Film Review: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Director: Simon Curtis
Carnival Films
In Theaters: 09.12.2025

When television moves to the big screen, you’re not just relying on the devoted fanbase who is excited to celebrate what they love, you’re depending on the idea that at least a few people who haven’t found time for it as home for free will say, “Well, if it’s longer and I have to pay for it, how can I say no to that?” The only way to do this is by selling the idea that this is a major event, and while Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, manages to surpass even Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning for most condescendingly manipulative title of the year, it is indeed an event of some significance to fans, and it marks the end of an era (arguably two eras, even given that only one movie ago we were entering A New Era).

It is the dawn of the 1930s, and the Crawley family, the beloved and esteemed stewards of the grand estate known as Downton Abbey, are thrown into turmoil and disgrace when Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery, The Gentlemen, Flight Risk) becomes a figure of scandal when news that she has divorced goes public, and the estate faces mounting financial pressures. Robert, the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville, Paddington, The Monuments Men), must come to grips with the idea that, at age 65, it might be time for him to move and pass the torch to the next generation. Meanwhile, Robert’s wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern, Ragtime, She’s Having A Baby), faces her own reckoning when her brother, Harold Levinson (Paul Giamatti, Sideways, The Holdovers), arrives from America with news of bad investments which have cost the family dearly. Harold brings with him a handsome financial advisor, Gus Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola, Jurassic Park III, The Brutalist), who has his eyes on Mary. On the other side of the class structure, Carson (Jim Carter, Wonka, Top Secret!), the stalwart butler, prepares for his retirement, as Daisy Parker (Sophie McShera, Cinderella) is recruited by Lady Merton (Penelope Wilton, The BFG) to play an active role in local affairs, drawing the wrath of the pompous Sir Hector Moreland (Simon Russell Beale, Dunkirk). The times are changing and those who are set in their ways must learn to adapt as Downton Abbey moves toward the future.

There’s a lot going on here in terms of social-climbing politics and parlor intrigue, and those with no previous experience with the franchise are inevitably going to feel a little lost, though series creator Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) has done his best to make the charming and witty screenplay accessible enough without dumbing things down. As someone who has seen all three films but missed the series, I can only marginally be considered to be within the target audience, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying myself and very rarely having to ask any of the die-hard fans with me for clarification. The characters are painted with broad enough strokes to easily understand while there’s enough rich shading to keep them from becoming flat, and the various plot points are crafted with enough care that one is easily swept up in the proceedings. There’s nothing revelatory or earth shattering going on here, and for the most part, it’s all rather superficial yet enjoyable. There are no big surprises, and apart from the usual wading into the issue of class structure in a monarchy without going deep enough to get wet or cause any ripples, the movie doesn’t have a lot to say. It’s simply a series finale that happens to be playing in theaters instead of on television — take it or leave it.

The various guest stars, such as Giamatti, Nivola, Beale and Joely Richardson (101 Dalmatians, The Patriot) all add to the sense that this is a grand occasion, and run the risk of stealing too much focus. However, it’s ultimately rooted firmly enough in the beloved established characters that there’s little feeling that anyone is getting cheated out of their moment to shine. Dockery, Bonneville and Carter are all given plenty of good moments, and their characters each get a strong send off. McShea and Wilton are the most delightful of the bunch for my money, and while their plotline isn’t the most consequential to the overall story, it was easily my favorite.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is a proper end to a proper English melodrama, and it’s an entertaining diversion that I thoroughly enjoyed. The movie is unabashedly angling for the anglophile audience. It’s a shame that high tea won’t be widely available at multiplex concession stands to create the full effect, yet ultimately, this is for people who already claim Downton Abbey as their cup of tea. —Patrick Gibbs 

Read more film reviews from Patrick Gibbs:
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Film Review: Eden