(L to R) Barry Keoghan as Lee and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye as Abel in ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’. Photo Credit: Andrew Cooper.
There is a long tradition of famous musicians playing fictional versions of themselves in movies.
Sometimes its just a cameo like David Bowie in ‘Zoolander’ or Bruce Springsteen in ‘High Fidelity’, and sometimes it is an entire film where the musician is playing themself like Robbie Williams in ‘Better Man’, the Spice Girls in ‘Spice World’ or the Foo Fighters in ‘Studio 666’.
The lasted example of this is the upcoming film ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow,’ which is scheduled for release on May 16th and is based on the album of the same name by Abel “The Weeknd’ Tesfaye, who plays a version of himself in the movie.
“Reality lies deeper than you think.”
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A musician plagued by insomnia is pulled into an odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel the very core of his existence. Read the Plot
In honor of The Weeknd’s new film, which was directed by Trey Edward Shults and also stars Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of all time featuring musicians playing fictional versions of themselves.
Note: For this list we are only including feature films and not documentaries. We are also only including movies where musicians play fictional versions of themselves and not new characters.
Let’s begin!
Dave Grohl in ‘Studio 666,’ an Open Road Films release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Andrew Stuart/Open Road Films.
Legendary rock band Foo Fighters (who play themselves) move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album. Once in the house, Dave Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the lives of the band.
All the couples are back for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some compromising situations that threaten to derail the big event. Drake appears as himself in the movie.
In 1978, a Kiss concert was an epoch-making event. For the four teen fans in Detroit Rock City getting tickets to the sold-out show becomes the focal point of their existence. They’ll do anything for tickets — compete in a strip club’s amateur-night contest, take on religious protesters, even rob a convenience store! The four original members of Kiss (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss) all play themselves in the film.
A crew of savvy former strip club employees band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. Usher appears as himself in the film.
The story of the rise and fall of the Pre-Fab Four. Mick Jagger appears as himself in the film.
“A living legend that will live long after other living legends have died.”
68
1 hr 16 minJan 1st, 1983
The story of the rise and fall of the Pre-Fab Four. Read the Plot
Backstreet Boys in ‘This Is the End’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
While attending a party at James Franco’s house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse. Members of the Backstreet Boys appear as themselves in the movie.
“Nothing ruins a party like the end of the world.”
62
1 hr 46 minJun 12th, 2013
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World famous pop group the Spice Girls (Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Emma Burton, Melanie C, and Geri Halliwell) zip around London in their luxurious double decker tour bus having various adventures and performing for their fans.
“You say you want a revolution?”
49
1 hr 33 minJan 22nd, 1998
World famous pop group the Spice Girls zip around London in their luxurious double decker tour bus having various adventures and performing for their fans. Read the Plot
In New York City for their annual tradition of Christmas Eve debauchery, three lifelong best friends (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie) set out to find the Holy Grail of Christmas parties since their yearly reunion might be coming to an end. Miley Cyrus appears as herself in the movie.
“Their past, present and future. All in one night.”
61
1 hr 41 minNov 20th, 2015
After the lord of darkness decides he will not cede his throne to any of his three sons, the two most powerful of them escape to Earth to create a kingdom for themselves. This action closes the portal filtering sinful souls to Hell and causes Satan to wither away. He must send his most weak but beloved son, Little Nicky (Adam Sandler), to Earth to return his brothers to Hell. Ozzy Osbourne appears as himself in the film.
“If your father was the Devil and your mother was an angel, you’d be messed up too.”
59
1 hr 30 minNov 10th, 2000
A struggling musician (Himesh Patel) realizes he’s the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate reality where the group was forgotten. Ed Sheeran appears as himself in the film.
“Everyone in the world has forgotten The Beatles. Everyone except Jack…”
67
1 hr 56 minJun 28th, 2019
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(L to R) Annette Bening and Tom Jones in ‘Mars Attacks!’ Photo: Warner Bros.
A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world’s major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, “come in peace.” U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians’ mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation. Tom Jones appears as himself in the film.
Three friends (Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn) attempt to recapture their glory days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater. Snoop Dogg appears as himself in the film.
“All the fun of college. None of the education.”
66
1 hr 32 minFeb 21st, 2003
A husband-and-wife team play detective (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin), but not in the traditional sense. Instead, the happy duo helps others solve their existential issues, the kind that keep you up at night, wondering what it all means. Shania Twain appears as herself in the film.
“An existential comedy”
63
1 hr 46 minOct 22nd, 2004
After his long-time girlfriend dumps him, a thirty-year-old record store owner (John Cusack) seeks to understand why he is unlucky in love while recounting his “top five breakups of all time”. Bruce Springsteen appears as himself in the film.
“A comedy about fear of commitment, hating your job, falling in love and other pop favorites.”
71
1 hr 53 minMar 17th, 2000
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A group of young adults in their twenties, who share an apartment in the city of Seattle, ponder on love and face all the challenges of adulthood. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell appear in the film.
“Love is a game. Easy to start. Hard to finish.”
64
1 hr 39 minSep 18th, 1992
Robbie Williams in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.
Follow Robbie Williams’ journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
The adventures of two amiably aimless metal-head friends, Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey). From Wayne’s basement, the pair broadcast a talk-show called “Wayne’s World” on local public access television. The show comes to the attention of a sleazy network executive (Rob Lowe) who wants to produce a big-budget version of “Wayne’s World”—and he also wants Wayne’s girlfriend, a rock singer named Cassandra (Tia Carrere). Wayne and Garth have to battle the executive not only to save their show, but also Cassandra. Alice Cooper appears as himself in the film.
Robbie (Adam Sandler), a local rock star turned wedding singer, is dumped on the day of his wedding. Meanwhile, waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore) finally sets a wedding date with her fiancée Glenn (Matthew Glave). When Julia and Robbie meet and hit it off, they find that things are more complicated than anybody thought. Billy Idol appears as himself in the film.
“He’s gonna party like it’s 1985!”
68
1 hr 37 minFeb 13th, 1998
Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) and Jay (Will Smith) reunite to provide our best, last and only line of defense against a sinister seductress who levels the toughest challenge yet to the MIB’s untarnished mission statement – protecting Earth from the scum of the universe. It’s been four years since the alien-seeking agents averted an intergalactic disaster of epic proportions. Now it’s a race against the clock as Jay must convince Kay – who not only has absolutely no memory of his time spent with the MIB, but is also the only living person left with the expertise to save the galaxy – to reunite with the MIB before the earth submits to ultimate destruction. Michael Jackson appears as himself in the film.
“Same planet. New scum.”
64
1 hr 28 minJul 3rd, 2002
(L to R) Ben Stiller, David Bowie, and Owen Wilson in ‘Zoolander’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Clear the runway for Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), VH1’s three-time male model of the year. His face falls when hippie-chic Hansel (Owen Wilson) scooters in to steal this year’s award. The evil fashion guru Mugatu (Will Ferrell) seizes the opportunity to turn Derek into a killing machine. It’s a well-designed conspiracy and only with the help of Hansel and a few well-chosen accessories like Matilda (Christine Taylor) can Derek make the world safe for male models everywhere. David Bowie appears as himself in the film.
‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ fan event screenings to take place on May 14th.
Tickets for the ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ fan event screenings are on sale now. You can purchase them here.
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