If you’re keeping an eye on the 2024 movie lineup, Sean Baker’s Anora is one film you don’t want to miss. it’s already creating a lot of buzz after winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Known for his unique storytelling style, Baker has earned a solid place in independent cinema with films like Tangerine and The Florida Project. Now, Anora is adding even more buzz to his already impressive career.
And this isn’t just any love story. If you’re familiar with Baker’s work, you know it’s bound to offer something fresh and unexpected. With high hopes of becoming an Oscar contender, Anora is already setting expectations sky-high as the first American film to win the Palme d’Or in over a decade. If you’ve had it on your watchlist or seen the trailer, here’s everything you need to know about it!
All You Must Know About the Anora!
Anora first premiered on May 21, 2024, at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. It was then released in theaters on October 18 by Neon. Anora is now showing in theaters across the US, UK, and other countries, and you can also watch it on digital platforms in the US. Here’s the official synopsis for the film:
Advertisement Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets a shot at a fairytale life when she unexpectedly meets and marries the son of a powerful oligarch. But when the news reaches Russia, her dream quickly turns into a nightmare, as his parents fly to New York, determined to have the marriage undone.
The Anora trailer is out now, and there are both redband and greenband versions available. You can watch either (or both) right here!
A Closer Look at the Talented Cast of Anora!
Let’s take a closer look at the talented cast of Anora and the unforgettable characters they bring to life!
| Actor | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mikey Madison | Anora “Ani” Mikheeva | High-priced stripper at the Headquarters strip club. |
| Mark Eydelshteyn | Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov | Wealthy but immature son of a Russian oligarch. |
| Yura Borisov | Igor | Russian henchman hired to look after Vanya. |
| Karren Karagulian | Toros | Armenian handler employed to care for Vanya. |
| Vache Tovmasyan | Garnick | Armenian henchman and Toros’ brother. |
| Aleksei Serebryakov | Nikolai Zakharov | Vanya’s powerful Russian father. |
| Luna Sofía Miranda | Lulu | Headquarters stripper and Ani’s friend. |
| Lindsey Normington | Diamond | Unfriendly stripper who competes with Ani for clients. |
| Darya Ekamasova | Galina Zakharova | Vanya’s mother. |
| Anton Biller | Tom | Supporting character. |
| Vlad Mamai | Alska | Supporting character. |
| Maria Tichinskaya | Dasha | Supporting character. |
| Ivy Wolk | Crystal | Alaska |
| Ella Rubin | Vera Mikheeva | Ani’s sister. |
| Alena Gurevich | Klara | Housekeeper at the Zakharova mansion. |
| Sebastian Conelli | Tow truck driver | Supporting character. |
Anora‘s Strong Box Office Performance
As of January 24, 2025, Anora earned $33.5 million worldwide, with $14.8 million from the U.S. and Canada and $18.7 million from other regions. The film made $550,503 in its opening weekend from just six theaters, setting a 2024 record for the highest per-screen average of $91,751. In its second weekend, it expanded to 34 theaters, earning $908,830, and by the third and fourth weekends, it reached $1.8 million from 253 theaters and $2.5 million from 1,104 theaters.
Is Anora Based on a True Story?
Anora is not based on real-life people or events, but its story is inspired by real experiences. Director Sean Baker was influenced by a friend’s story of a Russian-American newlywed who was kidnapped for collateral. His work editing wedding videos of Russian-Americans in New York in the early 2000s also shaped the film’s foundation. The storyline is primarily a work of fiction, but Baker’s connection to the subject matter comes from his long-time friendship with Karren Karagulian, who plays Toros. Through this relationship, Baker became interested in the Russian-Armenian community in Brighton Beach, New York.
Baker had even tried to develop a script about this community back in 2008, with Karagulian as his co-writer, but the project didn’t progress. Despite losing interest in a gangster film, Baker’s fascination with the neighborhood remained. When he heard a story about a woman who was kidnapped by a Russian-American gang after marrying into their world, he revisited the idea. This led to the creation of Anora, where Baker made sure to portray the Russian/Armenian-American community authentically, building a realistic world around the fictional narrative.
