A Sex Worker and an Oligarch’s Heir Embark on a Roller Coaster Romance in New ‘Anora’ Trailer

In the Anora trailer, Mikey Madison (Better Things) stars as a sex worker who impulsively marries a filthy rich man, who happens to be the son of a Russian oligarch.

“What do you do to get all this?” Madison asks him in the trailer.

In the Sean Baker (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket) film, Madison’s Anora gets her happily ever after when she meets and marries the son of a Russian oligarch (Mark Eidelstein) in a Las Vegas chapel. Throughout the trailer, Anora flaunts designer furs, admires her flashy diamond ring, and travels in private planes. But when news of the marriage arrives in Russia, chaos ensues as the parents stop at nothing to invalidate the “fraud” union.

“It’s a fraud marriage and we’re getting it annulled ASAP,” someone shouts in the clip.

The film was awarded the Palme d’Or — the highest prize at Cannes Film Festival — this year. After receiving the award in May, Baker thanked “sex workers past, present and future — this is for you.” The cast also includes Paul Weissman (The Final Equation), Lindsey Normington (Borderline), Emily Weider (Juicy), Brittney Rodriguez (Red Rocket), and Ella Rubin (The Idea of You).

Rolling Stone’s David Fear called the film a mash-up between Uncut Gems and Pretty Woman. Of Madison’s performance, he added: “The Better Things actor couldn’t ask for a better showcase; this truly gives Madison’s her star-is-born moment.”  

The film releases in October.