> At a Glance
> – Heated Rivalry debuted on Crave and HBO Max November 28
> – Fan edits have racked up millions of views across social media
> – LGBTQ+ community feels seen by the sex-forward love story
> Why it matters: TikTok fan compilations are shaping what studios market and what viewers watch
TikTok users turned a Canadian hockey romance into a viral hit. The gay love story Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as rival players who fall for each other. Fan edits have millions of views since the show premiered.
How Fan Edits Drive Viewership
Fan edits are social media user-made compilations of clips from a show or movie, often set to music. They have become an indicator of what has broken through to the mainstream. Studios like Lionsgate have hired TikTok fan editors to help market movies.
Amber Appelman, 24, makes viral edit videos from her home in the Netherlands. She said the cracks that start to form in the characters’ feelings towards one another through the years is what really sold her.
Studios Leverage Fan Edits
Lionsgate revealed last year that it enlisted TikTok fan editors to help market movies. The strategy has paid off. Studios see what resonates online authentically and how they can leverage fandom further.
Felipe Mendez hired a team of 18- to 27-year-old editors from around the globe. He said fan edits are here to stay.
Community Impact
Melissa, 19, uses CapCut to make edits about the show. The queer woman was raised in a small, conservative town. She said to see a gay, sex-forward show gain such a following has felt pretty important.
Madeline Cavna, 26, said the overwhelming positive attention surrounding her edits shows the show was made with care for its audience. In a time of political and cultural shift towards hate, division and homophobia, this unifying cultural moment about a fictional gay love story feels healing.
Key Takeaways
- Heated Rivalry renewed for second season on HBO Max
- Williams and Storrie become Hollywood favorite duo
- TikTok fan edits influence what content viewers consume
- LGBTQ+ community feels represented by viral gay romance
