Overview
A tragic love story unfolds in the opulent world of Russian aristocracy, where passion defies societal norms.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- romantic
- sumptuous
- witty
- literary adaptation night
- costume drama marathon
What critics said
Critics generally viewed Joe Wright’s adaptation as a bold, energetic, visually stylized interpretation elevated by Keira Knightley and its technical craft, though its theatrical approach divided opinion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe Wright stages much of the action through an ornate theater, shifting scenery and performance spaces to represent aristocratic society.
Anna’s affair with Vronsky challenges her marriage and the rigid expectations of Imperial Russian high society.
Ballroom sequences, horse racing, dance, and theatrical transitions give the period drama the rhythm and visual logic of ballet.
The plot connects Anna’s condemnation to the broader infidelity and double standards of her social circle.
Films like Anna Karenina, and why
Madame Bovary
shared literary romance, sumptuous period setting, social constraint, and tragic emotional intensity
The Duchess
shared ornate historical romance, forbidden desire, class hypocrisy, and heightened visual style
Atonement
shared tragic love story, aristocratic society, lavish costumes, and emotional repression
War and Peace
shared Tolstoyan themes of marital conflict, social convention, and sweeping period melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Joe Wright
- Release Date
- 2012-09-06
- Runtime
- 129 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (2453)
Cast
- Keira Knightley
- Jude Law
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Matthew Macfadyen
- Eric MacLennan
- Kelly Macdonald
- Alicia Vikander
- Domhnall Gleeson
- Olivia Williams
- Ruth Wilson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Anna Karenina about?
- A visually audacious Imperial Russian romance follows Anna Karenina as forbidden passion collides with marriage, status, and unforgiving social convention.
- What is Anna Karenina like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Anna Karenina as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Anna Karenina violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Anna Karenina as mild.
- What did critics think of Anna Karenina?
- Critics generally viewed Joe Wright’s adaptation as a bold, energetic, visually stylized interpretation elevated by Keira Knightley and its technical craft, though its theatrical approach divided opinion.
- Which films are like Anna Karenina?
- Films with a similar feel include Madame Bovary, The Duchess, Atonement, and War and Peace.
- How long is Anna Karenina?
- Anna Karenina runs 129 minutes.
- Where can I watch Anna Karenina?
- In United States, Anna Karenina is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
