What Heated Rivalry has really unlocked is our collective hunger for queer stories that refuse to play it safe. Ones where attraction is inconvenient, emotions are messy, and intimacy is earned through conflict, proximity, and far too many charged silences. And if that’s the high you’re craving between episodes, consider this your perfectly unhinged watchlist—steamy, emotionally devastating, and impossible to stop thinking about.
10 queer shows and movies that bring the same messy, steamy heat as 'Heated Rivalry'
From rivals-to-lovers tension to slow-burn obsession, these queer romances hit the same deliciously unhinged nerve.
If you’re currently watching Heated Rivalry in real time and already bracing yourself for the emotional freefall once the finale finally drops, welcome—you’re very much among your people. One of the most talked about shows right now, Heated Rivalry has completely rewired expectations with its feral chemistry, competitive tension, and desire so tightly wound it feels like it might snap at any second. This is the kind of romance that makes soft launches feel boring, and low-stakes love stories feel well... undercooked. Suddenly, everyone wants longing, friction, and a romance that feels like a dare.
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
This internet-breaking romcom stars Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex, the First Son of the United States, and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry of England. What begins as a PR-mandated truce between rivals slowly turns into secret hookups, emotional vulnerability, and full-blown romance. It’s glossy, romantic, and powered by copious amounts of enemies-to-lovers tension that fans of Heated Rivalry will instantly recognise.
Young Royals (2021–2024)
Edvin Ryding plays Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, who unexpectedly falls for Omar Rudberg’s Simon at an elite boarding school. What starts as tender teenage love quickly becomes complicated by power, privilege, and public scrutiny. The show balances softness with aching longing, making every look and touch feel loaded with meaning.
In From the Side (2022)
Set in London’s competitive gay rugby scene, this film stars Alexander Lincoln and Alexander King as two players on rival teams who get into a secret relationship. The stakes are high as careers, masculinity, and team loyalty all collide, making the romance feel urgent and risky. It’s sweaty, intense, and deeply rooted in that sports-rivalry energy.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer star in this sun-drenched Italian romance about first love and heartbreak. The film thrives on anticipation, glances, pauses, and conversations that say more than touch ever could. It’s sensual, emotional, and devastating in a way that feels almost too real.
The Duke of Burgundy (2014)
Starring Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D’Anna, this erotic psychological drama explores a consensual BDSM relationship between two women. It’s lush, strange, and deeply intimate, unpacking power, devotion, and emotional dependency. It's less traditional romance, and more of a forbidden, obsessive love, which will keep you hooked till the very end.
God’s Own Country (2017)
Josh O’Connor plays a withdrawn Yorkshire farmer whose life changes after meeting Alec Secăreanu’s Romanian migrant worker. Their relationship begins as purely physical but slowly softens into something tender and life-altering. The sex is grounded, the emotions are earned, and the longing just palpable!
Olympo (2023)
Set in the high-pressure world of elite sports, Olympo centres on young athletes whose ambition, attraction, and rivalry blur dangerously. The series explores queerness, competition, and desire in a space where emotions are constantly pushed to the edge. Expect intensity, close proximity, and relationships that thrive on tension.
Disobedience (2017)
Set within an Orthodox Jewish community, this film stars Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams as two women drawn back to a love they were forced to abandon. Their reunion is charged with desire, guilt, and unresolved emotion. It’s intimate, restrained, and powerful, proving how intense longing can be.
The Thing About Harry (2020)
This romcom features Jake Borelli and Niko Terho as former high school enemies who reconnect years later on a road trip. What starts with snarky banter slowly transforms into vulnerability and affection. It’s lighter than Heated Rivalry, but the rivals-to-lovers arc, with a generous dose of love-making, makes it an easy, comforting watch.
Egoist (2022)
This Japanese film stars Ryohei Suzuki and Hio Miyazawa in a quietly devastating story about love, loneliness, and self-discovery. Their relationship unfolds with restraint and emotional depth, focusing on intimacy that feels deeply personal rather than performative. It’s sensual in a subtle, lingering way that stays with you long after the credits roll.
If Heated Rivalry reminded you that love stories should feel a little dangerous, a little obsessive, and impossible to forget, this list will keep you happily spiralling for a while.
Lead image: IMDb
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