The Weeknd's Hurry Up Tomorrow movie release date, reviews and cast
Abel Tesfaye stars in the thriller alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
"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