| Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Simon Curtis |
| Screenplay by | Julian Fellowes |
| Based on | Downton Abbey by Julian Fellowes |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ben Smithard |
| Edited by | Adam Recht |
| Music by | John Lunn |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Focus Features |
Release date |
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Running time | 124 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $50 million (net)[2] |
| Box office | $99 million[3][4] |
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is a 2025historical drama film directed bySimon Curtis from a screenplay byJulian Fellowes. It is the sequel toDownton Abbey: A New Era (2022) and the third and final film in theDownton Abbey franchise. Many of the original franchise's cast members, who also appeared in the previous two films, return.Paul Giamatti andDominic West reprise their roles as Harold Levinson from the television series and Guy Dexter from the previous film, respectively, whileJoely Richardson,Alessandro Nivola,Simon Russell Beale andArty Froushan join the cast.
Imelda Staunton, who portrays Maud, Lady Bagshaw in the previous film, stated in March 2024 that a third and final film in theDownton Abbey franchise was being planned, with the main cast set to return. Following the announcement of several cast members reprising their roles in May, filming began that month and concluded in August, with a net budget of $50 million. The official title was announced in March 2025.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale was released byFocus Features on 12 September 2025. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $99 million worldwide.
In 1930 London, the Crawleys, except Mary, attend a play starring Guy Dexter andNoël Coward, who is also the playwright. Backstage they meet with Dexter, Coward, and former Downton Abbey butler Thomas Barrow, now Dexter's assistant and partner-lover. The next day, the Crawley family is at Lady Petersfield's ball when news breaks about Mary and Henry Talbot's divorce. Mary is asked to leave because royals are expected to attend.
Robert and Cora return to Downton Abbey while Mary remains at Grantham House to receive Cora's brother, Harold Levinson, who is arriving from America following their mother Martha's death. Accompanying Harold is financial adviser Gus Sambrook, who reportedly saved Harold from financial ruin by withdrawing his stock market investments prior to the 1929Wall Street Crash. Sambrook and Mary are mutually attracted, drink heavily, and end up in bed together. The party travels to Downton Abbey, where Harold, to Cora's dismay, reveals that he squandered their mother's fortune on poor investments. He wants to invest Downton's remaining assets to recoup his losses and repay his debt to Sambrook.
Mary's divorce causes Downton neighbours to shun the Crawleys and decline a dinner invitation. Robert, still reeling from Mary's failed marriage and Harold's poor judgement, opposes Mary's suggestion to sell Grantham House in London to raise capital. When the family rejects Sambrook's proposal to invest Downton's income, he attempts to blackmail Mary regarding their liaison. Meanwhile, Tom Branson arrives with daughter Sybbie.
AtRoyal Ascot, an acquaintance informs Tom that Sambrook is a fraudster who swindled other people's fortunes and recently avoided imprisonment. Deducing that Sambrook embezzled the Levinson wealth, Tom warns the Crawleys and Harold. Edith confronts Sambrook, forcing him to leave. Before departing, Sambrook has a final conversation with Mary, who tersely dismisses him. A remorseful Harold reconciles with Cora before returning to America.
Tom and Bertie Pelham convince Robert that Mary is acting in Downton Abbey's interest. He is finally able to leave the running of the estate to her. Robert and Cora resolve to move to the Downtondower house, taking along servants John and Anna Bates, who are expecting a second child. Anna becomes Cora's lady's maid while Baxter is Mary's.
Dexter, Coward, and Barrow are coming to Downton Abbey, and Edith and Cora see an opportunity to rehabilitate Mary's reputation; they ask the servants to spread news about the impending visit in the village. Mr Molesley, working full-time as a screenwriter, returns as a footman for the dinner, hoping Dexter and Coward will notice him. Molesley is disappointed when Dexter fails to remember him, though Coward is impressed that Molesley wrote the script forThe Gambler.[a] Molesley's spirits are lifted when, after chatting with Coward, he inadvertently provides the title for Coward's upcoming play,Private Lives, which is inspired by Mary's divorce. The dinner is a success and the Crawleys are again viewed favourably. Daisy Parker, now Downton's head cook following Mrs Patmore's retirement, prepared her first large dinner.
Meanwhile, Isobel, Lady Merton, helping to organise the annual county fair, clashes with the traditionalist chairman, Sir Hector Moreland, over how to run the event. Seeking fresh perspectives, Isobel invites Daisy and Downton's retired butler, Mr Carson, to join the committee. They support Isobel's ideas. When Sir Hector vehemently objects to Mary presenting the fair's main award, Isobel successfully outmanoeuvres him; Mary presents the award to Mr Mason, Mrs Patmore's husband and Daisy's father-in-law.
Robert and Cora, the servants, and Edith express confidence and trust in Mary's ability to manage Downton Abbey. As Robert and Cora prepare to exit the Main Hall, Mary has flashbacks about her experiences and deceased loved ones. Robert and Cora stroll the estate grounds as they depart for the Dower House. A mid-credits scene shows the couples in the series enjoying each other's company and Mary reading to her children.
A scene at the end of the film features credited,archival cameos byDame Maggie Smith,Dan Stevens, andJessica Brown Findlay as Violet (Dowager Countess of Grantham), Matthew, and Lady Sybil Crawley, respectively.
In March 2024,Imelda Staunton, who portrayed Maud, Lady Bagshaw in the filmDownton Abbey: A New Era, confirmed that a third and final film in theDownton Abbey franchise was being planned, with the main cast returning.[5] In May,Paul Giamatti andDominic West were announced to be reprising their roles as Harold Levinson and Guy Dexter respectively, alongsideJoely Richardson,Alessandro Nivola,Simon Russell Beale andArty Froushan in undisclosed roles.[6] On 27 March 2025, the title was revealed asDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale.[7] John Lunn returned to score music forThe Grand Finale after previously doing the same for the television series and its film continuation.[8]
Principal photography began on 13 May 2024[6] and wrapped in August.[citation needed]
On 8 September 2025, the film premiered in London and New York City.[9] On 10 September 2025,NBC airedDownton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale to promote the film. The television special, which was filmed at London'sSavoy Hotel, reunited the cast for a look back at the legacy of the television series and also included an exclusive preview of the film.[10] On 11 September 2025, the film was released next in Italy and Australia.[11][12] On 12 September 2025, the film was generally released to all remaining cinemas.[11][12] On 19 September 2025, the film was released in Norway.[13]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 90% of 136 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Soothing as a cup of tea while providing a satisfying amount of closure,The Grand Finale is a worthy sendoff forDownton Abbey."[14]
OnMetacritic, which uses aweighted average, the film holds a score of 66 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[15]
Pete Hammond forDeadline writes that "writer-producer Julian Fellowes has created such a memorable group of characters it is hard to finally say goodbye to them, but in this witty and wise finale it is nice to report it is a goodbye worth saying".[16]
