The Exception
Performance & Direction: The Exception Review
Last updated: February 16, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Exception (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this War.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any War is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Exception features a noteworthy lineup led by Lily James . Supported by the likes of Jai Courtney and Eddie Marsan , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Exception
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2017, The Exception is a War, Drama, Romance film directed by David Leveaux. The narrative presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Lily James.
Ending Explained: The Exception
Ending Breakdown: Directed by David Leveaux, The Exception concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to war resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Lily James, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the war themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Exception reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
The Exception Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
The Exception uses real-world events as narrative inspiration. As a war, drama, romance film directed by David Leveaux, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement for Lily James's character.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, with attention to period detail and historical context.
Accuracy Assessment: The Exception adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch The Exception?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy War films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Lily James or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: The Exception
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $709.0K |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Top Cast: The Exception
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Exception Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube🏷️ Buy on
Apple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeThe Exception Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about The Exception age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Exception is 107 minutes (1h 47m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.9/10, and global performance metrics, The Exception is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Exception worth watching?
The Exception is definitely worth watching if you enjoy War movies. It has a verified rating of 6.9/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Exception parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Exception identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Exception?
The total duration of The Exception is 107 minutes, which is approximately 1h 47m long.
Best Movies to Watch if you liked The Exception
How The Exception Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Exception
Mismarketed as a spy thriller, _The Exception_ is nothing more than a romance movie, a romance that has certain obstacles to be sure, but most any romance put to screen does. _The Exception_ is well acted, (which may come as a surprise to some people when it comes to Jai Courtney) but oddly made. There are certain presentation choices that seemed very bizarre to me, but not dealbreakingly so. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
**A look at the German Royal family during the WWII.** A book based film, partially inspired by the real, but I really loved. In the backdrop of the world war two, it focused on the German royal family, Kaiser. An officer sent to protect him during the nazi Germany's invasion of Europe, possibly from the spies. So during his stint, all events that unfolded were revealed to us with a twist at the end. The twist was predictable, so they did not hide it for the perfect moment and to make the film entirely rely on it. What's important is it was more a straightforward narration. Though there were some tense moments. Overall a great drama. I did not know what to expect, whether a thriller or romance, but it mixed them all together nicely. Of course, Jai was good, and so Lily James, but I was very impressed by Christopher Plummer. This film was awesome because of this 88 year old Canadian actor. Directed by a newcomer, and he did his part nicely. One of the fine addition to the world war two related dramas. It has a strong sex scene, otherwise would have been fit for all. Definitely I suggest it if you're interested! _7.5/10_
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
