Looking for the correct Downton Abbey movies in order? Good news: this is one of the rare franchises where you don’t need a flowchart. Release order and chronological order are exactly the same here — each film picks up almost precisely where the last one left off, moving forward year by year through the Crawley family’s story. Created by Julian Fellowes off the back of a six-season TV juggernaut, the film trilogy has grossed nearly $400 million worldwide and turned Sunday-night British costume drama into a genuine box-office event. So there’s no “watch order” puzzle to solve — just three films, in a straight line. Here’s the quick-reference table before we break down each one.
Read More: Knives Out Movies in Order
Quick Answer: Downton Abbey Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downton Abbey | 2019 | Michael Engler |
| 2 | Downton Abbey: A New Era | 2022 | Simon Curtis |
| 3 | Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale | 2025 | Simon Curtis |
Release order is story order for this franchise — just watch them 1, 2, 3 and you’ll follow the Crawleys in the exact sequence Fellowes intended.
Downton Abbey Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Downton Abbey (2019)
Set in 1927, the film picks up a couple of years after the TV series ended and drops a royal bombshell on the household: King George V and Queen Mary are coming to stay. That means a full staff shake-up, wounded pride below stairs, and — because this is Downton — at least one plot brewing against the crown. Director Michael Engler, a veteran of the TV series, shot the film digitally to preserve the show’s warm, lived-in look. It closes with the Crawleys steadier than ever, setting up an obvious question for a sequel: what happens when the world outside the estate keeps changing?
2. Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
A year later, in 1928, the family splits in two: half head to the south of France to investigate a mysterious villa Violet Crawley has inherited, while the rest stay home and let a film crew shoot a silent movie inside the house. New director Simon Curtis (taking over from Engler) leans into sun-drenched scenery for the France scenes, a deliberate visual contrast to the Yorkshire greys of the first film. It’s also a quietly emotional chapter for Maggie Smith’s Violet, and it ends by nudging Mary Crawley toward center stage — exactly where the next film picks her up.
3. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)
Billed from the start as the trilogy’s send-off, this one jumps into the early 1930s and puts Mary at the heart of a public scandal that threatens the family’s finances and reputation, forcing the next generation to decide what kind of future Downton actually has. Curtis returns as director, and it’s the first film made after Maggie Smith’s death, which the production handled with visible care rather than recasting Violet’s presence. Writer Julian Fellowes has called it the true closing chapter of the saga he’s been writing since 2010 — so if you’re watching in order, this is the one that ties everything off.
Do You Need to Watch A New Era Before The Grand Finale?
Yes. The Grand Finale leans directly on Mary’s arc from A New Era and assumes you already know the emotional ground she’s standing on, so skipping straight to the third film will cost you context, even if the plot itself is easy enough to follow.
Minimum viable watch order (if you’re really short on time):
- Watch Downton Abbey (2019) for the setup and character reintroductions
- Watch The Grand Finale (2025) for the ending
- Skim a recap of A New Era if you truly can’t fit in the middle film
How Many Downton Abbey Movies Are There?
There are three Downton Abbey movies as of 2026: Downton Abbey (2019), Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025). There are no official spin-off films or theatrical shorts in the franchise.
All Downton Abbey Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Downton Abbey — September 20, 2019
2. Downton Abbey: A New Era — May 20, 2022
3. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale — September 12, 2025
What’s Next for the Franchise?
Julian Fellowes and producers have described The Grand Finale as the trilogy’s genuine ending, and there’s no confirmed fourth Downton Abbey film in development. Fellowes has floated the idea of a crossover with his other period drama, HBO’s The Gilded Age (now renewed for a fourth season), but that remains speculative talk rather than an announced project. If you want more Downton-world stories, the safest bet right now is the original six-season TV series rather than waiting on a new film.
FAQ
Is the Downton Abbey movie trilogy over?
Yes — Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) was explicitly positioned as the last film in the franchise, closing out the story Julian Fellowes began writing in 2010.
Do I need to watch the TV show before the movies?
It helps but isn’t strictly required, since the first film reintroduces the main characters and relationships; newcomers can follow the plot, but longtime fans will get far more emotional payoff.
What order should I watch the Downton Abbey movies in?
Simply in release order — Downton Abbey (2019), then A New Era (2022), then The Grand Finale (2025) — since chronological and release order match exactly.
Is there a Downton Abbey spin-off movie?
No official spin-off film exists; the closest thing is creator Julian Fellowes’ unrelated series The Gilded Age, set in a different time and place.
For More: Wikipedia.org
Thanks for Visit!
