15 Movies To Watch if You Love ‘Anora’

Mostly known for his work in the Oscar-nominated The Florida Project, Sean Baker has put out a few compelling works so far. Anora, which follows Mikey Madison’s Ani, a young sex worker who impulsively marries the son of an oligarch, has captured the attention of global viewers. Whether we’re talking about its rawness, realistic visuals, and humorous but touching narrative, or its exploration of marginalized communities, it’s not remotely difficult to grasp what makes this a captivating watch—one that is among the best of the year so far and has won Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards, alongside Best Actress for Madison, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Director for Baker.

Viewers who have enjoyed Anora—whether for the topics it deals with or its cinematic essence and visual aesthetics—may be wondering what to watch next. Like Baker’s latest, these movies, ranging from Pretty Woman to Tangerine, shed light on characters often overshadowed in mainstream cinema, providing audiences with powerful and compelling self-discovery journeys that have resulted in resonating character studies. Without further ado, these are the best movies like Anora.

15

‘Like Crazy’ (2011)

Directed by Drake Doremus

Although a lot quieter and more reflective than Anora, Drake Doremus‘ slice-of-life film also deals with relationships and the importance of personal choices. Starring Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin, Like Crazy follows a British college student who falls for an American student only to be separated from him when she’s banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa.

Despite also highlighting emotional vulnerability, Like Crazy is not as gritty and raw as Sean Baker’s latest film. However, it explores similar themes, including the complexities of relationships—even if in two completely different circumstances—with the two characters separating. Additionally, both its lead characters undergo self-discovery journeys that are deeply influenced by their relationship with other characters, delivering touching narratives that may resonate with viewers.

14

‘The Worst Person in the World’ (2021)

Directed by Joachim Trier

This 2021 Oscar-nominated “coming-of-age drama for grownups”​​​​​​ chronicles four years in the life of a young woman named Julie (Renate Reinsve). As time goes by, Julie navigates her love life and struggles to find her career path; this eventually marks the start of an intriguing self-discovery journey.

Despite their very different contexts, Anora shares some interesting similarities with Joachim Trier‘s fan-favorite: it focuses on its lead protagonist, a young woman, as she navigates her identity and the challenges of adulthood. Like Julie, Anora attempts to make sense of her life and journey, navigating complex personal relationships that catalyze change, and trying to find herself along the way. It is also worth noting that fans of Anora‘s realism will probably appreciate The Worst Person in the World‘s tone and style.

13

‘Belle de Jour’ (1967)

Directed by Luis Buñuel

Those in the mood for a great non-English classic should consider giving the Catherine Deneuve essential a watch. This Luis Buñuel picture follows a young housewife who decides to spend her midweek as a sex worker, exploring her desires and fantasies, which contrast with her conventional life.

Although Anora is quite a different film, especially when it comes to its narrative and the circumstances each young woman finds herself in (Belle de Jour is grounded in fantasy and surrealism, while Baker’s movie has a more realistic approach), they still share some similarities. Both films deal with themes of sexual liberation and self-expression, challenging societal views of sexuality. Their protagonists undergo self-discovery journeys, too, with their psychological turmoil being a crucial aspect of each narrative. Despite their different storylines, these films are great watches on a few similar topics.

12

‘Showgirls’ (1995)

Directed by Paul Verhoeven

Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Elizabeth Berkley in the lead role, Showgirls is an erotic drama film following an ambitious young woman who gets a ride to Vegas to pursue her dreams of being a professional dancer and showgirl.

Although Verhoeven’s film delves more into the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry, these two films share thematic similarities: much like Anora, Showgirls explores sex work and power struggles, placing its protagonist in high-stakes situations. Both films are elevated by their bold female leads willing to take risks even if that means there’s a chance they won’t come out on top. It’s worth noting, though, that while Showgirls embraces an entertaining, campy, and over-the-top satirical style, Anora takes a more socially conscious and realistic approach.

11

‘True Romance’ (1993)

Directed by Tony Scott

This Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette-led Tony Scott movie centers around the unlikely relationship between comic-book nerd and Elvis fanatic Clarence and a sex worker named Alabama. After Clarence accidentally steals a suitcase filled with cocaine, the two hit the road for California hoping to sell it. However, the mob soon follows.

