Downton Abbey Movie: Complete Guide to Watching the Films

There’s something about the Crawley family that keeps viewers coming back. After six seasons and three films, the story of Downton Abbey finally reaches its conclusion with Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in 2025. This guide walks you through every movie in order and where you can stream them right now — whether you’re a first-time viewer or rewatching ahead of the final chapter.

Total movies: 3 ·
Release year of first movie: 2019 ·
Release year of latest movie: 2025 ·
Creator: Julian Fellowes ·
Original series runtime: 2010–2015

Three films, one timeline — here is how the Downton Abbey franchise compares across key attributes.

Will Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale be on Netflix?

The short answer: not in the U.S. — at least not at launch. According to JustWatch, a streaming availability tracker, The Grand Finale is currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S. as well as on Netflix Standard with Ads. Wait — that contradicts most pre-release coverage. In fact, Town & Country reports that the film is a Peacock original in the U.S., meaning it debuted on that service. The JustWatch listing shows Netflix availability, but that may reflect a later licensing deal. For now, the safest bet is Peacock for streaming, with digital purchase and rental options on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (JustWatch).

The implication: U.S. viewers should treat Peacock as the primary home for The Grand Finale rather than assuming Netflix access at launch.

Is The Grand Finale available on other streaming services?

In the U.S., Peacock is the primary streaming home. For U.K. viewers, Digital Spy, an entertainment outlet notes that the first two films are available on Disney+ (2019 film) and ITVX (A New Era), but The Grand Finale has not yet been announced for those platforms. Expect it to appear on ITVX or Prime Video later, similar to the pattern of previous releases.

Will The Grand Finale be on Netflix outside the US?

International streaming rights are not yet clear. Town & Country points out that the series itself is on Netflix in many regions, but the movies have been scattered across services. The Popverse recommends checking local Netflix libraries as rights can change.

How many Downton movies are there in order to watch?

As of 2025, there are three Downton Abbey films — and the recommended viewing order is simple: watch the six TV seasons first, then the movies in release order. The Popverse confirms that the franchise’s release order is the only chronological order, since each movie picks up after the previous one.

How many Downton Abbey movies are there?

Three: the 2019 self-titled film, Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025). That’s according to everything from The Popverse to Town & Country.

What is the chronological order of Downton movies?

• TV seasons 1–6 (2010–2015)
• Downton Abbey (2019) — royal visit
• Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) — a film crew arrives, Violet’s backstory revealed
• Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) — the Crawley story concludes

The Popverse notes that each movie directly follows the events of the previous, so release order equals story order.

Is there a third movie?

Yes — Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is the third and final film, released in 2025. Town & Country calls it the conclusive chapter, and creator Julian Fellowes has stated it ends the Crawley saga.

Is the Downton Abbey movie on Netflix or Amazon Prime?

The availability depends on which movie and where you live. In the U.S., the 2019 film is on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, according to Town & Country. A New Era streams on Peacock and is also available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. In the U.K., Digital Spy reports that the 2019 film is on Disney+ and Prime Video (included with Prime), while A New Era is on ITVX (free) and Prime Video (for purchase only).

What this means: no single platform covers all three films in either country.

Is Downton Abbey on Netflix in all regions?

No. The TV series is widely available on Netflix in many countries, but the movies appear on different services depending on licensing. The Popverse notes that the series is also on BritBox and Peacock in the U.S., so Netflix is not the only option.

Is the movie on Amazon Prime?

In the U.S., the 2019 film streams with Prime. A New Era is only available for buy/rent on Amazon. In the U.K., the 2019 film is included with Prime, but A New Era requires purchase (Digital Spy).

What about Hulu or HBO Max?

Neither Hulu nor HBO Max currently carry Downton Abbey movies in any region. The main players are Netflix, Peacock, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ (UK).

Where can I stream the new Downton Abbey movie?

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is available to stream on Peacock in the U.S. from release day. JustWatch also lists streaming on Netflix (as of its data), but that may be a recent addition. For those who prefer ownership, digital purchase or rental is available on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, and FlixFling (JustWatch).

Can I stream the new Downton Abbey movie on Peacock?

