'Downton Abbey' Ending Explained: How Did the Movie Honor Maggie Smith?

Downton Abbey has officially closed its doors — but how did the iconic franchise say farewell?

The final film, titled Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, hit theaters on Friday, September 12, and catches up with the beloved Crawleys in 1930 as they grapple with the threat of social disgrace when Mary (Michelle Dockery) faces public scandal from her divorce from husband Henry (Matthew Goode) and the family is confronted with a bout of unexpected financial trouble.

“It’s so rare that you get to play a character for so many years and step back into those shoes,” Dockery told Harper’s Bazaar in September following the movie’s release. “I think the first film was ‘Let’s just see how it’s received,’ and of course it was a huge success, and then they decided to do the second one. It just felt like a third would be a really great way to wrap it up.”

Downton Abbey premiered on PBS in 2010 and followed the lives of the Crawley family and their staff in the English countryside in the early 1900s. The series ran for six seasons before returning for two films: 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, ahead of this year’s Grand Finale. The show has been acclaimed by fans and critics alike, earning 69 Emmy nominations and 11 Golden Globe nominations throughout its run.

Keep scrolling to see how Downton Abbey said its last goodbyes:

Is There a Post-Credits Scene in ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’?

Not in the typical fashion, but there is a tribute to the late Maggie Smith in the final moments. The final shot is a picture of Violet Crawley, Smith’s character, who was killed off in the second film. Text appears on screen, reading, “In loving memory of Dame Maggie Smith,” with her birth and death year: 1934-2024. (Smith died in September 2024 at the age of 89.)

What Happens at the End of ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’?

The third and final film largely centers around Lady Mary’s divorce from Henry, who remains in America. While Mary accepts that her marriage is over, the town is scandalized by the idea, particularly because the pair share a daughter, Caroline. (Mary is also mother to son George, whom she shared with her late first husband, Matthew, played by Dan Stevens.)

She essentially gets booted from high society because of her divorce, even getting kicked out of a high-profile party because a divorced woman is unable to share space with visiting royalty. Things get worse when Mary’s uncle Harold Levinson (Paul Giamatti) visits and reveals that he’s lost a large sum of the family’s money — and now they may be serious financial issues and may not be able to keep Downton Abbey afloat.

In his visit, Harold brings along his friend Gus (Alessando Nivola), whom Mary instantly connects with. The twosome share a heated one-night stand, but she quickly learns that Gus has ulterior motives: he is a con artist and has plans to leave them entirely broke.

Thankfully, Mary’s sister Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) — who is still married to Herbert (Harry Hadden-Paton) — steps in and sets Gus in his place, using her standing in society to banish him.

Elsewhere, the late Matthew’s mother, Isabel (Penelope Wilton), gets put in charge of the town fair with the help of Daisy (Sophie McShera), who has moved up the ranks from a kitchen maid to head cook. While certain members on the board are unhappy with Daisy’s involvement in the event, Isabel puts her foot down and insists that she be able to lend a hand. The board begrudgingly agrees and the fair goes off without a hitch, causing an unspoken generational changing of the guard, with a more open-minded future for all those in the town.

Meanwhile, Mary — and with her divorce and the family’s money troubles behind her — ends the film learning that her father (Hugh Bonneville), with whom has been co-running Downton, has finally agreed to step down, allowing Mary to run the estate fully herself, despite being —gasp — a divorcee. She remains in the home with her children while her parents relocate to a smaller house on the land. She is also named the godmother of servant-turned-confidante Anna’s (Joanne Froggatt) unborn child.

The film ends with Mary thinking back through the past years of Downton Abbey via flashbacks, including one scene where she and first husband Matthew are seen dancing happily together and another shot of dearly missed Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay), happy once again.

Does ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’’ Set Up for Another Sequel?

The film is aptly titled The Grand Finale for a reason: the cast and crew have been insistent that this will be the final installment of the original franchise, which includes six TV seasons, five Christmas specials, three movies, 69 Primetime Emmy nominations and 11 Golden Globe nominations.

However, producer Gareth Neame told Variety in September that “I reserve the right to change my mind” — and that a reboot isn’t a definite no.

“It certainly couldn’t be ruled out at some stage in the future,” he told the outlet. “We’ll see whether it gets made again within my lifetime or not.”