Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)

Meta Description: Discover everything about Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025), from its star-studded cast featuring The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan to its compelling plot, production details, and critical reception in this comprehensive review.

Introduction

In the increasingly blurred lines between music and cinema, Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025) emerges as an ambitious psychological thriller that marks a significant milestone for Grammy-winning artist Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. Released on May 16, 2025, this Lionsgate film serves as a companion piece to Tesfaye’s album of the same name, creating a multimedia experience that attempts to expand his artistic vision beyond music. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Trey Edward Shults (known for Waves and It Comes At Night), the film features a compelling cast including Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) and Barry Keoghan (Saltburn), promising viewers a surreal journey into the psyche of a troubled musician. But does it deliver on its promise? This comprehensive review explores every aspect of this unique cinematic offering.

Click to watch the official trailer

Movie Overview
Plot Summary
Cast and Characters
Production and Direction
Themes and Symbolism
Critical Reception
Awards and Nominations
Fun Facts and Trivia
Where to Watch
Final Verdict

Movie Overview

Detail	Information
Title	Hurry Up Tomorrow
Release Date	May 16, 2025
Director	Trey Edward Shults
Genre	Psychological Thriller
Runtime	106 minutes
Rating	R (for language throughout, drug use, some bloody violence and brief nudity)
Cast	Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Jenna Ortega, Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough
Production Companies	Lionsgate, Manic Phase, Live Nation Productions
Budget	$15 million
Box Office	$3.5 million worldwide
IMDb Rating	Pending
Rotten Tomatoes Score	13% (Critics)
Language	English
Country of Origin	United States
Streaming Platforms	Coming to Starz after theatrical run

Plot Summary

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” follows the story of Abel (played by The Weeknd), an insomniac musician whose life takes a surreal turn when he encounters a mysterious stranger. This chance meeting triggers a nightmarish odyssey that challenges everything he knows about himself and his existence.

The narrative centers on Abel’s struggle with fame, creativity, and personal demons. His insomnia serves as both a literal condition and a metaphor for his inability to rest in a world that constantly demands more from him. As his reality begins to unravel, the line between dreams and wakefulness becomes increasingly blurred.

Jenna Ortega plays Anima, an obsessed fan who becomes entangled in Abel’s life. Her character represents both a threat and a reflection of the musician’s fragmented psyche. Barry Keoghan’s character adds another layer of mystery as a figure who may hold the key to understanding Abel’s disintegrating reality.

The film employs a non-linear narrative structure, with shifting timelines and perspective shifts that mirror Abel’s fractured mental state. Director Trey Edward Shults uses visual motifs, color palettes, and aspect ratio changes to distinguish between different layers of reality, creating a visually dynamic but narratively challenging experience.

Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye stars as a musician battling insomnia and existential dread

Cast and Characters

Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye as Abel

In his first leading role in a feature film, Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd plays a fictionalized version of himself. As Abel, he portrays a musician struggling with insomnia, fame, and a growing sense that his reality is falling apart. Tesfaye’s performance represents a significant step in his transition from music superstar to actor, though critics have been divided on the effectiveness of his dramatic abilities.

Jenna Ortega as Anima

Following her breakthrough success in “Wednesday,” Ortega takes on the role of Anima, a mysterious fan whose presence in Abel’s life blurs the line between admiration and obsession. Her character serves as both an external threat and a possible manifestation of Abel’s deteriorating mental state. Ortega’s performance adds an unsettling element to the film’s psychological landscape.

Barry Keoghan as The Stranger

Fresh off his critically acclaimed performance in “Saltburn,” Keoghan portrays an enigmatic figure who enters Abel’s life and begins to unravel the musician’s sense of self. Keoghan’s naturally unsettling screen presence complements the film’s disorienting atmosphere, though some critics have noted that his character feels underutilized.

Riley Keough

Though her role is smaller, Keough (known for “Under the Silver Lake” and “Zola”) brings significant talent to the ensemble cast. Her character adds another layer to Abel’s complex web of relationships and perceptions.

Jenna Ortega delivers an intense performance as Anima

Production and Direction

Trey Edward Shults’ Vision

Director Trey Edward Shults, known for his visually striking and emotionally intense films like “Waves” and “It Comes At Night,” brings his distinctive style to “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Working from a screenplay he co-wrote with Tesfaye and Reza Fahim, Shults employs a variety of cinematic techniques to capture the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state.

The film features notable visual flourishes, including:

Shifting aspect ratios that reflect Abel’s changing perception of reality
A dynamic color palette that transitions from warm, saturated tones in “reality” scenes to cooler, more desaturated colors in dream sequences
360-degree camera movements reminiscent of Shults’ work in “Waves”
Deliberately disorienting editing patterns that mirror the protagonist’s confused state of mind

Music and Sound Design

As expected from a film starring The Weeknd, music plays a crucial role in “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” The film features original music from Tesfaye’s album of the same name, with additional score by Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never). The sound design blurs diegetic and non-diegetic elements, often making it unclear whether the music exists within the film’s world or as commentary on it.

Cinematography

Cinematographer Chayse Irvin (who previously worked on “BlacKkKlansman” and “Beyoncé: Lemonade”) creates striking visuals that complement the film’s psychological themes. His camera work alternates between claustrophobic close-ups that emphasize Abel’s isolation and sweeping, dreamlike sequences that reflect the character’s detachment from reality.

