'Heated Rivalry' Finale Is Getting a Sensory Upgrade, and Fans Can Literally Feel the Heat

Few streaming hits have made the jump to the multiplex the way ‘Heated Rivalry‘ has. Almost a year after it debuted, the hockey romance is playing in cinemas across several countries, and its big-screen run has just picked up a fresh twist.

The Crave original, created by Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers book series, follows rival hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). By the time the season finale aired in late December, the show was averaging 10.6 million U.S. viewers per episode. The finale itself saw a 300% audience increase over the premiere.

Regal is now offering the final two episodes of season 1 in 4DX, a premium format with motion-enabled seating and synchronized atmospheric effects. The upgraded screenings cover episodes 5 and 6, titled “I’ll Believe in Anything” and “The Cottage,” which together run about 108 minutes. For a series built on slow-burn tension, a seat that moves with the story is a bold pitch.

Regal’s Brooks LeBoeuf, senior vice president of U.S. content, framed the move as a response to fan demand in a statement to Variety. He said the two episodes bring years of tension between Shane and Ilya to a boiling point, and that 4DX “takes it all to another level.” It is a fitting description for the stretch of the season that leads into the cottage finale.

The 4DX option sits on top of the standard theatrical event. All 6 episodes are playing in paired screenings from Nov. 6 to Nov. 30 at more than 650 theaters, with Regal leading the release alongside AMC, Cinemark and other exhibitors. Each pairing costs $9.99, and Regal screenings include welcome content from the cast and directors.

The rollout is unusual because the series never left streaming. Folks in the U.S. can still watch all 6 episodes on HBO, and theaters typically want exclusivity for this kind of event. Regal is partnering with the distributor Sphere Abacus and betting that fandom enthusiasm will bring people back anyway. The run also covers Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.

Reactions have been mixed but good-humored. The A.V. Club admitted to being surprised and read the run as a way to rebuild hype ahead of season 2. Fans online have joked that paired episodes amount to a binge-watch with assigned seating and overpriced snacks. Others have worried about theater etiquette at a screening of such a steamy show.

Regal is leaning into the party atmosphere. Participating locations are serving two themed cocktails, Summer in Montreal and Russians Don’t Blush, and collectible combos are available at select theaters. The final screenings fall on Nov. 30, about a year after the series first premiered on Nov. 28.

The theatrical push arrives while season 2 is in production in Toronto. A premiere is expected in spring, according to TheWrap, on Crave, HBO Max and other platforms. Storrie said in the renewal announcement that the new season will adapt ‘The Long Game’, the final book in Reid’s series.

For now, the 4DX screenings give fans a way to revisit the emotional high point of season 1 with extra theatrical flair. Whether motion seats and atmospheric effects suit a quiet, intimate finale is the open question. Judging by the enthusiasm around the event, plenty of viewers are ready to find out.

Watch Shane and Ilya’s love story unfold on the big screen. All episodes of #HeatedRivalry (🍅97%) are playing in select theaters this weekend. https://t.co/lncgQsJlrY
— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) November 7, 2026