December 21, 2025
by Carla Hay
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”
Directed by Simon Curtis
Culture Representation: Taking place in 1930, in the United Kingdom, the dramatic film “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” features an all-white cast of characters representing the working-class, middle-class and wealthy.
Culture Clash: The patriarch of the wealthy Crawley family of England must decide if he’s going to retire and if he will hand over the operations of the family’s Downton Abbey manor to his eldest child (a daughter), who is going through a society scandal because she is divorced.
Culture Audience: Aside from appealing to “Downton Abbey” fans, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” will appeal primarily to people who are fans of movies about 20th century upper-crust British people and their servants.
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is a drama that concludes in a fitting way and in the same polished tone that defines this franchise. Divorce and financial fraud are the biggest scandals in the story, with no real surprises. Most fans of the “Downton Abbey” franchise will be satisfied by how this movie ends, but others might feel disappointed that this “grand finale” isn’t as grand as they expected it to be.
Directed by Simon Curtis and written by Julian Fellowes, “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” (which takes place in 1930) is the third movie in the “Downton Abbey” franchise. Curtis also directed and Fellowes also wrote the 2022 movie “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” whose story took place in 1928. The first movie in the franchise is 2019’s “Downton Abbey” (directed by Michael Engler and written by Fellowes), a continuation of the British “Downton Abbey” TV series, which was on the air from 2010 to 2015. (In the United States, the award-winning “Downton Abbey” series began airing in 2011.)
Unlike the comedic and somewhat complex story in “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” the story in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is streamlined and gets a little more serious, although there are still touches of comedy. The main focus of “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is who will take over the Downton Abbey manor when the eldest living heir is a woman who has become an outsider in certain social circles because she is divorced.
The “Downton Abbey” franchise, just like much of Fellowes’ work, explores the “upstairs/downstairs” cultures, with the “upstairs” people being the wealthy employers and the “downstairs” people being the employers’ servants. “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” has much more emphasis on the “upstairs” people, compared to the previous “Downton Abbey” movies.
People who watch “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” are better off having seen the previous two movies to fully understand the characters and some previous plot developments. People who’ve watched or know what happened in all of the previous “Downton Abbey” movies, as well as the “Downton Abbey” TV series, will obviously be the most prepared for “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.” Because there are so many characters in the “Downton Abbey” franchise, here’s a handy guide of who’s who in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” and how their relationships affect each other:
The “Upstairs” People
- Robert Crawley (played by Hugh Bonneville), 7th Earl of Grantham, is the leader of Downton Abbey when the movie begins. He is generally friendly but also very opinionated on how family matters should be handled. As shown at the end of “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” Robert inherited Downton Abbey after the death of his strong-willed mother Violet (played by Maggie Smith), who was the family matriarch. Robert is Violet’s only living son. (In real life, Smith passed away in 2024.)
- Cora Crawley (played by Elizabeth McGovern), the Countess of Grantham. She is Robert’s kind, patient and dutiful wife. Robert and Cora are the parents of three daughters, one of whom is deceased.
- Lady Mary Josephine Talbot (played by Michelle Dockery), previously known as Mary Crawley. Fair-minded and even-tempered, she is the eldest of Robert and Cora’s three daughters. In the “Downton Abbey” movie, Violet put Mary in charge of all Downton Abbey management decisions, but Mary struggles with having confidence in deciding what is best for Downton Abbey and the family. Mary experienced tragedy with the 1921 death of her first husband Matthew Crawley (played by Dan Stevens), who was a distant cousin. Matthew died in a car accident shortly after Mary gave birth to their son George Crawley (played by twins Oliver Barker and Zac Barker), born in 1921. In 1925, Mary wed her second husband Henry Talbot (played by Matthew Goode), who is seen only in brief flashback footage in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.” Henry is dashing and charming but often inattentive to his family because he frequently travels to attend car racing matches around the world. His absence is one of the main reasons why Mary and Henry secretly got divorced. Mary and Henry have a daughter together named Caroline Talbot (played by Esme Creegan), who was born in 1926.
