Jenna Ortega and Abel Tesfaye, aka “The Weeknd,” are in a film called Hurry Up Tomorrow, and the reaction is a bit surprising.
Dominik Bindl/GA / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images
So, the film is technically a companion to The Weeknd’s sixth studio album, which has the same name.
Kevin Mazur / Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation
In the movie, he plays a fictional version of himself who gets caught up with this mysterious woman named Anima (Jenna).
Lionsgate / courtesy Everett Collection
The movie also stars Barry Keoghan as his manager and friend, Lee.
Andrew Cooper / © Lionsgate /Courtesy Everett Collection
When a scene featuring Abel and Jenna went viral, people really had a lot to say about it.
Andrew Cooper / © Lionsgate /Courtesy Everett Collection
Perhaps Abel’s last adventure into dramatic acting with The Idol rubbed people the wrong way, because all it took was for one scene to go viral on the internet, and now everybody’s dragging the movie.
HBO
As of writing this, Hurry Up Tomorrow had a shocking 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rotten Tomatoes
Jordan Hoffman of Entertainment Weekly said, “The nearly plot-free movie is self-indulgent, overly serious, and, worst of all, just plain dull.”
Maria Sherman of the Associated Press said the movie was “An exciting vanity project with surrealist imagiation but stiff writing, no stakes, limited emotional weight and an unclear narrative.”
While the Audience Score for Rotten Tomatoes wasn’t too bad, based on the internet reactions, people seem to be mostly siding with the critics.
One person said, “Hurry Up Tomorrow one of those ones where my interest increases the worse the reviews get.”
Another person said they’re also “getting excited” to watch the movie now that people call it “one of the worst movies of the decade.”
Cash Money Records Inc., @snockhit / Twitter: @snockhit
Someone else said the film is “Soulless, exhausting, forced. Essentially a feature length commercial for the album. All style, no substance. Not even Jenna Ortega dancing to Blinding Lights could save this self-insistent slop.”
Lionsgate / Twitter: @sillierdeadite
This user said there’s “not a single postiive hurry up tomorrow review on my tl,” and they’re not lying. It’s rough out there.
Zeus, @sspiriorum / Twitter: @sspiriorum
Apparently, people should be “surprised” according to this X user.
CTV, @cadavur / Twitter: @cadavur
Somebody called the movie “pure boofery,” for one, I wish I hadn’t looked up the origin of that word.
@ShakExcellence / Twitter: @ShakExcellence
“One of the worst vanity projects I have ever seen. Could not believe my eyes at the ridiculous shit in this movie,” somoene wrote.
But according to this person, the third act is basically “a full on ad for The Weeknd’s music,” so that sounds like a win because his music is undeniably good.
This person did come to the defense of the movie, writing, “We need to get rid of movie critics because it ruins the vision of the movie. Movies are made because its a form of art not because its getting graded. If The Room got 24% on rotten tomatoes the Hurry Up Tomorrow minimum should get that.”
Another person said, “I love HURRY UP TOMORROW for all the wrong reason. A beautifully crafted experimental art piece with gorgeous cinematography, a half-baked plot, and an atrocious lead performance, #HurryUpTomorrow is so film school coded that it almost made me feel nostalgic.”
Another fan wrote, “What a beautiful experience this movie was!! Loved the raw and natural emotions displayed by the cast. The concept was very smart, loved the visuals & Jenna was brilliant! Phenomenal movie by Abel for his fans, this is a must watch especially if you’re a fan.”
So, perhaps to fully appreciate the movie, you have to be a fan of The Weeknd and understand the lore of his music? If not, you’re in for a bumpy ride.
Lionsgate / courtesy Everett Collection