8.1
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Heated Rivalry (2025)
Heated Rivalry (2025)
Overview
Two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey are bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings for each other. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, they must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO MaxRating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Viewer Rating
8.1
Overview
Two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey are bound by ambition, rivalry, and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands. What begins as a secret fling between two fresh faced rookies evolves into a years-long journey of love, denial, and self-discovery. Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings for each other. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, they must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO MaxDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The film's central thesis explicitly promotes progressive ideology by focusing on a secret gay romance, advocating for LGBTQ+ acceptance and visibility, and challenging societal and legal barriers to same-sex relationships.
The series features a central gay romance between two male professional hockey players, exploring their secret relationship and the societal pressures they face. This narrative focus on LGBTQ+ themes makes diversity and inclusion a core aspect of the story.
Secondary
Heated Rivalry offers a deeply affirming portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters through its central gay romance between two hockey stars, Shane and Ilya. The film depicts their complex relationship with dignity and passion, culminating in plans for public acknowledgment and a suicide prevention charity. A supporting character's public coming out further reinforces a positive message of queer visibility and acceptance.
The available information for 'Heated Rivalry' focuses on a romance between male hockey rivals and related plot elements, such as secret relationships and public coming out as gay. There are no identifiable transsexual characters or themes of gender transformation present in the film's description or community discussions.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The film adapts a novel featuring male protagonists and supporting characters. All on-screen portrayals align with the established genders from the source material, indicating no gender swaps.
The provided information does not specify the race of the characters in the source novel, nor does it describe the race or phenotypical traits of the actors. Without this crucial information, it is not possible to determine if a race swap has occurred.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
8.9
8.8
Critic Ratings
N/A
6.7
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