Mikey Madison delivers her Oscar-winning performance as Ani, a sex worker facing life head-on when she meets Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch, who hires her to be his girlfriend for a week before impulsively proposing to her. Ani seems to have genuine affection for Vanya and is happy to play out this Cinderella story, but the picture is shattered when her would-be-in-laws step in to end the marriage.

Ani is paid off and sent packing, with only the family's hired hand Igor (Yura Borisov) showing any sympathy for what has happened to her. Anora's ending is a heartbreaking one, with an astounding final scene that disrupts the tone of the rest of the movie and illustrates the real trauma of the events depicted. Anora is a deconstruction of the Cinderella story and a harsh portrayal of the dynamics between the ultra-wealthy and those in professions they deem beneath them, setting up an interesting discourse on how a different comedy showed these things 35 years ago.

Anora's Comparisons To Pretty Woman Explained

Anora & Pretty Women Are Both About Women Working As Escorts, Getting Into Messy Relationships With Their Clients

In 1990, Julia Roberts saw a career-defining role starring alongside Richard Gere in Garry Marshall's romantic comedy Pretty Woman. The movie follows Vivian, a prostitute who hits it off with rich businessman Edward when he pays her to pose as his girlfriend at some social events. The pair try to keep things emotion-free and professional but are faced with genuine growing feelings while being hit hard by the way people in Edward's high-class world treat Vivian, which is rude at best and violent at worst. The feel-good tone is facilitated by the endearing performances of Roberts and Gere, and their strong chemistry.

The similarities to Anora are obvious, as Ani also seemingly strikes gold with a favorable client, with whom she has instant chemistry and a carefree, fun time. Both Anora and Pretty Woman offer depictions of the discrimination sex workers face in "respectable" society and the fundamental power imbalances between them and a partner who initially paid for their company and would provide everything for the foreseeable future of their relationship. However, Pretty Woman props up the narrative that Ani wants to believe, of this all being a matter of luck and love that leads to a happy ending.

Anora's Dark Ending Is Closer To Pretty Woman's Original Ending

Pretty Woman Originally Would Have Ended With Edward Cruelly Casting Vivian Aside

The Florida Project's ending.

Anora's True Story Inspirations Explained

Anora's great characters and circumstances feel very real, and director Sean Baker has given insight into where the movie's inspiration came from.

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Pretty Woman's ending was changed in part because the on-screen chemistry of the lead actors directed the story in a different way. Anora's ending, however, is almost what Pretty Woman's could have been. Ani isn't literally thrown out on the streets, but she is brutally rejected by her husband's family, Vanya refuses to stand up for her, she is given some money for her cooperation and troubles and sent back to her usual life. However, it is safe to say that Anora's ending is far more haunting and impactful, proving the ultimate way to drive home the themes it shares with Pretty Woman.

Anora Is Much Better By Avoiding A Happy Ending

Anora Tells A Real, Tragic Story Of Class Divide

Close-up of Mikey Madison's face from the ending of Anora

Pretty Woman was a hit and is a classic and does speak to some uplifting messages about ignoring society's unjust rules, dismissing cruel people, and prioritizing love and connection. However, Anora illustrates that if Pretty Woman really wanted to nail the social aspect of its story, an unhappier ending would have been the better way to go. Anora now offers us this, with the final scene being Ani finally losing composure and breaking down in Igor's arms after all her loss and heartbreak.

Movie	RT Critics' Score	RT Audience Score	Metacritic Score	Oscar Nominations
Pretty Woman (1990)	64%	68%	51%	One (Best Lead Actress)
Anora (2024)	93%	85%	91%	Six (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best ing Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing)

Anora's take on the Cinderella story is sadly, more realistic, showing how Ivan's privilege has fostered his carelessness, where he chases after a good time with no concern for how it will hurt people like Ani. All the people surround him treat Ani like she is nothing, just a byproduct of his bad behavior that needs to be dealt with. It would be nice to meet an Edward, but he is ultimately more the contemporary Prince Charming who is deeply fictionalized. The end of Anora underscores the flaws of all its characters, who serve a story about the damage done to real people.