Yes. Town & Country confirms that Peacock is the exclusive streaming home in the U.S., and a one-hour cast reunion special will also air on Peacock after September 10.

Is it in theaters?

The Grand Finale had a limited theatrical release in both the U.S. and UK, but its primary distribution is on Peacock. Check local theater listings for any remaining screenings.

How to watch online?

If you are outside the U.S., digital rental or purchase is the most reliable method. JustWatch shows buy/rent options across multiple platforms. For U.K. viewers, Digital Spy suggests waiting for a possible ITVX or Prime Video deal, but nothing is confirmed yet.

Why was Maggie Smith written out of Downton Abbey?

Maggie Smith’s character Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess, died in the 2022 film A New Era. Town & Country describes her death as a natural conclusion to her character arc — not a sudden writing out. The storyline gave Violet a poignant farewell, revealing her past love affair. Smith herself confirmed she would not return for further films, according to the same report.

Was Maggie Smith in all movies?

She appeared in the 2019 film and A New Era. Her character’s death means she is not in The Grand Finale. Digital Spy notes that Smith’s departure was planned and well-telegraphed.

Did Violet Crawley die?

Yes. In A New Era, Violet passes away, passing the torch to Mary and the next generation. It is a key emotional beat of the movie.

What was the reason for her departure?

According to The Popverse, the decision was a narrative one: the character’s story reached its natural end. There is no behind-the-scenes drama — it was simply the right time for the Dowager’s exit.

What is the first Downton Abbey movie and where can I watch it?

The first film, simply titled Downton Abbey, was released on September 20, 2019, directed by Michael Engler. The plot revolves around a royal visit from King George V and Queen Mary to Downton. The Popverse notes that it picks up about 18 months after the series finale.

When was the first Downton Abbey movie released?

September 20, 2019. It had a runtime of 2 hours 2 minutes.

What is the plot of the first movie?

The royal household arrives, causing chaos and intrigue among the staff and family. It is a classic Downton mix of upstairs-downstairs drama, with a side of political maneuvering.

Where can I watch the first movie?

In the U.S., it streams on Amazon Prime Video (included with Prime) and Peacock, and is available for digital rental or purchase. In the U.K., Digital Spy says it is on Disney+ and Prime Video.

Timeline of Downton Abbey franchise

• 2010–2015 — Original TV series airs (6 seasons) (The Popverse)
• July 2018 — First movie announced (The Popverse)
• September 20, 2019 — Downton Abbey (first film) released (The Popverse)
• May 20, 2022 — Downton Abbey: A New Era released (The Popverse)
• March 2024 — Third movie announced (Town & Country)
• September 12, 2025 — Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale released in theaters and on Peacock (Town & Country)

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Three films exist with known release dates (The Popverse)
• Maggie Smith’s character died in the second film and will not return (Town & Country)
• The Grand Finale is available on Peacock in the U.S. at launch (JustWatch)
• The TV series has 6 seasons and aired 2010–2015 (The Popverse)

What’s unclear

• International streaming rights for The Grand Finale after the Peacock window (JustWatch)
• Whether any more movies will be made after The Grand Finale (no announcements yet) (Digital Spy)
• Specific regional Netflix availability for the first two movies (Town & Country)
• Whether The Grand Finale will reach streaming platforms in Australia or other key markets by end of 2025 (no sources currently track this)

“The decision to end the story with this third film was always part of the plan. We wanted to give the characters a proper farewell.”

— Julian Fellowes, creator and screenwriter (as reported by Town & Country)

“The final film is really about the passing of time and what matters most — family, service, and tradition in a changing world.”

— Simon Curtis, director of A New Era and The Grand Finale (as reported by The Popverse)

For fans who have followed the Crawleys for 15 years, The Grand Finale offers closure. But the real choice now is where to watch. U.S. subscribers to Peacock get the easiest path; everyone else will need to navigate a patchwork of streaming services or buy digitally. The trade-off is clear: pay per rental or wait for a broader streaming deal. For the devoted Downton devotee, the answer is to buy the trilogy and own the whole story.

For those planning a marathon, it’s worth checking the third films release details to see when the final chapter arrives in cinemas.

Frequently asked questions