Online Memes erupt over The Weeknd’s acting in Hurry Up Tomorrow

It’s not easy being The Weeknd these days. After the critical chaos that followed The Idol, Abel Tesfaye’s pivot to the big screen in Hurry Up Tomorrow was supposed to be a reset. Instead, it's triggered déjà vu and the internet isn’t holding back. The movie may have aimed to be profound, but what it's really sparked is a wave of memes, roasts, and the occasional defense from die-hard fans.

The reactions have taken over X (formerly Twitter), where scenes from the movie are being clipped, captioned, and spun into viral gold. From confusion to cringe to reluctant appreciation, the internet seems to be processing this film in the only way it knows how with memes and some very blunt one-liners.

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The Weeknd’s Movie Role in Hurry Up Tomorrow Leaves Audiences Split

For the uninitiated, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a dystopian, artsy psychological film featuring The Weeknd in a lead role. The film tries to dive deep into identity, rebirth, and existentialism. It's dark, moody, and heavy on symbolism, with Jenna Ortega also starring, and yes, she's getting much of the praise.

While the concept might appeal to a niche audience, for many, it feels like a confusing fever dream beautiful to look at, but lacking coherence. Abel’s performance, which was meant to mark a serious turn in his acting career, has once again become the internet’s favourite punchline. Especially for those who still haven’t fully healed from The Idol.

One user shared this GIF:

One user summed up the collective mood with a perfectly timed caption:

"Just saw a scene of The Weeknd acting in Hurry Up Tomorrow if you laugh you go to hell."

Another post simply read: “Listin’ rn I’m runnin away”.

It’s a quick jab, but it hits hard. The idea that people are metaphorically sprinting away from the screen says a lot about how the performance landed.

Then there’s the The Idol PTSD flashbacks. One fan wrote:

"My first reaction to the teaser was: ‘I LOVE JENNA ORTEGA.’ But seeing The Weeknd acting in anything triggers my PTSD from The Idol.

That’s a sentiment that keeps popping up no matter the setting, fans can’t seem to unsee his last role.

One fan was out of words:

A more brutally honest take simply declared:

"The Weeknd really needs to stop trying to make acting and movies his thing."

No sugarcoating. Just a direct hit from someone who’s clearly had enough.

One meme pointed out the tonal confusion in the film:

“I was watching Hurry Up Tomorrow and then The Weeknd randomly did this and I got scared. Why his tongue do that?”

The scene in question apparently had him doing something… strange, and it’s since been turned into a clip that’s circling the platform like wildfire.

There were even memes mocking the film’s marketing:

“One ticket for Hurry Up Tomorrow please."

It’s the kind of humour that stings because, well, it might not be too far from reality.

Still, not all reactions were mean-spirited. Some users tried to defend the film’s message, saying it was a “metaphorical funeral for The Weeknd and the rebirth of Abel.” Deep, sure but in a space flooded with jokes and tongue-in-cheek commentary, the sincerity didn’t quite catch on.

There’s no doubt Hurry Up Tomorrow tried to be something different. And in a way, it succeeded because people are definitely talking about it. But whether that buzz is for the right reasons is another story entirely. The memes say more than any critic ever could, and right now, they’re not painting the kindest picture.

Still, The Weeknd is known for doing things his own way for better or worse. And if nothing else, he's given the internet another reason to fire up their meme machines. Maybe not the legacy he wanted, but it's a legacy nonetheless.