- Director : Simon Curtis
- Actors : Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Raquel Cassidy, Simon Russell Beale
- Producers : Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge
- Language : English (Dolby Atmos), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- Studio : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Product Dimensions : 1 x 1 x 1 inches; 3.52 ounces
- Number of discs : 2
- Media Format : 4K
- Run time : 2 hours and 4 minutes
- Release date : November 11, 2025
When the
historical drama Downton Abbey premiered in the UK over 25 years ago, I’m not
sure anyone expected it to become an international cultural phenomenon resulting
in a six-season run and three feature films. Period dramas have long been a
staple of British television, but something about this particular cast of characters
captured the attention of viewers. And it is the love of the cast that has resulted
in the dedicated fanbase showing up to see the continuation of their story in
film sequels. Presumably the final installment (unless the title is misleading),
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale wraps up the story for most of the characters still
remaining, while also serving as a memorial to those who have passed.
Answering the question
to her husband’s absence in the previous film installment, Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle
Dockery) is recently divorced and shunned by polite society for this indiscretion,
forcing the Crawley family to take action to save her reputation. This is made
more difficult with the arrival of Harold Levinson (Paul Giamatti), brother to Lady
Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), visiting from the United States. Having barely
survived the financial catastrophe of the 1929 Wall Street Crash, Harold brings
with him a financial advisor named Gus Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola), a man who
immediately engages in a romantic relationship with Mary despite suspicions by Robert
Crawley (Hugh Bonneville) regarding his true intentions, especially when he
uses the connection to the family to secure investments.
Nefarious
characters aside, part of the charm of Downton Abbey has always been how
good-natured the characters are. Even some of the shows initial villains turned
out to be capable of redemption, arguably becoming some of the cast’s most admirable
over time. This is also what makes The Grand Finale feel like putting on a
favorite old sweater. Even in the areas where the story is a bit worn thin, it
is easy to spend more time with these beloved characters. As there don’t seem
to be any plans for future installments, this is a fitting send-off to a lovely
show that captured the hearts of audiences around the world.
While the film
installations of the franchise have fittingly been made to look more cinematic,
there is not a great deal about this film that demands the 4K Ultra HD presentation,
unless you are an avid lover of the detailed attention placed on the production
design. The other reason to purchase this upgraded release is the extras that
it offers, including an additional copy of the film on Blu-ray as well as a
digital code for online streaming. The special features on the Collector’s
Edition 4K release also include five featurettes about the franchise’s final installment,
as well as a feature-length commentary track with director Simon Curtis and Elizabeth
McGovern.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Special Features: 8/10
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