Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the scripts fueling the year’s most talked-about movies continues with Neon’s Anora, a zany romantic comedy written and directed by Sean Baker. The film, which won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, stars Mikey Madison as Anora, a sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries the son of a billionaire oligarch.

Neon released Anora on October 18, and it has grossed $29.5 million to date at the global box office. The pic has been a major presence during awards season, having scored a co-leading five Indie Spirit Awards nominations, seven Critics Choice noms and five Golden Globe noms including for directing and screenplay, and Best Picture. The Los Angeles Film Critics named it film of the year, and it’s on several Top 10 lists including AFI‘s.

Set over three contrasting acts,...