- Lady Edith Pelham (played by Laura Carmichael), previously known as Edith Crawley, Marchioness of Hexham. She is the middle daughter of Robert and Cora. Edith is happily married and has been mainly preoccupied with raising children, after previous issues with conceiving. She is a journalist who still wants to continue her dream of owning and managing her own magazine. In late 1922 or early 1923, Edith gave birth to her daughter Marigold (played by twins Eva Samms and Karina Samms), whose biological father was The Sketch magazine editor Michael Gregson (played by Charles Edwards), whom Edith met when she wrote for the magazine. Edith and Michael were never married because he could not divorce his mentally ill wife. Michael died in 1923, during the Beer Hall Putch in Germany.
- Herbert “Bertie” Pelham (played by Harry Hadden-Paton), 7th Marquess of Hexham, an amiable real-estate agent/military man. He is Edith’s second husband and the stepfather of Marigold. Bertie and Edith, who were wed on New Year’s Eve 1925, have a biological son together named Peter, who was born in 1927 or 1928.
- Tom Branson (played by Allen Leech), an Irishman who used to be the Downton Abbey chauffeur, but he became part of the family when he married Sybil Crawley (played by Jessica Brown Findlay), Robert and Cora’s youngest daughter, who died from childbirth complications in 1920. Tom and Sybil’s daughter, born in 1920, is named Sybil “Sybbie” Branson (played by Fifi Hart). In “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” Tom married his second wife Lucy Branson (played by Tuppence Middleton), a former maid and formerly secret illegitimate daughter of Maud Bagshaw, who is a wealthy distant relative of the Crawleys. Maud has made Lucy the heir to Maud’s entire fortune. Lucy is not in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
- Isobel Merton (played by Penelope Wilton), the droll-talking mother of the late Matthew Crawley. Isobel frequently traded sardonic barbs with Violet.
- Lord Merton (played by Douglas Reith), Isobel’s laid-back second husband. He is usually a bystander in the family drama.
The “Downstairs” People
- Daisy Parker (played by Sophie McShera), a Downton Abbey kitchen maid. She has a fun-loving and energetic personality. Daisy suffered a tragedy when her first husband William Mason (played by Thomas Howes), a second footman for the Downton Abbey family, died from World War I combat wounds.
- Andy Parker (played by Michael Fox), the Downton Abbey second footman. Daisy and Andy fell in love and got married circa 1928. Andy is prone to get jealous and insecure, but Daisy likes that Andy is willing to go to extremes for their love.
- Mr. Carson (played by Jim Carter), the on-again/off-again Downton Abbey butler. As the most experienced butler at Downton, he often sees himself as the unofficial leader of the staff, whether they want his advice or not. Mr. Carson retires in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”
- Mrs. Hughes (played by Phyllis Logan), the Downton Abbey head housekeeper, who is prim, proper, and frequently involved in keeping secrets to prevent Downton Abbey from being embroiled in scandals.
- Mrs. Patmore (played by Lesley Nicol), the Downton Abbey chief cook. She has a no-nonsense attitude that keeps the other kitchen staff in check.
- Mr. Bates (played by Brendan Coyle), the Downton Abbey valet. His arrogance sometimes alienates other members of the staff.
- Anna Bates (played by Joanne Froggatt), wife of Mr. Bates and the maid to Lady Mary. She is generally well-liked but sometimes gets caught up in the Downton Abbey gossip.
- Phyllis Baxter (played by Raquel Cassidy), the lady’s maid for the Countess of Grantham. Phyllis and Mr. Molesley become each other’s love interest. “Downton Abbey: The Next Era” shows how far this romance goes.
The Friends and Newcomers
- Harold Levinson (played by Paul Giamatti), Cora’s neurotic brother who has been living in the United States. Harold is entrusted with managing much of the Crawley family’s investment portfolio.
