Happy Death Day is a 2017 American black comedy slasher film directed by Christopher Landon and written by Scott Lobdell. The film stars Jessica Rothe as Tree Gelbman, a college student who finds herself in a terrifying time loop, forced to relive the day of her murder repeatedly until she can identify her killer. The film was produced by Jason Blum through Blumhouse Productions and was released by Universal Pictures on October 13, 2017.
The plot centers around Tree, who wakes up on her birthday in the dorm room of Carter Davis (Israel Broussard). As the day unfolds, she is murdered by a masked killer. However, instead of dying for good, Tree wakes up again at the beginning of the same day. This cycle continues, and each time she is killed, she gains more insight into her life and the people around her. Determined to solve her own murder, Tree navigates various scenarios and interactions with her classmates while trying to uncover the identity of her killer.
Happy Death Day received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike for its clever blend of horror and comedy, as well as Rothe's engaging performance. It grossed over $125 million worldwide against a modest budget of $4.8 million, making it a significant commercial success. The film's unique premise—combining elements of the slasher genre with a time loop concept reminiscent of Groundhog Day—was particularly praised.
The film's success led to a sequel, Happy Death Day 2U, which was released on February 13, 2019. The sequel expands on the original's premise while introducing new characters and deeper exploration of the time loop mechanics. Overall, Happy Death Day stands out as an inventive entry in the horror-comedy genre, appealing to both slasher fans and those looking for a humorous take on familiar tropes.