When HBO Max debuted its new show, “Heated Rivalry,” in November of 2025, it had a modest opening of around 30 million minutes streamed. Over the following three weeks, viewership surged by over 700 percent, and quickly became the year’s biggest TV surprise. Based off of a book series by Rachel Reid, the drama-filled six-part series captivated readers and new fans alike. “Heated Rivalry” is a perfect example of a rising phenomenon over the last 15 years, as fanfiction and Wattpad-originated stories are now commonly crossing over into popular published books, movies, and television shows.
Many actors have even noted this change, as the decrease of original films has only been encouraged by public demand for their favorite comfort reads to be seen on screen. Fanfiction, something that has been written and read since the 1960’s, grew in popularity in the 1990’s with the introduction of the internet, to the point of the creation of dedicated user written sites like Wattpad and AO3. While not exclusively used for fanfiction, the most popular stories on said websites often are.
The first mainstream fanfiction novel turned movie was the incredibly popular “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Surprisingly, the extremely explicit original story was actually a “Twilight” inspired fanfiction. After author E.L. James self-published the book online, it went on to be the fastest selling paperback book in the United Kingdom of all time.
Since then, the likelihood that a new arriving romance movie on any streaming service comes from an online or fanfiction source has only increased. This includes titles like Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth” and “Red, White, and Royal Blue.” Production companies quickly noted the opportunity of producing media that was sure to make money and guaranteed viewership; despite the concerns about quality and tropes.
“Being able to express creativity and take that online and give the public what they want isn’t a bad thing,” Berkeley High School junior Sofia Dodge said, “A huge fandom of people who loved the original work want to see it.” While these types of stories vary in plot and themes, they all have one thing in common. They are an example of readers and viewers alike wanting idealized stories. Fanfiction typically favors emotional intimacy, dramatic relationships, and often an unrealistic standard of love. When adapted into films, the stories bring comfort and excitement to viewers, essentially becoming visually immersive fantasies. With the increase of requests for movie adaptations of books, it’s clear why stories like these often peak public interest as an escape from the perhaps more “boring” world that we live in.
But that is not the only purpose these stories hold. Fanfiction is a way to push back against the vastly secular nature of mainstream books followed by visual media for decades. In a world where LGBTQIA+ romance stories are often cast aside, it is crucial to have a place in literature where writers can write freely and get attention for their work. “I’m glad we have another piece of gay media,” said BHS junior Lilah Montoya. Production companies and adaptors are now noting the interest for these types of plotlines, showing an overarching cultural shift in what stories are deemed marketable.
As Hollywood continues to turn to fanfiction and online writing sites for new movies and TV shows, the line between content for fans and visual media is continuously being blurred. While it may not be for everyone, fanfiction is a source of comfort for many, and will continue to serve as an outlet for diverse artistic expression.