Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Blu-ray Movie Review

"Sometimes I feel like the past is a more comfortable place than the future."

Reviewed by Justin Dekker November 20, 2025

Bringing an end to the tale one of television's most popular and beloved families, 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal. The massive cast includes Hugh Bonneville (Lord Robert Crawley, 'Paddington'), Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Cora Crawley, 'Once Upon a Time in America'), James Carter (Mr. Carson, 'Haunted Honeymoon'), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley), and sees the return of Paul Giamatti (Harold Levinson, 'The Holdovers'). The release features outstanding visual and audio presentations, and includes an interesting and meaningful assortment of on-disc supplemental material. A slipcover, and a Digital Code redeemable via Movies Anywhere are also included.

Change is coming to Downton. It's an undeniable fact that is specifically addressed by multiple cast members at various moments throughout the film. For the first time, the family is without its matriarch, the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, who was played to formidable and acerbic-witted perfection by the late Dame Maggie Smith, a mainstay character to whom we said goodbye in the previous film. Hers is an unfillable void. Robert is keen, in theory, to hand control over Downton to his daughter Mary, though he finds letting go harder than he'd imagined. Mary, for her part, must not only play that new role, but must also understand the impact of her divorce in England's polite society. Edith is growing into her role as Lady Hexham, and is simultaneously finding her voice. Branson is adjusting to his new life as well which is a far cry from his more rebellious roots. And, change is afoot downstairs as well, as Mr. Carson and Mrs. Patmore eye retirement, and Daisy, Mr. Molesley, and Mr. Parker, all transition into new roles. But a hang-up in the family's finances put everyone's hopes for the future in jeopardy.

It's somewhat difficult to conceive that after 15 years audiences are saying a final farewell to Downton Abbey, a cozy period English drama about a family in the waning days of the golden age of the British landed aristocracy. Lord and Lady Crawley (Bonneville and McGovern), and their family have endured much: loss of family members on the Titanic, the loss of a daughter, the loss of a son-in-law, a world war, and the Wall Street crash, just to name a few. Through it all, while it hasn't always been easy, they and their staff have endured and prevailed with grace, dignity, and an unerring moral compass. By tackling the issues of their day, they've commented on the issues of ours, and made more than a few viewers long for those bygone days of a "simpler" time.

One of the largest challenges the new and final film has to tackle is the loss of Dame Maggie Smith, to whom the film is dedicated. While hers was never the largest role in any given episode, the impact of her character and her performance were immense. She could make someone wither with a glance. Her viscous wit and insightful retorts could cut anyone to the quick, and her unfailing confidence gave her an air of control over virtually any situation. While Lord Robert states several times that her role is Mary's to fill, it's a baton the film is unwilling to hand her so explicitly. Mary is (rightfully) concerned with the family's growing financial obligations and dwindling income and resources. Her status as a divorcée, she finds, renders her socially untouchable as members of polite society deem such women as corrupting influences who should be kept at more than arm's length. Even far from London, those attitudes prevail. As a result, Mary hasn't the footing to exert her grandmother's self-assured dominance and control. And absent secure finances, an outlook given to humor, no matter how dark, isn't available to her. While she may occupy the position of the family's matriarch, she, based on the film's events, isn't able to fully become its beating heart. While the Dowager Countess' closest friend and companion, Lady Isobel Merton (Penelope Wilton, Shaun of the Dead), is able to sling an impressive barb from time to time and exerts some control over the county fair, she doesn't, and nor should she, perform at quite the same level.

As has been the case in the films, the family and staff are presented, once again, with problems that appear large, but, by virtue of how they're handled and the relative ease with which they're dispatched, all end up feeling rather small. The family's financial distress never leads to any real on-screen pain. It does result in an emotional outburst, however. Even the scandal of divorce, which could have been ruinous, is laid to rest before Mary or the family experiences too much discomfort or fallout. This isn't to diminish the plot or it's stakes. It's more a function of the film's sprawling cast. As Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale tries to do justice to each character and provide resolution to their story arcs and a hint for their futures, there simply isn't time to spend significant amounts of time with all of them and still satisfactorily advance the primary plot. But these characters are the strength of the show, and removing any of them or their storylines, however brief they may be, would be to do the series and its fans a disservice. It's a delicate balancing act, to be sure, and and the script makes the resultant sacrifices it needs to make.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale has been given very handsome AVC-encoded 1080p presentation in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The transfer dazzles with impressive detail levels at every turn. Fine line and wrinkles are visible on the faces of the characters, many of whom are either well into adulthood or have reached retirement age, with whom viewers have spent the previous decade-and-a-half. Whether they be Carson's deep-set valleys or Mary's mature worry-lines, all are visible here. Hair styles also reveal their secrets, be it Mrs. Patmore's work-frazzled ginger curls or or Cora's typically tightly-controlled more fashionable do. Viewers are also able to appreciate the rich variety of fabrics found in the characters costumes, from the rougher garments of the downstairs staff, or the more glamourous attire worn by the upper crust to the races. From knits to silks, textures present with suitable realism. Colors are nicely saturated, and skin tones are true and healthy in all situations. Blacks are quite pleasing, and whites approach brilliance. It's a grand transfer.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale features a stirring Dolby Atmos track that breathes life, emotion, and immersion into every scene. Beginning with the jazzy score that welcomes viewers into the London of 1930 as the family and some of the staff enjoy Noel Coward's "Bitter- Sweet", the punchy and horn-heavy tune smoothly gives way to the lush and sweeping "I'll See You Again". Viewers who listen closely to the song will note that its lyrics provide some very touching words which are more than fitting for a film designed to be a fond farewell to a fictional family with whom viewers have spent the last 15 years:

