The opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games are set to kick off in Milan this Friday, February 6, and I could not be more excited. From each country’s coordinated Olympic fashion to the historic moments that are just around the corner, each Olympic Games feels like a can’t-miss event. Before the games officially begin, get in the Olympic spirit with this wintry watchlist.
Heated Rivalry (2025 – )
Is it getting hot in here? Based on Rachel Reid’s book of the same name, Heated Rivalry has sparked an online frenzy since its American premiere at the end of 2025. The series follows Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) as they enter the professional hockey world and develop an intimate, secret relationship while publicly known as bitter career rivals.
Williams and Storrie were recently selected as torchbearers for the Olympic Games due to the show’s popularity. Episode 2, “Olympians,” centers on Shane and Ilya’s first Olympic Games in Russia in 2014. It balances the character’s relationship breakdown with Ilya’s tense family dynamics and the anxiety of being a closeted gay man in Russia.
Heated Rivalry’s first season is a perfect binge watch. With the second season already greenlit, it will likely explore the events of another book in the same series, “The Longest Game.” It may be a while until Shane and Ilya return to fans’ screens, but if recent events like the torch walk or the Golden Globes are any indication, Williams and Storrie will be everywhere for the foreseeable future.
Molly’s Game (2017)
If you ask me, Aaron Sorkin never misses, and the same is true for his directorial debut. Based on a true story, Molly’s Game centers on former Olympic skier Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), who finds herself under FBI investigation for her celebrity poker games. While Chastain gives an incredibly cutthroat performance as Bloom, commanding each scene whether trading lines with Idris Elba, who plays her defense attorney, Charlie Jaffey, or in game rooms with Player X (Michael Cera) — a role believed to be inspired by Tobey Maguire’s real-life involvement in the poker circles.
While the high-stakes games and legal battles exacerbate the film’s tension, the most compelling aspect of Molly’s Game is Bloom’s relationship with her father, Larry Bloom (Kevin Costner), a clinical psychologist. Their conversations not only ground the film but also speculate on the lives of athletes once they leave their sport and where their competitive spirit takes root after accidents force them to retire.
I, Tonya (2017)
Whether real or fictionalized, the Winter Olympic titles on this list all contain the element of scandal; I, Tonya is no exception. Again inspired by real life, I, Tonya is a 4th-wall-breaking depiction of the events surrounding Tonya Harding’s Olympic career and the plot by her ex-husband Jeff (Sebastian Stan) against her skating rival, Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver). Robbie shines as Harding as she breaks down from the Olympic pressure, her mother LaVona’s (Alison Janey) overbearing personality, and the fallout of her turbulent marriage.
Despite following such an intense true sports scandal, I, Tonya is laced with director Craig Gillispie’s signature dark humor. Through that sardonic lens, the film explores who gets to be an American sports icon: Do they have to have the prettiest costumes and a palatable personality? Does the best technical talent with the top scores during competition or stage presence matter more in sports?
List Courtesy of Sasha Raquel
Feature Image Credit to HBO Max/Bell Media