The Sense of an Ending
CBS Films | Release Date: March 10, 2017 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
14
Mixed:
9
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
ObserverRex ReedMar 21, 2017
Directed with polish and restraint by Ritesh Batra, this is a gripping film that seizes your focus and never lets go. If this one fails to move you, then you don’t really care much about the power of movies. Read full review
80
VarietyPeter DebrugeJan 5, 2017
In places, The Sense of an Ending seems almost frustratingly uninterested in establishing, much less solving, the riddles at its core, when in fact, it’s merely uninterested in pandering to those who lack the patience to appreciate its nuances. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Kate TaylorMar 16, 2017
Batra has drawn delicate performances from his ensemble in this adaptation of what was always an elliptical novel, but as a film, The Sense of an Ending leaves you hungry for something more than just the sense of an ending. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchCalvin WilsonMar 16, 2017
The Sense of an Ending does not provide easy answers. But it raises intriguing questions. Read full review
75
Washington PostAnn HornadayMar 16, 2017
The inherent superiority of the written word notwithstanding, Batra has done a credible and even commendable job of translating Barnes’s intricate prose to the screen, opening up some of its corners, burrowing into its time shifts and, most gratifyingly, elaborating on a few otherwise marginal characters. Read full review
75
The Seattle TimesMoira MacdonaldMar 15, 2017
Batra has assembled a strong cast, a thoughtful screenplay (by Nick Payne), a meticulous attention to detail — all of which make The Sense of an Ending a pleasure to watch. But the book ever-so-subtly slams you in the heart; the movie, just as subtly, only walks near it. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerMar 10, 2017
Without an actor of Broadbent’s poise and humor, The Sense of an Ending – which, I must add, is appropriately also the title of a famous work of literary criticism by Frank Kermode about theories of fiction – would be a bit too fusty. Read full review
75
IndieWireSteve GreeneMar 9, 2017
Modest in its ambition but profound in its specificity, Batra gets to the core of the slipperiness of memory and the allure of the past. It’s not through grand pronouncements and cosmic love stories; instead, a handful of unshakable moments do the trick. Read full review
70
Village VoiceApril WolfeMar 19, 2017
Batra kills the mystery part of the story and instead pushes the adaptation toward that humanism, which renders a good chunk of the plot a wash. Good thing Batra’s really adept at the human portraits, though. Read full review
70
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzMar 16, 2017
The Sense of an Ending is a twisty tale of time and memory that owes most of its compelling nature to Jim Broadbent. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterTodd McCarthyJan 6, 2017
The lineup of fine actors keenly registers minute details about the passage of time with humor, wisdom and a sharp sense of how moments of rash or just misguided behavior can forever dictate a life's path. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliMar 20, 2017
Watching The Sense of an Ending, I was struck by the realization that this should have been a good movie. Unfortunately, as is too often the case, something didn’t translate from the written page to the big screen. Read full review
63
Movie NationRoger MooreMar 14, 2017
Even though this “ending” is a lot less surprising than it must have been on the pages of Julian Barnes’ novel, Broadbent humanizes the mystery and makes us care long past the point where we’ve solved it. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireMar 10, 2017
Not to sound derisive, but there’s definitely a target audience here. What they’ll get will be mildly satisfying: a film that’s well-acted but tastefully restrained to a fault, with gentle humor about aging and a central mystery that isn’t all that engaging. Read full review
60
Total FilmNeil SmithApr 10, 2017
A classy ensemble (Charlotte Rampling, Harriet Walter) supports Jim Broadbent’s amusingly tetchy lead, while youthful flashbacks evoke a mood of romantic yearning. Read full review
60
EmpirePhil de SemlyenApr 3, 2017
A handsome and well-acted rumination on memory, boyhood and ageing that sees Ritesh Batra deliver a solid rather than inspired interpretation of Julian Barnes’ prize winner. Read full review
60
New York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinMar 13, 2017
It’s world away from the mystery and irrevocable tragedy that Barnes evokes in his slim novel. The climactic revelation is very sad, but it doesn’t wound you. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesJustin ChangMar 9, 2017
The Sense of an Ending, despite its polished construction and immaculate pedigree, doesn’t ultimately mean as much as it thinks it does. Read full review
60
The New York TimesGlenn KennyMar 9, 2017
Directed by Ritesh Batra from a screenplay by Nick Payne, The Sense of an Ending maintains intrigue and emotional magnetism as its mystery unfolds. Read full review
60
TheWrapRay GreeneJan 16, 2017
Had this well-meaning movie been more willing to directly embrace its origins in Barnes’s luminous prose, it’s quite possible The Sense of an Ending might be something special rather than something worthy.
58
Tampa Bay TimesSteve PersallMar 15, 2017
Broadbent carries the movie with signature ease, making Tony easy to dislike while wishing him an overdue peace. Despite its time-flip fixation, The Sense of an Ending finds emotional focus in Broadbent's wilting gaze and discoveries in character with the simplest line deliveries. Read full review
58
The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloMar 9, 2017
The entire movie consists of this same delayed-gratification tactic, as significant events from Tony’s past are first teased and then revealed a bit at a time, via numerous flashbacks. A little of that sort of thing can be invigorating. Push it too far, however, and it starts to feel like a pointless game of narrative Keep Away. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleKimberley JonesMar 22, 2017
Alas, the younger actors in the Sixties stretch are no match for the senior set, weightless and blank next to the gravitas of Broadbent, Walter, and Charlotte Rampling. Read full review
12
Slant MagazineDiego SemereneMar 8, 2017
Ritesh Batra's film is a tale of white nostalgia that should have found its footing on dramatic grounds. Read full review
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