Director Trey Edward Shults with Abel Tesfaye and Jenna Ortega on set

Themes and Symbolism

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” explores several interconnected themes that reflect both its protagonist’s inner struggles and broader cultural concerns:

Fame and Identity

At its core, the film examines the disorienting effects of celebrity and the gap between public persona and private self. Abel’s character struggles to distinguish between the person he presents to the world and his authentic identity, a theme that resonates with Tesfaye’s real-life navigation of stardom as The Weeknd.

Reality vs. Illusion

Through its surreal narrative structure, the film constantly questions what is real and what is imagined. This ambiguity serves not only as a plot device but as a metaphor for how media, technology, and fame can distort perception.

Insomnia as Metaphor

Abel’s inability to sleep functions as a multifaceted symbol throughout the film. It represents:

His inability to escape his thoughts and demons
The relentless pace of modern life and celebrity
A metaphorical “wakefulness” that prevents him from accepting comforting illusions

Parasocial Relationships

Through Jenna Ortega’s character, the film explores the modern phenomenon of parasocial relationships, where fans develop intense, one-sided emotional connections with celebrities. This theme is particularly relevant in an era of social media and constant access to public figures.

The film explores themes of reality versus illusion

Critical Reception

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” has received predominantly negative reviews from critics, earning a 13% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have generally praised the film’s visual style and ambition but criticized its narrative coherence and self-indulgent qualities.

Positive Reviews

Some critics have appreciated the film’s visual flair and willingness to take risks:

“It’s not a perfect film, but it is one that questions, probes and challenges,” wrote one critic who found value in the film’s experimental approach.

“Visually effective yet narratively meandering,” noted The Guardian, suggesting that while the film has stylistic merits, its storytelling fails to match its aesthetic ambitions.

Negative Reviews

Most critics were less forgiving:

Roger Ebert’s website described it as “An overlong, aimless vanity project that will only satisfy folks who’ve already decided they’ll like it because of their existing fandom.”

IGN called it “an over-indulgent, navel-gazing exercise in self-mythologizing its star’s bad behavior.”

Plugged In stated the film “feels aimless and dull, delivering a story with very little plot.”

Audience Response

Audience reactions have been mixed, with fans of The Weeknd generally more receptive than general moviegoers. The film’s box office performance has been disappointing, with a global gross of just $3.5 million against a $15 million budget, suggesting limited commercial appeal beyond Tesfaye’s existing fan base.

The official poster for Hurry Up Tomorrow

Awards and Nominations

As a newly released film, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” has not yet been considered for major awards. Given its critical reception, it seems unlikely to feature prominently in the upcoming awards season, though its technical elements such as cinematography and music might receive recognition in specialized categories.

Fun Facts and Trivia

Album Companion: The film serves as a visual companion to The Weeknd’s sixth studio album, also titled “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which was released on January 31, 2025.
Director Connection: This marks the first collaboration between Trey Edward Shults and The Weeknd, though Shults has previously worked with Riley Keough on other projects.
Production Timeline: The film was completed in February 2025, with a relatively quick post-production process to coincide with The Weeknd’s album release and tour plans.
Aspect Ratio Changes: The film contains over 20 aspect ratio changes, a technique Shults previously employed in “Waves” to reflect characters’ emotional states.
Music Integration: Several scenes were specifically choreographed to match tracks from The Weeknd’s album, creating a seamless integration of music and visuals.
Marketing Innovation: The film’s marketing campaign included an innovative AR experience that allowed fans to “step into” scenes from the movie using their smartphones.
Cast Chemistry: Despite the film’s dark themes, behind-the-scenes footage shows The Weeknd and Jenna Ortega developed a strong friendship during filming, with Ortega calling the experience “transformative” in interviews.

The film marks The Weeknd’s first leading role in a feature film

Where to Watch

Currently, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is playing exclusively in theaters, having been released on May 16, 2025. Based on typical distribution patterns for Lionsgate films, here’s when and where you can expect to watch it:

Theatrical Release

Currently showing in approximately 2,020 theaters across North America
International release dates vary by country

Digital Purchase/Rental

Expected to be available for digital purchase and rental approximately 3-4 weeks after theatrical release
Will likely appear on platforms including Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and YouTube

Streaming

As a Lionsgate film, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” will likely stream first on Starz
Expected to arrive on Starz approximately 6-7 months after theatrical release
May later become available on other subscription services through licensing agreements

Physical Media

DVD/Blu-ray release typically follows 2-3 months after theatrical debut
No official announcement yet regarding special features or collector’s editions

For the most current information on where to watch, visit the official movie website.

Final Verdict

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” represents an ambitious but flawed attempt to merge musical artistry with cinematic storytelling. While it showcases The Weeknd’s willingness to take creative risks and Trey Edward Shults’ distinctive visual style, the film ultimately falls short of its lofty artistic ambitions.

Strengths:

Visually striking cinematography and production design
Effective use of music to enhance the narrative
Strong supporting performances, particularly from Jenna Ortega
Ambitious exploration of complex themes

Weaknesses:

Narratively disjointed and often incoherent
Self-indulgent qualities that limit its appeal beyond existing fans
Underdeveloped characters and relationships
Fails to fully capitalize on its intriguing premise

For fans of The Weeknd, experimental cinema, or psychological thrillers willing to prioritize style over narrative coherence, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” offers an intriguing, if uneven, experience. For general audiences seeking a more conventional thriller, the film’s fragmented storytelling and emphasis on atmosphere over plot may prove frustrating.

Rating: ★★½ out of ★★★★★

Have you seen “Hurry Up Tomorrow”? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you think The Weeknd has a future in acting? Should more musicians cross over into film? Let us know, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more comprehensive movie reviews and entertainment news.

Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025): A Psychological Thriller With The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan