Go Ahead, Make My Day Trivia Quiz

Answer: Groundhog Day

"Groundhog Day", directed by Murray collaborator Harold Ramis, was released to critical acclaim after appearing in theaters in 1993. In the film, Murray plays a weatherman who after a dismal Groundhog Day, during which he has to film a piece about Punxsutawney Phil, ends up being forced to relive the same day over and over again. Now a part of the U.S. National Film Registry, "Groundhog Day" was one of the most successful films of 1993, earning over $70,000,000 in its theatrical run. Since its release it has appeared on several different AFI lists.

Answer: Die Another Day

In Pierce Brosnan's final bout as James Bond, the classic 00-agent, he and Halle Berry teamed up to take down the Koreans. Gustav Graves had control of a satellite known as the Icarus, which he planned to use to shoot concentrated beams of sunlight at any location on the planet. All the while, Bond took the time to visit fancy ice hotels, fence with Madonna and uncover this devious scheme.

After "Die Another Day" was released, the Bond franchise took a turn by returning to the "Casino Royale" story to reboot the entire storyline.

After its box office run finished, it had earned over $400,000,000.

Answer: Day of the Dead

Often regarded as one of the worst of Romero's original "Of the Dead" creations, "Day of the Dead" was released in 1985, almost two decades after the original "Night of the Living Dead" (these days just drag on, don't they?). It was, coincidentally, released in the same year as Dan O'Bannon's hilarious spin-off, "Revenge of the Living Dead".

Not being one to shrug off the horror remake train, "Day of the Dead" (like "Night of" and "Dawn of" before it) was graced with a remake in 2008 by Steve Miner, the director of the second and third "Friday the 13th" films in the 1980s, though it went straight-to-DVD.

The original "Day of the Dead" earned $34,000,000 in the box office and was followed twenty years later by "Land of the Dead".

Answer: Independence Day

Certainly the successful film, "Independence Day" was a film that sparked a renewal of the sci-fi genre. Released in 1996 and directed by Roland Emmerich (who likes to destroy the Earth in the majority of his movies), "Independence Day" was a hit, earning over $800,000,000 in the box office.

In its first week, it broke box office records for total gross (and remained undefeated until the second "Jurassic Park"). It remained a winner and became the top-grossing movie of 1996. In the movie, the world was surrounded, over its largest cities, by alien spaceships. With this invasion in progress, the world had to figure out how to save their planet before they were wiped out.

The States sort of spearheaded the operation in the movie; it was quite patriotic. You should see Emmerich's other films...they're very similar.

Answer: Judgment Day

Set many years after the original "Terminator" film, released in 1984, "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" was nominated for six different Academy Awards (winning four). It also earned over $500,000,000 in the box office, though at the time it was the most expensive movie ever produced. James Cameron has always had a knack for that though - "Titanic" and "Avatar" weren't funded through food stamps. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, the film occurs many years after the original.

The evil Terminator from the first film (Schwarzenegger) has been reprogrammed for good and an evil T-1000, made of liquid metal, is here to kill John Connor.

This film was followed by "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" in 2003.

Answer: Friday the 13th

Perhaps one of horror's most profitable series, "Friday the 13th" began in 1980 directed by Sean S. Cunningham (who also produced many Wes Craven films). Critics didn't like it. Audiences did. By the time the series' twelfth film, a remake of the first four, arrived in 2009, it earned a collective $400,000,000. Eight different "Friday the 13th" titles appeared in the 1980s, with more to follow in the coming decades. Voorhees later went head-to-head with Freddy Krueger, of "Nightmare on Elm Street" fame, in "Freddy Vs. Jason" in 2003, before Freddy too went aboard the remake train through Platinum Dunes in 2010. Michael Bay certainly has a thing for horror reboots, doesn't he?

Answer: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Also starring Jennifer Connelly (of "A Beautiful Mind" and "Dark Water"), Kathy Bates, and John Cleese, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was based on a movie of the same name, released over fifty years earlier. Keanu (Klaatu in the film) has arrived on the planet with 'Gort', a Genetically Organized Robotic Technology, in order to provide a message about the future of the planet.

While the film was filled with effects, it stood as still as its title implied - many felt it had no story. It still made over $200,000,000 - people stood still long enough to watch it. Director Scott Derrickson was also known for "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" while Keanu Reeves is likely to continue to find himself typecast in emotionless roles.

Answer: Knight and Day

Cruise played the secret agent in this one and, after a whirlwind of a time with Cameron Diaz, she got pulled into a plot involving an everlasting battery of energy. Coincidentally, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise also filmed "Vanilla Sky" together in 2001 (directed by "Almost Famous" director, Cameron Crowe).
"Knight and Day" was directed by James Mangold, also known for his work in "Identity" and "Walk the Line". It also starred Maggie Grace (of "Lost") and "Little Miss Sunshine's" Paul Dano.

Answer: Valentine's Day

Starring every actor from Alba onwards through the alphabet, "Valentine's Day" appeared in theaters around that time of year and commanded box office intake for the weekend. Overall it earned over $200,000,000 (how much was divided amongst its principal cast?) and sparked interest in a "New Year's Eve" sequel.

The film took place on the titular day with several different couples uniting, meeting, and embracing their love in different settings. Julia Roberts showed up on a plane, Jennifer Garner was a school teacher, and Taylor Swift made an appearance with a "Twilight" werewolf.

Unfortunately, despite big numbers in theaters, critics really didn't feel the love.

Answer: 500 Days of Summer

Starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the film was directed by Marc Webb (who has an extensive filmography in the music video world!). Taking in over $70,000,000 in his debut work with "500 Days of Summer" made the film quite the popular summer sleeper. Critics highly enjoyed the movie too! Many featured the film on top ten lists for 2009 (even in the #1 position).

This independent film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival before taking a wider release. The movie was about a man who worked at a greeting card company. Over the course of 500 days, he and a girl named Summer developed a relationship, despite the fact that she didn't believe that true love existed.

The movie took a cross-section of several different days, and not in chronological order, making the movie truly unique in its storytelling.