After six seasons, fifty-two episodes and two feature films, The Grand Finale brings the glamourous Crawley saga to a satisfying close. Debuting on ITV in 2010, Downton Abbey was a global phenomenon, loved for its complex characters and beautiful surroundings. Fifteen years later, The Grand Finale is a kind of celebration of the stories that came before.
It’s 1930, and modernity is forcing Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) to begrudgingly embrace change and accept a new generation, specifically Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) leading Downton Abbey. Still anxious to lead, Mary faces a personal crossroads as her divorce from Henry Talbot becomes final, and her social standing is threatened. Edith (Laura Carmichael) is now comfortable in her role as Marchioness. She’s not afraid to use her power as she balances motherhood and her journalism career.
Often portrayed as the quiet strength of Downton Abbey, Elizabeth McGovern’s Cora Crawley shines. There’s a layered warmth to her performance that keeps everything grounded. Every scene she’s in carries emotional weight. Her scenes with Paul Giamatti as her brother are wonderful. Emotional too, is Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary. The film explores her choices with nuance and maturity. Independent and guarded as ever, there’s a new vulnerability that adds welcome depth to her character. Always central to the Crawley’s story, she’s prepared to inherit her birthright.
Downstairs, Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) and Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) try to maintain order as a new generation of servants takes the reins. Daisy is just days away from taking over for the retiring Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nichol) and Andy (Michael Fox) is comfortable in his role despite ongoing concerns from Mr. Carson.
The showbiz callback to Downton Abbey: A New Era is a nice distraction, offering up appearances from Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier), Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and Arty Froushan as Noël Coward are a welcome diverson.
While tying up stories nicely, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale gives each character a moment to shine. Even the gone and departed appear—the great Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens as Matthew, and Jessica Brown Findlay as Sybil—a welcome addition to the film.
Presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with HDR, Universal’s 4K release boasts an excellent transfer. Fine detail is strong, and textures are bold, jumping off the screen. Shadow detail is strong too, with no compression issues. The vast color palette looks wonderfully bright. Blacks are inky and full. The image is strong with no scratches or other anomalies,
The Dolby Atmos track offers a delightful listening experience. Centrally located, dialogue is clear and concise throughout. ambient sounds are given use of the entire soundstage. The original score composed by John Lunn is enveloping without interfering with dialogue and other sound effects.
English SDH, Spanish, French are available.
The following extras are included:
- Audio Commentary with Director Simon Curtis and Actress Elizabeth McGovern
- Changing Times (HD, 11:33) Cast and crew offer a brief look at the timeline covered in the Downton Abbey
- Society Season (HD, 11:25) Cast and crew detail the three society events covered in the film, including Lady Petersfield’s Ball, the Ascot Race, and the County Show.
- Authentic to the Core (HD, 7:13) Cast and crew discuss their effort to be historically authentic.
- Farewell to Fans (HD, 2:08) Brief goodbyes from the cast.
- Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale (HD, 42:06) Michelle Dockery introduces this special, originally aired on September 25, 2025 on NBC.