I'll see you again
Whenever spring breaks through again
Time may lie heavy between
But what has been
Is past forgetting

This sweet memory
Throughout my life will come to me
Though my world may go awry
In my heart will ever lie
Just the echo of a sigh
Goodbye

I'll see you again
Whenever spring breaks through again
Though my world may go awry
Through the years my tears may dry
I shall love you till I die
Goodbye

Here, the orchestration is precise. Stings are delicate, and vocals are clean and crystal clear. As the audience becomes surrounded by the enthusiastically cheering crowd, the theme music rises with an equally powerful emotional punch. Throughout the film, immersion is nearly constant. Sometimes its smaller and more suggestive sounds - chatter in a hallway, distant car engines, or the familiar clatter of the bustling kitchen staff. Other times, it's more substantial, such as the thundering hooves and noisy crowd during the pivotal horse races at Ascot. Directionality is excellent, and characters, cars, and horses are easily tracked through the sound field. Dialogue is well-prioritized, and every line is understandable, from the subtle whispers under the breath of a stately lady, to Lord Robert's uncharacteristic heated outburst. Just as important, the film's majestic and emotionally powerful score is handled perfectly. Strings, keys, and horns are used to identify characters and places, and to coax a host of feelings from an audience seeing the resolution of the story of everyone from Ladies Mary and Edith to Daisy and Mr. Carson. It's a sophisticated and elegant listening experience.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While not as overstuffed as the shelves that line Downton's library, the release is nicely appointed with informative and fan-centric on-disc extras.

• Changing Times (11:33) - Cast and crew discuss the "changing of the guard" and Downton, as Sir Robert passes control to Lady Mary, and many members of the staff move on in one way or another.

• Society Season (13:25) - London's West End, the track at Ascot, and the county show, come into focus as new settings for the series and the unique fashions for each receive attention, too, with cast and crew discussing highlights of each.

• Authentic to the Core (7:13) - The introduction of Noel Coward is discussed and the impact that it had on the film. Mary's divorce also receives some spotlight, from both a social and fashion perspective. Finding a stand-in for Ascot is also a topic.

• A Farewell to Fans (2:08) - The cast gathers to share a few thoughts and bid fans a farewell.

• Downton Abbey Celebrates 'The Grand Finale' (42.06) - Originally airing on NBC and peacock, and shot at London's Savoy Hotel, this sprawling feature includes many of the cast and creative team to discuss a variety of topics from filming the series, to the the welcoming nature of the cast, enduring friendships from the life of the project, the score, and the legendary Dame Maggie Smith. It's a great watch.

• Feature Commentary - Director Simon Curtis and actress Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Cora Crawley) team up for this enjoyable track. The pair begin by discussing the creation of a vintage Piccadilly Circus, the theater that was used, and the opening vocal performance of Marilyn Cutts. Both are relaxed and comfortable with each other as share facts, trivia, memories from the shoot. The pair are occasionally silent to allow the listener to hear key bits of dialogue so as to better explain historical facts, plot points, and themes.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It may be titled Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, but I, for one, certainly hope it isn't. And I'm sure I'm not alone in holding out hope that the series' creators will gather some mix of the cast to tell additional stories of those who reside and work and the grand home. As someone who has been a fan of the series since the start, it's ending is bitter-sweet. But to the film's credit, if this is the end, each character has been left in a place that makes satisfying sense. Given a brilliant video presentation and an equally impressive Dolby Atmos track, the film is a treat to watch, and I suspect most dyed-in-the-wool fans will dig through each of the on-disc extras, if for no other reason than to have these characters with them for a few minutes more. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale comes highly recommended.