Sean Baker had quite the night at the 97th Academy Awards, where his film Anora nearly swept the Oscars, winning him Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
Baker made history as the first person to win four Oscars in one night for the same movie. Viewers looking for more of his masterful, thought-provoking character studies can use our guide to find out where to watch all his films on platforms like Max, Hulu, and more! The movies are ranked from the best based on film quality.
The Florida Project
The Florida Project follows six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Kimberly Prince) throughout one summer. Living in a motel in the shadow of Walt Disney World Resort, Moonee befriends and causes mischief with neighboring children, all while oblivious to her mother Halley’s (Bria Vinaite) deteriorating financial situation. The film masterfully utilizes the power of juxtaposition to compare how the tourists enjoying the luxuries of Disney World contrast sharply with the people living just outside the resort struggling with mere day-to-day expenses. It also probes poverty from the differing perspectives of adults and children. Ultimately, The Florida Project is a bold, empathetic, and powerful exploration of childhood innocence, class disparity, and perspective.
Take Out
Baker’s go-to style is the “slice-of-life” character studies that provide realistic and empathetic looks at underrepresented groups, and Take Out is no exception. The film captures a single day in the life of Ming Ding (Charles Jang), an undocumented Chinese immigrant who races against the clock to earn enough in his delivery services to pay his debt to the people who smuggled him into the U.S. It’s a simple but realistic film. It feels so real that one could almost mistake it for a documentary. Take Out is the kind of film that truly challenges viewers to walk in the protagonist's shoes and see the world through his perspective, making it quite a moving, sobering film.
Anora
Anora follows sex worker Anora "Ani" Mikheeva (Mikey Madison) and her fateful meeting with client Ivan "Vanya" Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch. The pair fall in love, embarking on a whirlwind, fairly tale-esque romance. However, the fairy tale shatters when Vanya’s disapproving family gets involved. Anora is a genre-bending movie that is equal parts comedic and heartbreaking. Madison shines as the spunky but also profoundly vulnerable Ani, while the film offers a realistic and positive depiction of sex workers and goes far deeper than the average romance movie.
Red Rocket
In Red Rocket, washed-up porn star Mikey Davies (Simon Rex) returns to his hometown in Texas in desperation for work and a place to live. Unable to find employment, he becomes an opportunist, relying on his charisma to tap odd jobs and living arrangements and pursue a relationship with a 17-year-old girl. The film is sometimes difficult to watch due to the manipulation and terrible morals of the lead character. However, it’s ultimately an honest and brutal look at manipulation, exploitation, and the shady morals of opportunists. The fact Red Rocket takes place against the backdrop of the 2016 U.S. Presidential elections allows it to subtly question American ideals, toxic masculinity, and the power of charisma.
Tangerine
Tangerine offers a slice-of-life look into transgender sex worker Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), who has just been released from prison after serving a 28-day sentence. Upon release, she is infuriated to learn her partner Chester (James Ransone) has been unfaithful, sending her on a mission to track down his affair partner and confront the pair. Tangerine’s cinematography stands out, as it is shot with iPhones rather than cameras in a celebration of indie filmmaking. Meanwhile, the film offers a raw and realistic look into the experiences of sex workers and the transgender community. Although Tangerine sets itself apart with its transgender representation and cinematography, it struggles on the storytelling front and sometimes feels unnecessarily brutal.
Starlet
Starlet follows Jane (Dree Hemingway), a young woman who buys a thermos from an 85-year-old widow, Sadie (Besedka Johnson). When she discovers money inside the thermos, Jane struggles with how to proceed morally. However, the debacle sparks an unlikely friendship between Jane and Sadie. Starlet is one of Baker’s films that mixes humor and emotion, showcasing a flawed, human, but ultimately touching friendship between two people. While the film is an authentic, realistic, and thoughtful take on friendship and selfishness, Starlet’s story feels quite familiar with the odd friendship trope. It also doesn’t go as deep into character development as Baker’s other films, leaving the characters a bit ambiguous in the end.
Prince of Broadway
Prince of Broadway tells the story of Lucky (Prince Adu), a petty criminal whose life turns upside down when his ex-partner asks him to care for his toddler son, Prince (iden Noesi), who Lucky didn’t know existed. Like Starlet, Prince of Broadway also has an air of familiarity with its story of a man opposed to fatherhood thrust into the role of a father. Viewers watch as he goes through all the funny, awkward stages of parenthood while trying to balance his criminal profession and current relationship. Once again, Baker excels at realism and simplicity, emotionally and effectively capturing the trials of parenting and the lives of New York immigrants. However, like Starlet, it struggles to provide meaningful commentary on its subject matter.
Four Letter Words
Four Letter Words marks Baker’s directorial debut. The film strives to probe the psyche of adolescent boys. It tries to capture boys at their most raw, unfiltered selves by following a group of stragglers leaving a high school party. Four Letter Words is easily Baker’s most simplistic film, as there’s little plot, and the movie serves more as an unadulterated look at adolescence. It’s a unique and experimental look at the thoughts and actions of boys that surface during drunken conversations. However, viewers will be left wishing the film did a little bit more in terms of plot and commentary to truly say something about the young men it follows.
Where to watch Sean Baker’s movies streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to watch all of Baker’s movies online in the U.S.!
