Skip to main content

The Mirror US

The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow movie release date, reviews and cast

Abel Tesfaye stars in the thriller alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan

The Weeknd co-wrote the screenplay
The Weeknd co-wrote the screenplay(Image: Lionsgate)

With a cast made up of Gen Z and TikTok royalty and a trailer that gives absolutely nothing away, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a hit in the making.


The thriller lands in cinemas this week and serves as the cinematic companion to The Weeknd's hugely successful album of the same name. The musician, real name Abel Tesfaye, co-wrote the screenplay and stars in the film as an artist struggling with insomnia.

Article continues below

His character, which is a fictionalized version of himself, encounters the mysterious Anima (Jenna Ortega) who pulls him into an "odyssey" and "begins to unravel the very core of his existence," as per the official synopsis.

Article continues below

The film was inspired by a real-life incident that happened to Tesfaye in 2022 in which he lost his voice mid-performance. He discovered there was no physical ailment, but rather that it was psychological.

Speculation has swirled that the film will be the final outing of The Weeknd persona, with the film's director Trey Edward Shults (the mind behind 2017's It Comes at Night) refusing to shut down the rumor.

Hurry Up Tomorrow
Hurry Up Tomorrow is personal for its star(Image: Lionsgate)

The team have been deliberate in keeping the plot details a closely guarded secret, and fans who were hoping to learn more in the trailer would not have been satiated by what they found.

"With me and Trey, we romanticize the idea of giving out a trailer that doesn't give away anything," Tesfaye shared with Entertainment Weekly. "It's always like these three-minute trailers that give out the whole plot because they want people to come to the theater. We trust the audience."

Hurry Up Tomorrow cast

The film has a glittering cast, led by Abel Tesfaye and Jenna Ortega in their roles as The Weeknd/Abel and Anima respectively. Meanwhile Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) plays music manager, Lee.


TikTok star Charli D'Amelio also has a role in the film, credited as 'une danseuse' which translates to simply 'a dancer'. American country singer Gabby Barrett plays Isabella, with her character also a country singer. Riley Keough is also in the cast though the exact nature of her role is unclear.

Hurry Up Tomorrow reviews

Barry Keoghan in Hurry Up Tomorrow
Barry Keoghan plays The Weeknd's manager(Image: Lionsgate)

In an open letter to fans, Tesfaye described the film as "the most personal project I've ever worked on." He went on to say: "It's a film and album born out of risk, obsession, and the desire to push beyond the surface — to create something raw, strange, and unforgettable. I hope I've done that."


It seems audiences have been won over so far, with music podcast NFR calling the film a "must watch" in their review and the "perfect companion piece" to The Weeknd's album. They added: "It deepens the understanding of the storyline and brings new layers of meaning to the music. Very few artists are putting this much effort into creating a fully immersive experience."

Another early viewer penned: "This movie was so beautiful and gives you another perspective in Abel himself. The way I cried, laughed, and sang made me feel so a part of something so surreal."

Meanwhile YouTube film critic Isaac Joel shared: "One of the most emotionally raw films I’ve ever seen, Hurry Up Tomorrow, starring Abel Tesfaye and Jenna Ortega, is absolutely incredible and hypnotizing. It’s deeply personal and vulnerable.

Article continues below

"You can feel the tragedy and internal devastation. The director not only co-wrote the script but also edited the film. Every frame stuns, every lyric haunts! Truly an unforgettable cinematic experience."

Hurry Up Tomorrow is out in cinemas on May 16

Follow The Mirror US:


The WeekndHorror films
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.