Hurry Up Tomorrow, the new film starring Abel Tesfaye (aka The Weeknd), is officially out and... it’s not going well. Despite a huge marketing push and a lot of hype, the buzz in Metro Vancouver isn’t excitement…it’s crickets. Theatres are practically empty, and the internet is roasting it hard.
Hurry Up Tomorrow, the new film starring Abel Tesfaye (aka The Weeknd), is officially out and... it’s not going well. Despite a huge marketing push and a lot of hype, the buzz in Metro Vancouver isn’t excitement… it’s crickets. Theatres are practically empty, and the internet is roasting it hard.
Directed by Trey Edward Shults, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a psychological thriller with Tesfaye playing a semi-fictional version of himself. The story dives into themes like identity, fame, and emotional burnout - plus a literal loss of voice. It’s meant to pair with his new album of the same name, and stars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan alongside him.
On paper, it sounds intriguing. In reality? Not so much.
The reviews have been brutal. Entertainment Weekly called the film “astonishingly boring,” slamming its lack of energy and coherence. The Daily Beast went even harder, dubbing it “the worst film of the year” and dragging it for being all style, no substance. Over on Rotten Tomatoes? A painful 0%. Yikes.
Fans aren’t loving it either. Social media is flooded with memes, clowning Tesfaye’s acting and questioning the film’s entire vibe. One Reddit comment summed it up perfectly: “Dude really needs to stick to music.”
As a fan of Abel's music, I went to see the film on the very first cheap Tuesday after release, expecting at least a decent crowd for someone as beloved as The Weeknd. But nope. I picked center seats at the New Westminster theatre and there wasn’t a soul in front of me or in the same row as me. Maybe seven people total were scattered behind. Honestly, it was eerie.
Turns out, this isn’t just a one-off. Reports from friends who went to other Metro Vancouver theatres had similar experiences with nearly empty screenings, even on traditionally busy days.
It’s got me wondering: does social media basically decide whether a movie lives or dies now? Is a crowd mentality taking over, leading people to blindly trust the opinions from strangers over going to see something for themselves and draw their own conclusions? Sadly in my case, the reviews were correct and I found the movie to be skippable, but hopefully it finds the right audience and SOME find enjoyment.
Overall, to me the movie was unnecessary and felt like an ego driven piece on his behalf. I give all the credit and flowers in the world to his astonishing musical talent and have been a fan of his since 2011, but the movie felt like it was for him and not for the fans - which is why I believe it is flopping. Even so, it's kind of wild to see such a massive artist struggle this hard to get fans into theatres.
At the end of the day, Hurry Up Tomorrow just hasn’t landed. Whether it’s the disjointed story, the flat performances, or the fact that audiences are picking up on the cringe via TikTok before they even get to the theatre - it’s just not connecting.
Have you seen it yet? Did you brave the theatre or decide to skip based on the online reviews? Let us know! Join the conversation on social media and let us know your experience @OutletVancouver.
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