Anna's affair and initial attraction with Vronsky begins with a dance (somewhat sensual) at a ball. Anna finally falls for him, and they consummate their relationship. We see both their bare shoulders and Vronsky's torso, and several close up views of their faces as they passionately kiss and move sexually; all during a montage of Anna going to his house for this encounter.

Another scene shows the couple clothed, lying in a forest (at a picnic), and after some suggestive dialogue, Anna climbs on top of Vronsky and begins to move slowly, sensually, and explicitly, as he responds. There are also close ups of Anna licking Vronsky's lips and face, as they begin to have sex and the scene fades out.

We see Vronsky nude from the side briefly (his backside is seen partially) as he lies next to a nude Anna (who is covered by bedsheets).

Sexual dialogue is present throughout the script, as Oblonsky admits to having affairs outside of his marriage, and a man lives with a prostitute, saying she is his wife. Costumes reveal cleavage, and Anna is briefly seen changing (we see her bare upper back). A woman is seen breastfeeding a baby, although this is very brief and doesn't reveal much nudity. Anna is called a "slut" in front of many people. Karenin takes out a box several times during the movie which looks like it contains a reusable condom. It may imply that he and Anna have sex.

A worker at a train station is run over when the train begins to move. We don't see the accident happen, but we do see the bloody aftermath of the man's body sliced in half, some of his organs spilling out.

At a horse race, one of the horses trips and falls, resulting in a broken back, and the rider is forced to shoot it.

Mild profanity, a few uses of "damn" and some misuses of God's name. Anna is called a "slut."

Many social gatherings feature alcohol (usually vodka), and Vronsky and other men are at one point drunk at a party.

Anna and others smoke cigarettes, and Anna is seen taking several shots of morphine.