True Romance and Anora are similar in more ways than one, starting with their tough yet vulnerable, street-smart female leads and their nerdy counterparts. Both embody an intense and high-pressure romanticism that places the protagonists in a world of crime that draws the attention of powerful, wealthy, and dangerous people. They also delve into themes of freedom, illustrating their characters’ attempts to escape from their circumstances. For fans of Anora‘s neon-soaked aesthetics, this character-driven road love story may be a nice pick despite lacking its documentary-like approach.

10

‘After Hours’ (1985)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Although it features a very different story at its center, Martin Scorsese’s After Hours is surprisingly similar to Anora, particularly in structure and themes. The film follows ordinary-world professor Paul as he experiences the worst night of his life after he agrees to visit Marcy, a SoHo resident whom he met that evening at a coffee shop.

Featuring amazing performances by Griffin Dunne and Patricia Arquette’s sister Rosanna Arquette, After Hours presents an immersive, surreal New York nightmare with a downward spiral of its protagonist. Much like Anora, it blends humor with the grimness of reality, with its absurdity, dark humor, and fast-paced energy keeping audiences invested. While Scorsese’s picture is more of an overtly comedic, surreal watch and Baker’s leans towards its sharper social commentary and realism more, there is no doubt that those who enjoyed the 2024 film will like Scorsese’s epic.

9

‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)

Directed by Ben Safdie and Josh Safdie

Directed by the Safdie brothers, Uncut Gems stars Adam Sandler in his most compelling dramatic role to date. The film’s fast-paced and anxiety-inducing narrative follows a fast-talking New York City jeweler who risks everything in hopes of staying afloat and surviving.

Although vastly different plot-wise, Uncut Gems and Anora share a gritty, immersive, and naturalistic style that fully absorbs audiences in their intense stories. Both grounded in their street realism, these indie movies illustrate their protagonists entangled in high-pressure situations, building tension as the world closes around them. Although their filmmaking approaches differ—the Safdies’ favoring chaotic cinematography and Baker opting for a looser approach and natural flow—Uncut Gems is a solid pick for those drawn to Anora‘s high-stakes moments.

8

‘Good Time’ (2017)

Directed by Ben Safdie and Josh Safdie

Another Safdie Brothers picture that fits the bill is this Robert Pattinson-led heist thriller. After a failed bank robbery gets his young brother in jail, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted journey through New York City’s underworld to get his brother out of prison.

Visually striking and incredibly realistic, Good Time is a solo, character-driven story that provides audiences with edge-of-your-seat energy and gets their blood pumping. Like Anora, it is set in the unfiltered and gritty world of New York, centering around a protagonist who sees his life taking a wild, sudden, and dangerous turn. While the former is definitely less suffocatingly intense—and not a crime thriller in the same way as Good Time—both movies share some thematic and visual similarities, including their vibrant nighttime city life aesthetic.

7

‘Spring Breakers’ (2013)

Directed by Harmony Korine

Harmony Korine‘s A24 dark comedy and coming-of-age picture centers around four college girls (Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine), who hold up a restaurant to fund their spring break vacation. Eventually, as they party, drink, and experiment with drugs, they are arrested but bailed out by a dealer (James Franco).

Although Anora offers a more realistic illustration of marginalization and is more focused on survival, it is fair to say that these movies have much in common, with the fact that they explore themes of freedom and the quest to escape from oppressive environments being at the top of the list. They also tackle sexual exploitation, power dynamics, and the differences between the two genders while following their characters on journeys of self-exploration. Overall, Anora is undoubtedly the most intense and touching film out of the two (though it also features a good dose of reckless fun), but Spring Breakers is worth a watch for those looking for something more stylized and over-the-top.

6

‘Hustlers’ (2019)

Directed by Lorene Scafaria

Like Anora, Lorene Scafaria’s movie does not shy away from delving into sexuality and female empowerment. Hustlers is inspired by the real-life viral New York Magazine article and follows a crew of former strip club employees who join forces to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. It counts on Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, and Lili Reinhart, among other stars.

