The theatrical trailer for 2005’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which can be viewed on YouTube, says it all: “Ever have one of those days…where nothing seems to go right?” Well, that whole concept remains a hot topic in Hollywood. Aristotle laid it out for us storytellers in his Poetics book back in the day: Conflict is key.

That’s paraphrased, of course, but sometimes it simply helps to sit back and enjoy a film where our protagonist is utterly struggling through some sort of “no good, very bad day.” There’s no denying that it’s all about connection if we want to engage the average cinephile. In effect, see below for a list of films that effectively capture characters experiencing the seemingly worst day(s) of their lives.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)

     Walt Disney Pictures

Remember the iconic children’s book by Judith Viorst? It was only a matter of time before the story was brought to life on the big screen. The Disney adaptation of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day follows 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences that infamous 24 hours of his young life. But the cinematic twist is that he soon learns that he’s not alone, when his mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Oscar-nominee Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own supremely awful day. The film is certainly flawed and was met with mixed reviews, but a talented cast certainly help to keep us engaged throughout.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

7 Phone Booth (2002)

     Fox 2000 Pictures

Joel Schumacher, ladies and gentlemen. The neo-noir thriller Phone Booth follows young publicist Stu (Colin Farrell) targeted by a hidden sniper (Kiefer Sutherland) after answering a call inside Stu’s go-to phone booth — where he normally sneaks in flirty conversations with a secret girlfriend (Katie Holmes). Phone Booth went on to make nearly $100 million and helped further establish Farrell as a Hollywood tour de force. A good drinking game for this one might be, “Drink every time Farrell drops an F-bomb” (ha ha). Overall, Phone Booth’s claustrophobic feel helped it stand out, and the real-time pacing certainly helped as well. By the somewhat satisfying end, you’re simply left questioning if someone’s watching you at this very moment. Thanks a lot, Schumacher!

6 The Purge (2013)

     Blumhouse Productions

The film that started it all — this O.G. classic stars Lena Headey and Ethan Hawke as a couple who find themselves in the middle of a home invasion on the appropriately titled “Purge Night.” In the futuristic society, crime and violence are legal for 12 hours each year with zero consequences. The Purge sets the stage for the rest of the franchise and introduces a world where morality is tested as people struggle to survive. The intriguing plot line and effective use of cinematography helped make this movie a box office hit. Plus, how can you go wrong with Hawke in a horror film — especially after his eerie performance in The Black Phone, which hit the masses just recently.

5 Office Space (1999)

     Judgemental Films
  • “What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?”
  • “Yep.”
  • “Wow, that’s messed up.”

Die-hard fans of Office Space will distinctly recall the scene quoted above. From satire master Mike Judge, this hilarious workplace comedy descends on the Initech building, where Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) hates his job and especially his boss, the infamous Bill Lumbergh (Gary Cole), who has just hired two efficiency consultants to downsize the company. Peter ultimately describes his miserable life to a hypnotherapist, who then uses his gift to put Peter into a “state of complete relaxation.” In his new mindset, Pete starts to date his dream girl (Jennifer Aniston), gets promoted by the consultants and eventually decides to plant a virus in his employer’s banking system to embezzle money. It’s a fun ride all the way through — a story that was ignited by Peter simply proclaiming that “every day is worse than the one before.”

4 Falling Down (1993)

     Regency Enterprises

On the day of his daughter’s birthday, William Foster (Michael Douglas) tries to get to his estranged ex-wife’s house to see his daughter. He has a breakdown and leaves his car in a traffic jam in Los Angeles — and decides to walk. Along the way, it’s pure chaos: He breaks apart a convenience store with a baseball bat, which he then uses on a couple of threatening gangsters and takes their gym bag full of weapons to assist with his journey of rage against injustice. Meanwhile, Sgt. Martin Prendergast (Robert Duvall) is following the wave of crimes and works to track down Foster. Douglas and Duvall are both superb in Falling Down, as we follow an angry man’s day spin wildly out of control.

3 Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

     Village Roadshow Pictures

Modern-day Groundhog Day, anyone? No, we’re not referring to Hulu’s recent gem Palm Springs. At the surface, Edge of Tomorrow may seem like just another Tom Cruise action flick. But the English setting featuring American actors offers a refreshing change of pace for such a massive Hollywood film. This energetic retelling of the “one-day time-loop” scenario was so good that fans have advocated for an Edge of Tomorrow sequel over the years. After all, the film’s overall tone certainly echoes other sci-fi classics such as Starship Troopers. Dive in if you haven’t!

2 Collateral (2004)

     DreamWorks Pictures

Thanks to the iconic films Collateral and Ray, Jamie Foxx received two Oscar nominations for the same ceremony. What a feat! Sure, he nabbed the trophy for his Ray Charles turn, but Michael Mann’s neo-noir action thriller following Foxx as a cabbie experiencing (probably) the worst night of his life is not to be ignored. Collateral also features a knockout Tom Cruise, mind you. The storyline focuses on Los Angeles cab driver Max (Foxx) as he finds himself taken hostage by an engaging contract killer (Cruise) who is making his rounds on a killing spree. Mann believed the two stars would be able to play well off each other and specifically hired Cruise as the villain, against typecasting. And watch out for Mann’s use of seemingly low-grade digital cameras to capture those exterior shots. They’re a cinematic treat.

1 Groundhog Day (1993)

     Columbia Pictures

Of course, Groundhog Day also tops any list of films involving the protagonist stuck living the same day over and over again. We all know the premise: A grouchy and misanthropic Bill Murray is weatherman Phil who is trapped in small-town Punxsutawney in order to capture the celebrations for Groundhog Day. Little does he know that tomorrow, they will also be celebrating it again — and again. Every day is the same as yesterday, but Phil is the only one who seems to remember.

Groundhog Day might initially seem like a silly gimmick, but the whole film becomes simply epic as it explores the meaning of life and other head-scratching themes along the way. It’s no wonder that Barry Keoghan’s boy-monster character in Yorgo Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer says Groundhog Day is his favorite movie. And why not? This other Colin Farrell psychological thriller also explores themes of man caught within forces beyond his control. But at the end of the day, Groundhog Day is a can’t-miss for any film buff out there.