Sean Baker has one of the most impressive filmographies: here’s a list of the director’s most recent films, ranked from worst to best and including Anora.
There are very few filmmakers that produce interesting independent films like Sean Baker. He is known for having an eye for casting unknowns who give brilliant performances in almost all his movies, and you can see Baker’s development as a filmmaker throughout his filmography. Every time he has a film come out, there is always a sense of anticipation because, ever since the 2010s, every feature he’s directed has always been impressive. Sean Baker’s movies usually provide a look into an underrepresented community, from the transgender sex workers of LA to the kids on the outskirts of Orlando, and feature authentic characters and worldbuilding that make the experience highly immersive. Here is our list of Sean Baker’s most recent films, ranked from worst to best including his most recent movie, Anora!
5. Starlet (2012)
Starlet is a buddy comedy that we have seen plenty of times before, but it is still worth a watch because we can see Baker developing his directing trademarks. This film follows a 21 year old named Jane (Dree Hemingway) who sparks up a friendship with an elderly woman (Besedka Johnson) after she is sold a vase with ten thousand dollars in it. Baker typically edits his own films and his comedic timing is best utilized here. There are scenes where he cuts to certain characters for reaction shots unexpectedly, and every time it happens, I laugh. Both Hemingway and Johnson have amazing chemistry and elevate a screenplay that isn’t nearly as original as Baker’s other films. While this isn’t masterpiece territory, like the other movies on this list, it is still an essential watch in his filmography.
4. Red Rocket (2021)
Having a film like Red Rocket in the bottom half of a ranked list is a testament to how strong of a filmmaker Sean Baker is. Baker’s most recent movie follows ex-porn star Mikey Saber (Simon Rex, of The Sweet East) who returns to his hometown Texas City, Texas to reunite with his ex-wife (Bree Elrod). Right when things seem to be going smoothly for them, Mikey meets Strawberry (Suzanna Son), a teenager who works as a cashier, and immediately attempts to seduce her.
Simon Rex easily gives one of the best performances of the 2020s so far. Mikey is written as such a despicable character, but Rex plays him in such an innocent and well meaning manner, making every scene such a fascinating watch. Even though the over two hour run time is a little long, there is really nothing worth taking out, because the world building of Texas City is so inviting, you’re captivated the whole time.
3. Tangerine (2015)
Filmed on an iPhone, Tangerine is an unforgettable watch. It follows Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) on their night long adventure across Los Angeles to figure out if one of their pimp boyfriends is cheating. The film is just as chaotic as it sounds, in all the best ways. Tangerine is the funniest of Sean Baker’s movies because there are so many fun characters we interact with in under an hour and a half that there is no time to fully understand what is going on. You just laugh, and the film moves on. The intensity of Tangerine can at times be compared to Uncut Gems, which can be slightly too much, but there is really not much to dislike about the film.
2. Anora (2024)
Anora is already proving to be not only one of his most accessible films but also his most acclaimed. This film is a love story of sorts between Ani (Mikey Madison, of Scream), a 23-year-old sex worker from Brooklyn, and Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the uber-rich son of a Russian oligarch. The two quickly hit it off and get married within a couple of weeks of knowing each other. While this might sound like a fairytale love story, everything changes once Ivan’s parents find out and head to New York to get the marriage annulled. Even though this is not my favorite Sean Baker film, I think it is his most well-made. His editing and directing chops are at an all-time high, making this hilarious dramedy’s over two-hour runtime fly by.
Mikey Madison is the brightest star out of any of Baker’s characters and deserves all the recognition she will get this upcoming awards season. My favorite part of this Anora is that all the characters are so well written, to the point that, with repeat viewings, you will be able to understand the ensemble in a different light. This type of character work given to a relatively unknown community – the Brighton Beach neightborhood in Brooklyn – is exactly what makes Sean Baker a special filmmaker and why Anora is one of his best.
1. The Florida Project (2017)
Ever since I first saw The Florida Project for class in college, it has been one of my favorite films of all time. Cinema has the power to both inform and entertain, and this movie does both exceptionally well. Telling the story of a six year old named Moone (Brooklynn Prince) who is having the time of her life in a low income area of Orlando, Florida, Baker is able to show one of the most emphatic portraits of this socioeconomic demographic in film history. Every performance, from Brooklynn Prince to Willem Dafoe, who plays the apartment manager of the motel Moone lives at, is picture perfect, and the heartbreaking ending is sure to touch the heart of anyone who watches. It will be nearly impossible for Sean Baker to top The Florida Project, but I will surely be watching every new movie of his just in case.
Anora is out now globally in theaters, and all the other Sean Baker films are now available to watch on digital and on demand.
