Regal Cinemas announced on Tuesday that it will screen 4DX versions of episodes 5 and 6 of the gay hockey series Heated Rivalry on November 16 for one night only, across 59 U.S. theaters and additional locations in Canada and the United Kingdom. The event follows a temporary collapse of the fan‑fiction site A03 and is aimed at the series’ highly engaged millennial female fanbase. As of November 8, Regal has already earned $1.4 million from the limited theatrical release, according to Variety.
The move demonstrates that immersive formats like 4DX can monetize streaming‑only properties by turning episodic content into event cinema, opening a new revenue stream for studios and exhibitors. It also signals that niche fan communities are willing to pay premium prices for communal, sensory experiences, prompting the industry to rethink distribution windows.