- Gus Sambrook (played by Alessandro Nivola), Harold’s business advisor, who is a smooth-talking American and a ladies’ man.
- Guy Dexter (played by Dominic West), the male titular star of “The Gambler,” the dramatic movie that was partially filmed at Downton Abbey in “Downton Abbey: A New Era.” Guy is charismatic, flirtatious, and a closeted gay man.
- Thomas Barrow (played by Robert James-Collier), a former Downton Abbey butler, who started a secret romance with Guy after they met at Downton Abbey. Thomas quit working for Downton Abbey to become Guy’s personal assistant. In the beginning of “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” Thomas and Guy are a couple whose relationship is common knowledge to people who are close to the them but it isn’t openly discussed.
- Noël Coward (played by Arty Froushan), the famed playwright/composer, who is a close friend of Guy. Just like Guy and Thomas, Noël is a gay man who is closeted to most people, but people who know him best know the truth.
- Joseph Molesley (played by Kevin Doyle), a former Downton Abbey valet who has a tendency to bumble and be socially awkward. He quit Downton Abbey to become a screenwriter but hasn’t been having much luck in his new career.
- Lady Petersfield (played by Joely Richardson), a snobbish aristocrat who pushes for Mary to be ousted and shunned from society events because Mary is divorced.
- Lady Gwendolen (played by Rose Galbraith), one of Lady Petersfield’s close friends.
In the beginning of “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” Robert and his daughter Mary have a series of conflicts and disagreements. It starts when Robert gets upset when he finds out that Mary’s divorce became final and she didn’t tell anyone else in the family. Robert had to find out after Mary is asked to leave a high society party because of her divorce, and her divorce makes front-page headlines of a local newspaper.
The Crawley family’s financial problems are ongoing. It’s one of the reasons why they reluctantly agreed to rent out their mansion to a filmmaking crew in “Downton Abbey: A New Era.” Selling the Downton Abbey property is out of the question. However, Mary suggests to Robert that they sell Grantham House, the Crawley family’s London residence. Robert vehemently objects to this idea.
Meanwhile, Harold and Gus come to visit to convince the family to invest in something that Harold assures the family will “double” their investment. Gus and Mary have an instant attraction to each other. Gus is also intrigued by Mary’s divorce scandal, which makes her more attractive to him. You can easily guess what happens between Gus and Mary.
Guy, Thomas and Noël visit the Crawleys for an elegant dinner. And when the word gets out that Noël is spending time with the Crawleys, suddenly all the snobs who wanted to shame and reject Mary have a change in attitude and want to befriend her again. Former Downton Abbey valet Joseph also gets swept up in wanting to get close to celebrity Noël. Richard goes as far as asking to be re-hired at Downton Abbey so he can meet Noël.
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” doesn’t go much deeper than the “rich people problems” story that is bulk of the movie’s plot. A major reason for much of the Crawleys’ financial woes is revealed. And when that revelation happens, it comes as no surprise because the movie makes it so obvious who might be committing fraud.
All of the returning cast members do what they’ve usually done in these roles, with only Dockery’s Mary going through a real emotional ringer. Giamatti and Nivola are what you might expect in their roles as Americans whose lives revolve around “get rich quick” schemes. Froushan is an utter delight as Noël, a scene-stealing bon vivant character, who unfortunately in not in the movie as he could have been.
The main reason why “Downton Abbey” fans and other viewers will watch is to see how the Crawley family friction will be resolved in who will really take over Downton Abbey, as Robert is headed for retirement. Robert stepping down from his leadership position means that he and Cora plan to relocate to a smaller home but will no longer have the burden of worrying about the upkeep of Downton Abey. It’s a bittersweet decision that will not shock anyone, but the send-off a fulfilling conclusion to this era in the “Downtown Abbey” saga.
Focus Features released “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” in U.S. cinemas on September 12, 2025. The movie was released on digital and VOD on September 30, 2025. Peacock premiered “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” on November 7, 2025. The movie was released on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD November 11, 2025.