“Hurry Up Tomorrow” is The Weeknd’s egomaniacal cinematic disaster

OPINION
The latest movie starring the music icon is an in-depth exploration of his fame that might not captivate you

Published May 19, 2025 11:30AM (EDT)

Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, is a figure that divides opinions, with some viewing him as a poetic musical mastermind and others as a reckless womanizer. Tesfaye has deliberately blurred the lines between his public persona and personal identity over the past decade. Once a smooth R&B vocalist with a gentle voice, his rise in popularity led to his music evolving into something more extravagant and grandiose. The essence of his emotions became obscured by various music genres, eventually transforming him from a musician into a global pop sensation. The distinction between Tesfaye and The Weeknd became increasingly blurred for his fans.

In his new film, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” Tesfaye appears to be grappling with this internal conflict of identity, much like his devoted followers. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, the movie presents a fictionalized narrative of The Weeknd battling insomnia during a world tour, which causes him to lose touch with reality. Along his journey, a young girl named Anima (portrayed by Jenna Ortega) is drawn into Tesfaye’s world, her obsessive admiration challenging the singer’s detached demeanor.

While the film features visually stunning sequences, it may not offer much insight to viewers who are not diehard fans of The Weeknd. Even those who appreciate Tesfaye’s music might not glean anything more from the movie than they would from listening to his albums. Despite the star-studded cast, including Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan as Tesfaye’s manager Lee, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” struggles to fulfill its ambition of being a comprehensive exploration of pop stardom. The film veers into self-mythologizing territory and lacks the depth necessary for a truly engaging cinematic experience.

Although The Weeknd’s extensive discography could provide rich material for a film adaptation, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” falls short of delivering a meaningful narrative. Clocking in at 106 minutes, the movie fails to provide adequate context for the plethora of imagery presented on screen. The film’s attempt to maintain a sense of aloofness from the audience, mirroring The Weeknd’s persona in his music, ultimately hampers its ability to connect on a deeper level.

The film’s focus on Tesfaye’s alter ego, The Weeknd, and his internal struggles appears self-indulgent, lacking broader perspectives on fame and identity. Without a more insightful exploration of Tesfaye’s motivations behind creating The Weeknd persona, the film feels hollow and lacking in substance. While “Hurry Up Tomorrow” offers some visually striking moments, it ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive narrative that resonates beyond surface-level theatrics.

In a cinematic landscape where critical examinations of pop stardom are rare, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” misses the mark by prioritizing style over substance. The film’s ambiguous conclusion, signaling a potential end to The Weeknd’s career, feels contrived and fails to provide the closure that the narrative demands. If this is indeed The Weeknd’s swan song, it may leave audiences feeling underwhelmed and questioning the sincerity of its message.

By Coleman Waste

Coleman Waste is a senior culture writer and critic at Salon, specializing in film, television, and music. His work has been featured in various publications, including The Daily Beast and Vulture. Follow his insights in his newsletter Top Shelf, Low Brow.

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