Get ready, fans of Heated Rivalry, as we return to the cottage — but this time, it’s at a cinema.
Cineplex has announced that it will showcase all six episodes of the popular queer romance film across Canada in early November. This initiative is part of a larger agreement that will also feature Heated Rivalry in theatres in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Canadian viewers can enjoy the entire first season during marathon showings on November 8 and 17, or catch two episodes back-to-back on November 6, 10, and 11. Following its initial announcement the previous day, Cineplex expanded the number of locations and screenings on Friday. For more information, visit their website.
Participating cinemas will allow fans to “reheat” the Canadian-produced Crave/HBO series — a playful term for rewatching an episode or an entire season.
In the U.S., showings of all six episodes are set to take place in over 650 theatres starting November 6.
Adapted from Rachel Reid’s novel, Heated Rivalry centers around rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), whose fierce competition on the ice coincides with a secret relationship.
Mixed reactions
Fans expressed both enthusiasm and skepticism about the upcoming screenings on social media.
One user on X described it as “a dream come true,” questioning why fans aren’t given “more chances to enjoy their favorite streaming series on the large cinema screen.”
Another person stated they are “taking the afternoon off for the cottage episodes. Big screen Hollanov” — the affectionate term for the two characters — “is going to totally affect me in the best way.”
X user @solaledz is thrilled about Heated Rivalry’s theatrical release. (solaledz/X)
Conversely, some fans voiced their concerns regarding ticket prices. “Paying for a movie ticket to view two TV episodes is quite a steep request,” remarked one user on X.
Another user grumbled that reselling a TV show as a movie ticket felt like: “Better upsell than anything I’ve encountered at a dealership.”
X user @JustinW44998468 questions the pricing for a TV series. (JustinW44998468/X)
These screenings also serve as a refresher before the second season, which is expected to arrive in spring 2027, although a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.
Series creator Jacob Tierney recently released I’ll Believe in Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry, a behind-the-scenes book that features annotated scripts and insights into the show’s production.