You’ve probably seen the grainy TikTok edits or the cryptic Instagram stills. The red lighting. The intense stares. The palpable sense of dread. For over a year, everyone was asking the same thing: what is this Jenna Ortega and The Weeknd movie and why does it look like a fever dream?
Honestly, the rollout was weird. It wasn't your typical Hollywood promo cycle. Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye has always been a bit of a maximalist when it comes to his "eras," but Hurry Up Tomorrow took things to a level that left half the internet confused and the other half obsessed.
Basically, the film—directed by Trey Edward Shults—is a psychological thriller that acts as a visual "companion piece" to Abel's 2025 album of the same name. It’s the final chapter of a trilogy that started with After Hours and Dawn FM. If you thought the "The Idol" was a lot to process, this movie was designed to be even more introspective, or as some critics put it, an absolute ego trip.
The Plot: A Musician, a Fan, and a Mental Breakdown
So, what actually happens? The story follows a fictionalized version of Abel (played by himself, obviously) who is a global pop star suffering from debilitating insomnia and depression. He’s essentially haunted by his own persona. Enter Jenna Ortega as "Anima" and Barry Keoghan as "Lee."
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In the world of the film, Anima isn't just a random girl. She’s a fan, but she’s also a mirror. There’s a scene—the one everyone talks about—where Jenna Ortega literally ties him to a bed and starts dissecting his own lyrics to his face. She’s asking him, "What does this mean? Why did you write this?" It’s meta. It’s uncomfortable. It’s very Jenna Ortega.
The dynamic is strange because it blurs the line between a kidnapping and a therapy session. While Barry Keoghan plays the manager trying to keep the wheels from falling off, Ortega is the one forcing Abel to face the "demons" of his celebrity status.
Why the Movie Divided Fans
When Hurry Up Tomorrow hit theaters on May 16, 2025, the reaction was... let's say "mixed." It grossed about $7.8 million against a $15 million budget. By Hollywood standards, that’s a flop. But on Letterboxd and Reddit, it became a cult phenomenon almost instantly.
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- The Ego Factor: Many viewers felt the movie was too self-indulgent. It’s a 105-minute film about a pop star feeling sad about being a pop star.
- The Performance: People were genuinely surprised by Abel’s acting. After the backlash to The Idol, expectations were in the basement. But under Trey Edward Shults’ direction (the guy who made Waves and It Comes At Night), he actually held his own.
- The "Ortega Effect": Jenna Ortega is basically the queen of dark, moody roles right now. She brought a level of intensity to Anima that saved the movie from being just a long music video.
Behind the Scenes: Unrehearsed Chaos
One of the coolest details about the production is how much of it was improvised. In an interview with Variety, Abel mentioned a specific scene where he and Trey Shults looked at the script and thought, "This is ridiculous, how do we film this?"
Ortega apparently just told them, "I have an idea," and led the entire sequence without a rehearsal. Most of the reactions you see from Abel in that scene aren't acting—he was genuinely reacting to whatever Ortega was throwing at him. That’s the kind of chemistry you can’t really fake with a green screen and a traditional script.
The movie was produced by Manic Phase and distributed by Lionsgate, but it feels much more like an indie art-house project than a major studio release. It’s shot with a lot of rotating camera work and heavy, saturated colors. It feels claustrophobic.
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Where Can You Watch It Now?
If you missed the theatrical run (which most people did), you're not out of luck. The movie dropped on digital platforms like Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube in June 2025. There's also a "Complete Edition" circulating that includes the full motion picture score by Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) and Abel himself.
Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. Is it a fascinating look at the mental toll of fame starring two of the biggest names in the world? Absolutely.
What to do next:
If you’re planning on watching it, listen to the Hurry Up Tomorrow album first. The lyrics provide the subtext for almost every "interrogation" scene Jenna Ortega has with Abel. Without the music, the plot feels a bit thin; with it, the movie becomes a 100-minute deep dive into the end of "The Weeknd" as a persona. Check your favorite streaming service to see if it's currently included in a subscription or available for rent.