Anora Wins Best Picture Oscar at 97th Academy Awards

This year’s race for the Academy Award for Best Picture has sometimes been difficult to predict. Certainly more difficult than in previous years. But the results are now in, and the hard-hitting romantic Anora takes home the coveted golden statue.

The movie was up against several critically acclaimed pictures from across a range of genres, with the likes of the epic period drama The Brutalist, the political thriller Conclave, the Broadway adaptation of Wicked, the controversial musical Emilia Pérez, the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, the horror comedy The Substance, the sci-fi action epic Dune: Part Two, and more, also in contention for top prize.

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Released back in October last year, Anora is directed by Sean Baker, with the movie going on to win the Palme d’Or. Boasting a breathtaking lead performance from Mikey Madison, Anora follows the titular character, a sex worker named Anora Mikheeva, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya, the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire. However, when Vanya’s parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York.

Conclave, the thriller directed by Edward Berger and starring Ralph Fiennes, was the other major favorite for Best Picture this year. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini alongside Fiennes, Conclave was released in theaters back in November last year, and details one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events: selecting the new Pope. Fiennes leads as Cardinal Lawrence, who is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Taking on such a task is a huge burden, with Lawrence uncovering a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

Sean Baker Makes Oscar History

Mikey Madison looking toward the camera in Anora — NEON

With wins in the Best Director, Best Editor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture categories, filmmaker Sean Baker makes Academy Award history by being the first person to win four Oscars for the same film. Anora was predicted to do well, but a sweep of these major categories was a lofty goal. To win even one or two would have been a huge accomplishment, but Baker won all four.

The various controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez likely helped pave the way for Anora’s success, but that is not to say that the Mikey Madison-led film was undeserving. As Baker stated in his acceptance speech, a win for Anora is really a win for independent films. The feature was made on a rather small $6 million budget. For comparison, Wicked‘s reported budget is said to be in the ballpark of $150 million.