Heightened Scrutiny

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Heightened Scrutiny

Released Jul 18

1h 29m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

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16 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Fearless civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio battles at the Supreme Court for transgender adolescents' access to gender-affirming healthcare, confronting not only the legal system but also a media landscape that distorts public perception and threatens the struggle for trans rights. With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice.

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

This is a call to action worth heeding, because if we don’t, the next stop could be an Orwellian nightmare we might not be allowed to awaken from.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

Drew Gregory

Autostraddle

As a trans person, there’s a comfort in hearing the facts laid out so clearly and with such feeling.

Feb 3, 2025

Full Review

Siddhant Adlakha

Variety

An immense amount of care and detail goes into its construction, deepening its use of traditional form and packing a powerful punch.

Feb 3, 2025

Full Review

Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Heightened Scrutiny is a cinematic documentation that the fight won't be over anytime soon, but our resolve in continuing to call out injustice in its grossest form no matter the consequences are worth its weight in gold.

Jul 24, 2025

Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

A timely, moving and illuminating documentary.

Jul 15, 2025

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Vivian McCall

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

It’s not the most intimate profile—it couldn’t be, Strangio is a high-profile, media-trained lawyer—but Feder’s made a political document worth seeing.

May 28, 2025

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Stephen C

Real pride in 1 hour and 29 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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Sam Feder

Director

Gina Chua

Self

Jelani Cobb

Self

Lydia Polgreen

Self

Chase Strangio

Self

Amy Scholder

Producer

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Synopsis

Fearless civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio battles at the Supreme Court for transgender adolescents' access to gender-affirming healthcare, confronting not only the legal system but also a media landscape that distorts public perception and threatens the struggle for trans rights. With the dangerous SCOTUS decision upholding the ban on life-saving healthcare, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY is an urgent call to action against bigotry and injustice.

Director: Sam Feder
Producer: Amy Scholder, Sam Feder, Paola Mendoza
Distributor: Fourth Act Film
Production Co: Ford Foundation - Just Films
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 29m