual Content|Partial Nudity|Some Drug Material|Violence/Terror)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 13, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$55.7M
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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