Anora is one of the best movies of 2024. With an award-winning performance from Mikey Madison and Sean Baker’s signature, searing slice-of-life style, the film tackles the sex work profession with humor, chaotic energy, and empathy.
Viewers seeking more movies that reflect the sex worker experience, explore similar themes, or evoke the same tone can use our guide to find the 10 best movies like Anora available to stream on platforms like Max, Netflix, and more!
Aurora
Like Anora, Aurora is an off-beat and unconventional rom-com. The film centers on the eponymous Aurora (Mimosa Williamo), a free-spirited woman struggling with alcoholism and a feeling of unfulfillment. When she meets Iranian refugee Darien (Amir Escandari), she agrees to help him find a wife and secure permanent residency in the country in exchange for money as the pair deny the bubbling chemistry between them. Aurora goes deeper than the typical rom-com, delving into the experiences of asylum seekers and individuals with substance abuse struggles and paralleling Anora with its funny yet heartbreaking and empathetic tale of love.
Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights was one of the earlier Hollywood films to tackle the sex industry with less sensationalism and more empathy. Mark Wahlberg stars in Boogie Nights as Eddie (a.k.a. Dirk Diggler), who finds success as a porn star. However, as he soaks in the Golden Age of Porn in the 1970s, he struggles with disillusionment and the sometimes turbulent, exploitative side of the industry. Both Boogie Nights and Anora seek to capture the sex industry from a human perspective, validating it as a complicated, emotional profession that comes with highs and lows.
Hustlers
Hustlers follows Destiny (Constance Wu), a young woman working as a stripper in New York. Her life changes when veteran stripper Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) takes her under her wing and shows her how to capitalize on their wealthy clientele. However, when a recession hits, the pair find desperate times call for desperate measures as they find a unique way to swindle New York’s wealthy men. Hustlers matches the chaotic energy and refreshing feel of Anora, exploring the strip club industry with an unexpected heist twist. It also still manages to convey empathy and warmth, showcasing the love between a close-knit group of women.
Pleasure
Pleasure explores many of the same themes as Anora, though with less subtly. In the movie, 19-year-old Linnéa (Sofia Kappel) moves to California to pursue a career as a porn star under the stage name Bella Cherry. Desperate to rise through the ranks, she’s determined to do whatever it takes to earn gigs, not realizing the industry is eager to take advantage of this. Pleasure can sometimes be an uncomfortable watch and lacks the comedic element of Anora. However, it also works to boldly expose a side of the porn industry not acknowledged often enough.
Shiva Baby
Shiva Baby matches the comedic and chaotic tone of Anora with its hilarious story of a young Jewish woman caught in a nightmarish situation. The film follows Daniell (Rachel Sennott), who observes Shiva with her family. However, things take an awkward turn when she realizes she’s also observing Shiva with her sugar daddy, his wife, their child, and her ex-girlfriend Maya (Molly Gordon). While it differs from Anora’s plot, it parallels the refreshing, funny, representative, and chaotic feelings that Anora induces, appealing to viewers through its honesty, relatability, and acknowledgment of the messy, complicated side of coming-of-age.
Showgirls
Showgirls centers on Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley), a young woman who travels to Las Vegas with big dreams of becoming a showgirl. As she rises to the top, though, the industry's darker side leaves her questioning her dream. Upon its release, critics largely panned Showgirls for its over-the-top and sometimes brutal nature. However, it has since been re-evaluated and garnered a cult following for its unique, satirical take on the industry. While Showgirls doesn’t match the more empathetic and thoughtful approach of Anora, both movies examine the sex industry, power imbalances, and exploitation.
Tangerine
Tangerine hails from the same director as Anora, following the same slice-of-life style and exploring the sex industry. The film is about Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), a transgender sex worker who gets out of prison only to discover her boyfriend cheated on her, setting her off on a wild journey to find his affair partner. Like Anora, Tangerine boasts representation, humor, chaos, and empathy in exploring sex workers’ experiences with its unconventional tale of love and betrayal. It also boasts effective transgender representation and unique cinematography, considering it was shot wholly using iPhones.
The Florida Project
The Florida Project is another must-see Baker movie for Anora fans. In the film, six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) cruises through summer living in the Magic Castle Inn and Suites motel and causing mischief with her friends, unaware that her mother Halley’s (Bria Vinaite) financial situation is growing increasingly desperate. The Florida Project strongly parallels Anora by depicting the disparity between the rich and the poor and authentically tackling the plight of underrepresented groups. Additionally, the film examines the perspective of children vs. adults while capturing the powerful juxtaposition of Disney World tourists and the people struggling to make ends meet in the theme park’s shadows.
The Last Showgirl
The Last Showgirl follows Shelly Gardner (Pamela Anderson), a middle-aged woman who has spent years working as a showgirl at a popular Las Vegas venue. When she’s informed that the venue is closing, she finds herself unable to secure another job and uncertain of her future. Like Anora, The Last Showgirl excels with its authentic, heartbreaking character study. It’s an especially strong choice for viewers looking for an Anora-like story that focuses on older women and explores the concepts of ageism and toxic beauty standards in the entertainment industry.
Zola
Inspired by a stranger-than-fiction viral Twitter thread, Zola tells the story of Aziah "Zola" King (Taylour Paige), a young waitress and stripper in Detroit. When her new co-worker, Stefani (Riley Keough), urges her to work a weekend at a strip club in Florida for extra money, Zola agrees. However, the road trip turns into a wild and dangerous adventure when Zola realizes Stefani, her roommate, and her boyfriend have additional plans. The fact Zola is based on a true story adds to the realism and relatability with which it tackles the sex industry. Like Anora, its humorous, fast-paced, and chaotic twists and turns make it quite a thrilling ride.
Where to watch movies like Anora streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to watch the 10 best movies like Anora online in the U.S.!
