Why did a $15 million psychological thriller starring The Weeknd fail so spectacularly?
In short: Abel Tesfaye’s 2025 film Hurry Up Tomorrow was intended as a companion to his latest album, yet it became a box office bomb. Critics panned the project as a navel-gazing vanity piece, leaving audiences cold and sparking a debate about the limits of pop star ambition on the big screen.
Hurry Up Tomorrow originated from a real-life crisis in September 2022, when Abel Tesfaye lost his voice during a concert at SoFi Stadium due to psychological stress. This incident, which also inspired the album track 'I Can't Fucking Sing,' served as the catalyst for a film that explores the dark side of fame. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, the psychological thriller features Tesfaye as a fictionalized version of himself, struggling with depression and insomnia before being abducted by a fan named Anima, played by Jenna Ortega.
The production was marked by internal friction and high stakes. It was one of the final films produced by Kevin Turen, who died in November 2023, and became the subject of a reported dispute between Turen and filmmaker Sam Levinson. Despite a $15 million budget financed by Live Nation Entertainment, the film struggled to find distributors until Lionsgate acquired the rights in late 2024. Principal photography, which utilized 35 mm, 16 mm, and Super 8 film, concluded in July 2023.
Upon its release on May 16, 2025, the film faced a 'complete rejection' from moviegoers, grossing only $7.8 million worldwide against its $15 million budget. Critics were largely unforgiving, with many dismissing the work as an egomaniacal ego stroke. While some reviewers praised the performances of Ortega and Barry Keoghan, others compared the film unfavorably to past musician-led vehicles. The film’s reception was so poor that it earned five nominations at the 46th Golden Raspberry Awards, cementing its status as a critical and commercial failure.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Hurry Up Tomorrow (film)
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