So, here we are. It is 2026, and if you have been anywhere near a screen or a pair of headphones over the last year, you know the name Hurry Up Tomorrow. It wasn't just an album. It was a movie. A psychological thriller, a "vanity project," a nightmare—depending on who you ask.
The hype was unreal. Imagine the biggest pop star on the planet, Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, teaming up with the internet’s favorite dark darling, Jenna Ortega, and the chaotic energy of Barry Keoghan. It sounded like a fever dream. Then the movie actually dropped on May 16, 2025, and well... things got weird. People are still arguing about whether it was a misunderstood masterpiece or just a 105-minute therapy session that we all had to pay for.
Why the Weeknd movie with Jenna Ortega feels so personal
To understand Hurry Up Tomorrow, you have to look at where Abel was mentally. Back in 2022, he lost his voice during a massive show at SoFi Stadium. He panicked. He thought his career was over. That moment is basically the DNA of this film.
The plot is... loose. Abel plays a fictionalized version of himself. He's a musician who can't sleep, can't think, and is basically spiraling. Enter Jenna Ortega as a character named Anima. In some scenes, she feels like a manic pixie dream girl; in others, she's a straight-up antagonist. She meets Abel after he walks off stage in LA, and they go on this surreal "odyssey."
Honestly, it feels less like a traditional movie and more like a long-form music video that took itself way too seriously. Director Trey Edward Shults, known for Waves and It Comes at Night, brought his signature high-tension, color-drenched style. The Santa Monica Pier looks beautiful, sure. But the story? That's where things get shaky.
The Jenna Ortega factor: more than just a fan
A lot of people expected Jenna Ortega to just be a "crazed fan" like in Misery. And yeah, by the end of the movie, she does go full-blown "kidnapper," tying Abel to a bed in a Christ pose. It’s pretty intense. But Jenna herself has said that Anima represents a side of Abel that "the persona The Weeknd doesn't show."
She’s basically his shadow.
Working on this movie was apparently a trip for her. She told PEOPLE at the New York premiere that she felt "very lost" when they started filming. She had just been catapulted into massive fame after Wednesday, and she related to the pressure Abel was feeling. You can see that exhaustion in her eyes on screen. It’s not just acting; it’s a vibe.
Barry Keoghan as the industry devil
Then you've got Barry Keoghan. He plays Lee, Abel's manager. If Anima is the soul, Lee is the business. He’s the guy goading Abel with substances and telling him he’s a "superhero" who doesn't need sleep. Keoghan is great at being unsettling, and he brings that Saltburn grit to the role.
But even with all that talent, the movie bombed. It grossed about $7.8 million against a $15 million budget. Critics were brutal. Entertainment Weekly called it "astonishingly boring" and "atrocious." Even the Hawaii Film Critics Society just named it the "Worst Film of 2025."
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What most people get wrong about the ending
The ending is a mess of symbolism. After the kidnapping and the "silly dance" Jenna does (which became a massive TikTok meme, by the way), there isn't a clean resolution. Abel realizes he has to go back to his life. He has to go to Australia to perform. He has to keep being "The Weeknd."
Many fans think the movie is his way of "killing" the stage name. He’s been saying for years that this is his last hurrah as The Weeknd. If the film is an "existential odyssey," then the ending is basically him accepting that the gilded cage is his home.
Key facts you should actually know
If you're trying to keep the timeline straight, here is the breakdown of what actually happened with the project:
- Release Date: May 16, 2025, distributed by Lionsgate.
- The Music: The film is a companion to the Hurry Up Tomorrow album. The score was co-composed by Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never).
- The Budget: $15 million—surprisingly low for a movie with stars this big, but it was shot quickly and mostly in one or two locations like the Honda Center and a hotel.
- The Reviews: Mostly negative (it has a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes), though the cinematography by Chayse Irvin was widely praised.
The movie is currently available on Premium Video on Demand if you want to see what all the fuss is about. It's a "vibes" movie. If you want a tight plot, you're going to be annoyed. If you want to see Jenna Ortega play a version of a pop star's inner turmoil while Barry Keoghan acts like a demonic manager, you’ll probably find something to like.
Actionable insights for fans
If you're still obsessed with the Weeknd movie with Jenna Ortega, here is how to get the "full" experience:
- Listen to the album first. The movie makes zero sense without the context of the lyrics to songs like "Wake Me Up" or "Regular."
- Watch Trey Edward Shults’ other work. Check out Waves. You’ll see where the visual style of Hurry Up Tomorrow came from and why the camera moves the way it does.
- Look for the physical score. Abel released the soundtrack on LP and CD only—no digital release for the specific film score tracks initially.
- Check out the TikTok memes. Honestly, the "Anima Dance" parody videos are more entertaining than the actual 10-minute scene in the movie.
At the end of the day, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a fascinating artifact of celebrity ego. It’s rare to see a star this big be this vulnerable—and this willing to look "irritating" on camera. Whether it’s a career-ending "bomb" or a cult classic in the making, it’s definitely not a movie you’ll forget anytime soon.