Even though their narratives are significantly different, Hustlers and Anora resort to themes of sexuality like survival and female empowerment in different ways. While Hustlers is a more entertaining and satisfying watch, Anora is personal, focusing on the weight of living in an environment that lacks opportunity. With that being said, those who enjoyed the fun and flashy bits of Baker’s movie but would appreciate a more glamorous, energetic, and stylized watch should consider giving Scafaria’s film a try.

5

‘Pretty Woman’ (1990)

Directed by Garry Marshall

Considering Anora‘s central love story and the similarities it shares with Garry Marshall‘s movie, Pretty Woman deserves a mention on this list. The 1990 film stars the dynamic duo Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, following the relationship between the sex worker Vivian and the wealthy entrepreneur Edward, who hires her to accompany him to a few social events.

Unlike the heavily romanticized Pretty Woman, though, things do not end well for Anora‘s lead protagonist, with her Cinderella story going down the drain. Additionally, Anora offers a more realistic and darker depiction of sex work and survival, while the 1990 film mostly focuses on the romantic narrative between the two leads. However, despite their differences, both movies share the same themes and depict transformation through relationships, with romance being a huge plot device. Baker himself has addressed the similarities the two features share, though he also admitted he did not pick up on them until halfway through production.

4

‘American Honey’ (2016)

Directed by Andrea Arnold

This underrated Andrea Arnold road trip gem follows a teenage girl (Sasha Lane) with not much to lose who joins the sales crew of a traveling magazine with a band of misfits, ultimately getting caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying and law-bending, finding young love in the meantime.

Like Anora, American Honey intriguingly explores themes of youth, identity, and marginalization. Despite their differences narrative-wise and in setting, both films are very similar stylistically. With that said, audiences who found Anora‘s realistic and documentary-like direction one of its strongest elements are probably going to want to give American Honey a try. In both of these films, their female protagonists attempt to find their true selves and their place in the world, with their respective pictures exploring different coming-of-age journeys and challenging circumstances.

3

‘The Florida Project’ (2017)

Directed by Sean Baker

Although all Sean Baker films are worth checking if you liked Anora, The Florida Project is among the most obvious. ​​​​​​This unconventional, Oscar-nominated coming-of-age is set over one summer, following six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) as she courts adventure with her friends and deepens her unusual but meaningful bond with her mother (Bria Vinaite).

Considering that Baker often sheds light on the lives of marginalized people in his pictures, it makes sense that The Florida Project shares several similarities with Baker’s latest—both movies address poverty, with their characters navigating complicated realities and heartbreaking circumstances, despite their different journeys. Like Moonee and her single mother Halley, Anora attempts to survive while coping with the emotional and psychological effects of being stuck in challenging situations. Furthermore, both The Florida Project and Anora are very similar stylistically, with their realistic visuals appealing to viewers.

2

‘Zola’ (2021)

Directed by Janicza Bravo

Based on a viral X (formerly Twitter) thread from 2015 by A’Ziah “Zola” King and the resulting Rolling Stone article, Janicza Bravo‘s Zola, brought to you by A24, this dark comedy crime drama follows a stripper (Taylour Paige) who embarks on a wild and dangerous road trip to Florida to earn money dancing.

While Zola has a more comedic and surreal tone to it, both movies delve into themes of marginalization and resilience, highlighting the difficult choices women have to make when navigating the world of sex work. Not only are their protagonists somewhat similar in that they are layered and complex and undergo similar challenges, but the movies are also visually alike, with their naturalistic and true-to-life aesthetics immersing audiences in their backdrops.

1

‘Tangerine’ (2015)

Directed by Sean Baker

Like The Florida Project, Tangerine is another Sean Baker project worth watching if you enjoyed the fan-favorite. Starring Kitana Kiki Rodriguez in the lead role, the story follows a sex worker who finds out that her pimp, whom she believed was the love of her life, has cheated on her. She then embarks on a journey to locate him.

Again, considering that both films are directed by Baker, it makes sense that they share some similarities not only in tone but also in the themes they explore. In true Sean Baker fashion, Tangerine does not shy away from diving into marginalized worlds and telling the stories of marginalized characters dramatically and movingly, despite their comedic tones. Much like the director’s latest project, Tangerine has, too, a very realistic feel to it—the fact that it was shot on iPhone 5s cameras certainly contributes to its gritty visuals.

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