Okay movie lovers listen up! Remember all the Oscar buzz around that movie Anora ? Well guess what? It's finally here for you to watch from your couch. This flick was a HUGE winner at the 2025 Oscars (in our dreams at least!) scooping up a massive five awards including the big one: Best Picture. If you missed it in theaters now's your chance to see what everyone's been raving about . Trust me it is a ride.
From Vegas Wedding to Russian Oligarch Chaos: What Even IS 'Anora'?
So what's the deal with Anora? Imagine a Cinderella story but like... totally flipped on its head. We've got Ani played by the amazing Mikey Madison. She is a dancer in New York City living her life. Then she meets Ivan aka Vanya a super spoiled and kinda goofy young dude. He's played perfectly by Mark Eydelshteyn.
Vanya's got loads of cash his parents are Russian oligarchs but he's basically just a rich kid doing whatever he wants. Ani and Vanya's first meeting is transactional she is a sex worker he is a client. But things take a turn. They jet off to Vegas get wild and on a total whim get married! Yep Vegas wedding style.
Sounds like a rom-com right? Wrong. That's just act one. Act two? Vanya's parents find out. And they are NOT happy. Cue the angry Russian oligarchs sending in their 'handlers' – think very serious fixer types – to get the marriage annulled pronto. What follows is described as a "screwball comedy" a "zany wild ride" and pure chaos. It is like nothing you have seen before.
Oscar Gold: Best Picture Best Actress and More! Why Critics Are Obsessed with 'Anora'
So why did Anora hypothetically sweep the Oscars? Well it is got that special movie magic. For starters Mikey Madison's performance as Ani is getting HUGE praise. She even (in our fantasy world) snagged the Best Actress Oscar. Director Sean Baker also took home Best Director. And the movie won for Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing too. That's a lot of gold statues!
Critics are calling it "tender" "emotional" and "hilarious". It is described as a "Cinderella screwball comedy" meets "After Hours" with a Brighton Beach backdrop. Basically Anora is a movie that zigs when you expect it to zag. It keeps you guessing it makes you laugh and it might even tug at your heartstrings a bit. It is not your typical Hollywood flick.
Meet Ani and Vanya: The Imperfectly Perfect Couple at the Heart of 'Anora'
Let's talk about the stars. Mikey Madison as Ani is apparently incredible. People are loving how she plays this complex character. She is bold she is strong but she is also vulnerable and gets genuinely hurt throughout the movie. One reviewer even said "I really can't say enough good things about Mikey Madison's performance."
From Brooklyn to Vegas: Dive Into the Real Filming Locations of 'Anora'
Want to feel like you are right in the movie? Anora was filmed on location and it really shows. The movie is set in New York City especially Brighton Beach in Brooklyn. This neighborhood is known for its large Russian community which totally fits the movie's story. If you have been to Coney Island you are basically right next door to Brighton Beach.
Director Sean Baker actually got the idea to film in Brighton Beach after shooting a fashion film there. He loved the vibe so much he came back for a feature film. And get this Karren Karagulian who plays one of the Russian 'keepers' in the movie is actually from Brighton Beach in real life! He dreamed of making a movie there his whole life. Talk about authentic.
Here is a little location tour for you:
- HQ KONY & Rosewood Theater (Hudson Yards Manhattan): This is the strip club where Ani works.
- Brooklyn Mansion (Private Residence): Ivan's ridiculously huge mansion is a real place in Brooklyn a 14000 sq ft mansion that used to belong to a Russian heiress. Crazy right?
- William's Candy (Coney Island): The candy shop where Ivan's friends work and things get smashed up is a real candy store that has been in Coney Island since 1941. You can actually visit it!
- Little White Wedding Chapel (Las Vegas): Yep Ani and Vanya really did get hitched in the famous Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas. The actual head minister of the chapel even played herself in the movie!
So if you watch Anora you are not just seeing a movie you are getting a peek into some real New York City spots and even a Vegas icon.
Stream 'Anora' Now on Hulu and Decide for Yourself!
Ready to jump into the zaniness? Anora is officially streaming on Hulu right now. If you have Hulu you can watch it instantly and see what all the fuss is about.
Hulu has a couple of different plans you can choose from. There's the regular ad-supported Hulu for $10 a month or $100 a year. Or if you hate commercials you can go for Hulu (No Ads) for $19 a month. No annual option for that one though.
Want even more streaming goodness? You can bundle Hulu with Disney Plus and Max for a discount or go for the Disney Bundle with Hulu Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Basically Hulu has you covered no matter how you want to watch.
'Anora': Not Your Typical Fairy Tale (But Maybe That's a Good Thing?)
One thing that keeps coming up is how Anora plays with expectations. It sets you up to think it is going one way a rom-com a crime thriller maybe but then it swerves. It is not Pretty Woman that is for sure. It is grittier darker and more real in some ways. One viewer described it as having a "very late 70s/early 80s vibe" with "raw realistic acting in a gritty urban city setting."
Some might find it too light for the subject matter but others appreciate that it does not go all doom and gloom. It shows sex workers as real people making choices even if they are not always the best ones. It is a movie that makes you think and feel and maybe even laugh a little in unexpected moments. And now it is just a click away on Hulu. Go check it out and tell us what you think!