By Kayla DeKraker
The DOWNTON ABBEY franchise’s final installment, THE GRANDE FINALE, arrived in theaters today, building up the beloved series’ streaming viewership beforehand.
Deadline reported that across all six seasons and two previous movies, combined viewership in July and August more than doubled from combined viewership in March, April and May.
“These are record numbers for the franchise on Peacock, illustrating quite an appetite for the forthcoming finale,” the outlet said.
DOWNTON ABBEY originally began as a television series that ran from 2010-2015, and DOWNTON ABBEY: THE MOTION PICTURE, the first in the trilogy of films, debuted in 2019 . The second movie, DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA, released in 2022.
Related: The Crawleys ‘Grand Finale’ Arrives in the Last DOWNTON ABBEY Movie
To get fans excited for the final installment, NBC aired a special called DOWNTON ABBEY CELEBRATES THE GRAND FINALE on Sept. 10. This behind-the-scenes look features cast members and creators reflecting on the series’ legacy and offering exclusive insights into the making of the final chapter.
The special includes actors Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Raquel Cassidy, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, , Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Paul Giamatti, Harry Hadden-Paton, Allen Leech and Penelope Wilton.
“I’m honored to invite you to tea with our entire Downton family. It’ll be a night of memories, surprises, and lots of laughter,” Dockery, who plays Lady Mary Crawley, said in a teaser for the special.
It’s now available to stream on Peacock.
Movieguide® gave DOWNTOWN ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE a -1 content score.
The review reads, “DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE is based on the popular TV series about the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants in England. Set in 1930, the story opens in London, where the beautiful heiress to the family’s Yorkshire estate, Mary, faces social disgrace when her husband publicly divorces her.”
Movieguide®’s review notes, “It has a strong morally uplifting, conservative and traditional worldview that extols duty, service, family, respect for the past, and compassion and hospitality for other people.” However, the film has “an implied bedroom scene, brief foul language, and light, brief, implied references to a homosexual relationship.”
Though fans long hoped for more DOWNTON ABBEY content, the trailer’s YouTube description hints that this movie really is the end, with the statement, “it’s time to say goodbye.”
The final film will also pay tribute to the late Maggie Smith, who played Violet Grantham. The actress died in September 2024 at 89. Gareth Neame, executive producer, previously hinted at the tribute. “We will never see the like of Dame Maggie Smith ever again,” he said.
The final installment is now available in theaters nationwide.
Read Next: Third DOWNTON ABBEY Movie to Pay Tribute to Late Star Maggie Smith
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +3Share:
– Content: +3