Anora: A Breakdown of Awards and Nominations
Here’s a roundup of all the major awards and nominations that Anora has earned to date:
| Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Oscars | Best Picture | Nominee |
| Best Actress — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Actor — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Original Screenplay — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Editing | Nominee | |
| BAFTAs | Best Film | Nominee |
| Best Leading Actress — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Actor — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Original Screenplay — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Casting | Nominee | |
| Best Editing | Nominee | |
| EE Rising Star Award — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Golden Globes | Best Motion Picture Comedy/Musical | Nominee |
| Best Actress Comedy/Musical — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Actor — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Screenplay — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Cannes Film Festival | Palme d’Or | Winner |
| Boston Society of Film Critics | Best Picture | Winner |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Winner | |
| Best Actress — Mikey Madison | Winner | |
| Best Original Screenplay — Sean Baker | Winner | |
| British Independent Film Awards | Best International Independent Film | Winner |
| Critics Choice Awards | Best Picture | Nominee |
| Best Actress — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Actor — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Best Acting Ensemble | Nominee | |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Original Screenplay — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Editing | Nominee | |
| Directors Guild of America | DGA Award for Directorial Achievement in Feature Film | Nominee |
| Gotham Awards | Best Feature | Nominee |
| Outstanding Lead Performance — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Outstanding Supporting Performance — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Feature | Nominee |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Best Lead Performance — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Performance — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Performance — Karren Karagulian | Nominee | |
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | Film of the Year | Nominee |
| Director of the Year — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Actress of the Year — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Supporting Actor of the Year — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Screenwriter of the Year — Sean Baker | Nominee | |
| Breakthrough Performer — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Technical Achievement Award — Stunts | Nominee | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | Best Picture | Winner |
| Best Director — Sean Baker | Runner-up | |
| Best Leading Performance — Mikey Madison | Co-winner | |
| Best Supporting Performance — Yura Borisov | Co-winner | |
| Best Screenplay — Sean Baker | Runner-up | |
| National Board of Review | Breakthrough Performance — Mikey Madison | Winner |
| Top 10 Film | Winner | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Screenplay — Sean Baker | Winner |
| Producers Guild of America | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Nominee |
| SAG Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominee |
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role — Mikey Madison | Nominee | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role — Yura Borisov | Nominee | |
| Writers Guild of America | Best Original Screenplay | Nominee |
What is the Message of Anora?
The main message of Anora is to challenge the idea of a fairytale romance, especially when there is an imbalance of power. It shows the harsh reality of exploitation, where a sex worker is brought into a life of luxury by a wealthy family but realizes that things aren’t as perfect as they seem. The film highlights that not everything that looks good is truly good, focusing on how some relationships are based on what someone can offer physically rather than who they really are.
What Happened at the End of the Movie Anora?
⚠️SPOILER ALERT⚠️
At the end of Anora, Ani finds herself in a deeply emotional moment with Igor. After a tense and difficult journey, Ani is given the cash she was promised by Toros, and she is returned to her Brooklyn home. Outside her family’s house, Igor gives her back the wedding ring that Toros had taken from her. In a moment of gratitude, Ani attempts to initiate sex with Igor, likely as a way to thank him for his kindness. However, when Igor tries to kiss her, Ani pushes him away, and then begins to sob uncontrollably.
The film leaves Ani’s tears open to interpretation, as director Sean Baker wanted to avoid explaining her emotions explicitly. For Ani, this moment might represent the realization that she’s been using sex as a form of currency to show her gratitude, repeating the same pattern of behavior that she experienced with Vanya. Her sobbing could indicate a shift in understanding she’s been treating herself the way others have treated her, and in this moment with Igor, she feels truly seen and heard for the first time. It’s a turning point, where Ani begins to realize her worth beyond being just a sex worker or an object of desire.
What are the Critic Reviews about Anora?
Anora has really impressed audiences, earning a solid 7.8/10 on IMDb from around 71,000 viewers! According to the critics on Rotten Tomatoes:
It’s a rollercoaster ride, yet Baker never confuses movement with action. Every twist takes you somewhere you hadn’t quite expected to be, revealing an emotion you hadn’t expected to share.
FAQs
Anora streaming: where to watch online? You can buy “Anora” on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store as a download. Alternatively, you can rent it on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Spectrum On Demand, and Plex online.
Anora is not streaming on Netflix.
Male wardens can marry Anora, females can marry Alistair.
Strong and explicit scenes of a sexual nature from the start. Strong drug abuse and language throughout.
No, Anora is not a horror movie. It’s a 2024 film that some say is a modern-day fairy tale with a gritty feel.
Let’s Wrap Up!
Anora is a powerful film that dives deep into the struggles of love, power, and self-worth. It tells the story of a woman trapped in a world where appearances are everything, but it also shows the emotional journey of finding true connection and being truly seen. With its raw portrayal of the American dream’s flaws, the movie leaves a lasting impact. It makes us think about the hidden realities behind wealth and relationships.