$1.4 Million: How a Streaming Rerun Filled 945 Theaters

A limited theatrical rerelease of the streaming series "Heated Rivalry" has grossed $1.4 million from 945 theaters since its opening on November 6, according to distributor Regal Entertainment. The run is scheduled to continue through November 30.

The release offers audiences three paired screenings of episodes from the series. The first pairing includes episodes 1 and 2, titled "Rookies" and "Olympians." The second features episodes 3 and 4, "Hunter" and "Rose." The third shows episodes 5 and 6, "I'll Believe in Anything" and "The Cottage." Tickets for each showtime are priced at $9.99. This cost is lower than the $12.87 average for standard screenings tracked by research firm EntTelligence.

The series stars Hudson Williams as hockey player Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov. The show, based on Rachel Reid's "Game Changers" book series, was produced in Canada and released in the United States on HBO Max in November 2025. It gained widespread attention in early 2026, when episodes reached an average viewership of more than 10 million.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak, noted that this trend allows fans to gather and keeps series top of mind between seasons. He stated that while the concept was initially expected to be limited to faith-based audiences, the potential extends to any series with a passionate fan base.

"Of course, not every television series is going to translate into a successful big-screen event, but for the right show with the right audience, movie theaters could become an exciting extension of the television experience rather than simply an alternative to it," Dergarabedian said.

Brooks LeBoeuf, senior VP of U.S. content at Regal, said the company looks for ways to bring connecting series to the big screen. "It's a chance to celebrate the story, its creators and its performances before Season 2 arrives in 2027," LeBoeuf said.

Cinema operators are experiencing their biggest box office year since the pandemic began. Gen Z has been a primary driver of this resurgence. While Netflix did not report exact grosses for the "Stranger Things" finale, estimates suggested it earned between $25 million and $28 million around New Year's Eve. That event featured new episodes, unlike the rerun strategy used for "Heated Rivalry."