Anora, the Oscar-winning film, is now streaming on Hulu, allowing even more audiences to experience this gripping story.
Anora triumphed at the 2025 Oscars, winning multiple awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editor. The film stars Mikey Madison as Anora (or Ani), an exotic dancer who takes care of the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, named Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn). What begins as a fairy tale romance quickly turns into a nightmare.
The film was primarily shot in New York City, specifically in Brighton Beach, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for its large Russian immigrant population. While many tourists associate the area with NYC’s famous Coney Island and its beach, Anora takes place mostly during the winter, when the streets are quiet and the tourists are gone.
In an interview with Hammer To Nail, director Sean Baker revealed that his decision to film in Brighton Beach was inspired by a previous shoot for a Khaite fashion commercial. “I shot a short Khaite fashion film in Coney Island that sparked the desire to shoot in that area,” Baker said. “It was a fashion film I made over Covid that was an homage to The Warriors.”
Additionally, actor Karren Karagulian, who plays Toros, Ivan’s keeper in the film, has deep ties to Brighton Beach. Having moved there in 1990, Karagulian expressed his lifelong dream of making a film set in his neighborhood. He had previously worked with Baker on Tangerine and The Florida Project.
Where was Anora filmed?
If you feel a sense of authenticity from the locations in Anora, you’re absolutely right. Here are some of the specific filming locations:
The HQ club where Ani works:
The club in the movie, HQ, was filmed at HQ KONY, a gentleman’s club in Hudson Yards, Manhattan. Some scenes were also filmed at the Rosewood Theater, a private cabaret club in the same building.
The mansion where Ivan lives:
The mansion in the movie, which served as Ivan’s home, is currently occupied by Irina Davidov, a businesswoman. The Anora crew filmed at this mansion for three weeks in 2023. Some of the crew, including locations manager Ross Brodar, even lived in the mansion during the shoot.
Coney Island in Anora:
In the film, Ivan’s friends work at a candy shop in Coney Island. Later in the movie, Toros and Igor smash jars of candy to get information about Ivan’s whereabouts. This candy store, William’s Candy, has been a staple of Coney Island since 1941. While not located directly on the boardwalk, the shop is located inland, near the entrance. Owner Peter Agrapides shared with NBC New York, “We were finding that glass all over the place for months after that.”
In a nod to the Coney Island community, Billy O’Brien, a well-known figure on Coney Island, plays the candy store owner in the film.
Las Vegas in Anora:
Some scenes in Anora were filmed in Las Vegas, including a wedding scene at the famous Little White Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard, where Ani and Ivan get married. Diana Moran, the chapel’s head minister, played herself in the movie as the officiant. Other Las Vegas scenes were filmed at Fremont Street Experience and Palms Casino Resort.
Watch the Anora trailer, full of action, suspense, and thrilling moments!
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