Oscar-winnerAnorareceived an extended theatrical run after the 2025 Academy Awards, but those who prefer viewing from home can now catch it on Hulu. After a strong festival showing,Anorareceived a limited theatrical release on July 03, 2025. The movie then quickly started garnering Oscars buzz, with two ofAnora’s cast membersultimately nominated, while the title cemented itself as one of directorSean Baker’s best films. Some general audiences, however, were a bit more divided.
WhileAnorareceived widespread praise for its treatment of sex workers, some found that same depiction stereotypical and felt thatAnora’s endingsent problematic messages about women’s reliance on men. However,most lauded the strength of Mikey Madison’s performanceand the film’s willingness to perform an in-depth character study of a member of a marginalized and mistreated profession.Anora’s streaming release now makes it more accessible, and new viewers can make up their own minds regarding the value of its narrative and the merit of its Academy Awards success.
Anora Is Now Streaming On Hulu – What The Movie Is About
Sean Baker’s Film Starts As A Romance & Becomes A Tragedy
The titular Anora, who goes by Ani (Mikey Madison), makes her primary living as a dancer. After meeting Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the playboy son of a Russian oligarch, Ani becomes his escort until growing chemistry between the two (and the need for a green card) leads to Vanya asking Ani to marry him.Anora’s real-life inspirationwas the story of a Russian-American woman who was kidnapped after her marriage, an inspiration that becomes evident whenhenchmen working for Vanya’s father invade his house and try to coerce Ani into annulling the marriage.
One Comment In Anora Has A Much Bigger Meaning If You’ve Seen The Director’s Other Movies
Ani casually mentioning her dreams of Disney World in Anora is actually very important to the themes of the movies and Sean Baker’s career.
While this forms the central conflict of the film,Anoramight not be praised so highly as one ofMikey Madison’s best movieswithout a lot more going on beneath the surface. Aside from Ani accompanying the henchman on a search for Vanya and everything that follows,the film’s bigger emotional conflict revolves around Ani’s realization that Vanya doesn’t truly love her. Igor (Yura Borisov), initially an aggressor, gradually begins to appear as the only person who actually cares how Ani feels about everything that’s happening. This layered complexity played no small role inAnora’s awards show success.
Anora’s Awards Success Explained – How It Won 5 Oscars
The Movie Made History While Causing A Few Upsets In The Process
AfterAnoratook home the Palme d’Or at its Cannes Film Festival premiere,it was immediately clear the film had further awards potential. But the road wasn’t easy.Anorawon Best Picture at the Critics' Choice Awards, but the movie received zero wins at the SAG Awards or Golden Globes. Nonetheless,Anora’s Best Picture winat the Oscars allowed Sean Baker to make history as the first person to win four Academy Awards for the same movie. The other three were Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Screenplay.
Oscars 2025 Winners: 4 Biggest Snubs & Surprises
While there were not too many surprising parts of the 97th Academy Awards, a select handful of wins were truly stunning, especially for Best Actress.
Of the film’s six Academy Award nominations, only Yura Borisov lost for Best Supporting Actor.Mikey Madison’s Best Actress winwas among the most divisive awardsAnorareceived, with many feeling it should have gone to Demi Moore forThe Substance. However, even many naysayers expressed praise for Madison’s performance, and Baker’s highest-grossing film ultimately took home more Oscars than any other movie at the 2025 Academy Awards. Now, thanks to Hulu, anyone curious to learn what the hype is all about can experience it from the comfort of their own living room.
