The Stream: If you haven’t watched the series and the previous movies, then you’ll miss the full effect of the fan service.

The Big Screen: The costumes, music, and witty dialogue.

The Final Bill: Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new convert, this movie brings all that’s grand about Downton Abbey back to the big screen.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Simon Curtis
Writers: Julian Fellowes
Stars: Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Alessandro Nivola, Dominic West
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Production Companies: Focus Features, Carnival Film & Television
Platform: In theaters September 12, 2025
Notable Trailers: The Cat in the Hat, Wicked: For Good, Song Sung Blue, Hamnet, Kiss of the Spider Woman,

What’s up, Streamers! All good things must come to an end. Downton Abbey has had six seasons and two feature films since 2010; and, now, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which was released in theaters this month, promises to be the final goodbye to the Crawley family. In this third feature length film, the Crawley family is dealing with the impending scandal of Lady Mary’s divorce and continued financial problems threatening the future of Downton Abbey. Meanwhile, retirements of longstanding members of the staff signify a changing of the guard both upstairs and downstairs. High society hijinks ensue.

As a Downton Abbey fan, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale definitely scratches that itch. All of your favorite characters are back. Each one gets a significant moment to remind the audience why we fell in love with them. The ensemble is large, but everyone still has the chemistry that has kept the audience coming back for nearly fifteen years. The story in this movie is emotional as the characters move on to new journeys and positions in life. All of the wit we thought we lost with the passing of Dame Maggie Smith is still here through sharp dialogue and clever callbacks to the series. Yes, it’s fan service, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. Moreover, the crafts of the film are amplified by the big screen. Downton Abbey looks grand and majestic, the costumes look lush and sumptuous, and the music is transportive. The film overall is more than just a television show on the big screen. It looks and feels like a feature film worthy of a final goodbye to a beloved series.

Ultimately, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale lives up to its title as being quite grand. All of your favorite characters are back with amazing costumes and witty dialogue. The story is emotional and engaging, truly a fitting sendoff for the Crawley family. For the fans of the series, this movie is a satisfying must-see on the big screen, but for everyone else, this movie may be best viewed casually when it arrives on streaming.