Tonight's Movie: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

The long-running DOWNTON ABBEY saga has now come to an end with the new movie DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE (2025).

I saw THE GRAND FINALE earlier this week and can report I enjoyed it very much. The final few minutes, in particular, a loving look backwards followed by a visual review of the characters' "happily ever afters," will leave any DOWNTON ABBEY fan both misty-eyed and smiling.

DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA (2022) hinted that all was not well in the marriage of Lady Mary (Michelle Crawley) and the absent Henry Talbot (previously played by Matthew Goode), who was last seen in DOWNTON ABBEY (2019).

As the movie opens, the newly divorced Lady Mary finds that she is no longer welcome in "polite company." While she tries to forge an uncertain path forward, Downton Abbey's finances are in precarious straits due to investments by Harold (Paul Giamatti), the brother of Lady Cora (Elizabeth McGovern).

Harold's trusted financial advisor (Allesandro Nivola), who visits Downton Abbey alongside Harold, seems shadier the more time passes...but Tom (Allen Leech), the former chauffeur turned trusted family member, is on the case.

Meanwhile both Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), the longtime butler, and Lord Robert (Hugh Bonneville) are finding passing the torch to the next generation difficult.

More changes are afoot as Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) is about to retire from her position as cook, turning the job over to her longtime assistant Daisy (Sophie McShera).

And Lady Merton (Penelope Wilton) is taking over as chair of the local fair; her no-nonsense attitude and openness to new ideas rocks more than a few staid boats.

Along the way movie star Guy Dexter (Dominic West) returns to Downton Abbey for a visit, bringing along Noel Coward (Arty Froushan), not to mention previous Downton staff member Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier).

Many other familiar cast members return, and fans of the series will be happy to spend more time with them in a nicely crafted tale. I note that Tom's daughter Sybbie (Fifi Hart), the eldest of the Downton grandchildren, is starting to look quite grown up!

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE runs 123 minutes. It was written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis. It was filmed by Ben Smithard.

I'll definitely be getting this on Blu-ray when it's out, to enjoy again in the future, just as I have the previous films. Recommended.

Previous posts: Musings on Downtown Abbey (2011); Tonight's Movie: Downton Abbey (2019); Tonight's Movie: Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).

Tweet