Downton Abbey: A New Era is a 2022 historical drama film and the sequel to Downton Abbey, which was released in 2019. Julian Fellowes, the creator, and writer of the television series of the same name wrote both films, with Simon Curtis replacing Michael Engler, who directed the first.
Downton Abbey: A New Era was released in the United Kingdom by Universal Pictures on April 29, 2022, and in the United States by Focus Features on May 20, 2022. It garnered largely positive reviews from critics, similar to the first film.
Cast
- Hugh Bonneville – Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham
- Elizabeth McGovern – Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham
- Michelle Dockery – Lady Mary Talbot, the oldest Crawley daughter
- Laura Carmichael – Edith Pelham, the Marchioness of Hexham and middle Crawley daughter
- Maggie Smith – Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
- Allen Leech – Tom Branson, the widowed husband of youngest Crawley daughter Sybil
- Jim Carter – Charles Carson, the retired butler
- Phyllis Logan – Elsie Carson, the housekeeper formerly known as Mrs. Hughes
- Robert James-Collier – Thomas Barrow, the current butler
- Joanne Froggatt – Anna Bates, Lady Mary’s maid
- Lesley Nicol – Beryl Patmore, head cook
- Sophie McShera – Daisy Mason, assistant cook
- Penelope Wilton – Isobel Grey, Baroness Merton, and Mary’s former mother-in-law
- Samantha Bond – Lady Rosamund Painswick, Robert’s sister
- Harry Hadden-Paton – Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexham and Edith’s husband
- Matthew Goode – Henry Talbot, Mary’s husband
- Douglas Reith – Dickie Grey, Baron Merton, and Isobel’s husband
- Kevin Doyle – Joseph Molesley, former footman and teacher
- Michael Fox – Andy Parker, footman
- Imelda Staunton – Lady Maud Bagshaw, Robert’s cousin
- Tuppence Middleton – Lucy Smith, Tom’s fiancee and Lady Bagshaw’s heir
- Laura Haddock – Myrna Dalgleish
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The Box Office: Downton Abbey a New Era Box Office Collection
Downton Abbey: A New Era has grossed $21.2 million in the United States and Canada and $36.8 million in other countries, for a total of $58 million worldwide as of May 25, 2022.
The picture was released with Men in the United States and Canada and was expected to gross $16–21 million in its first weekend from 3,820 theatres.
On its first day, it generated $7.4 million, including $1 million from Thursday night previews. The picture went on to earn $16 million in its first weekend and finished second at the box office, putting it well below expectations. According to Deadline Hollywood, 48 percent of the opening weekend attendance was above the age of 55, which “repped the first time [exhibitors] saw older patrons since pre-pandemic.”
The picture grossed $9.3 million in 33 locations outside of the United States and Canada in its debut weekend. This included $3.8 million from 746 cinemas in the United Kingdom (the second-widest release of all time, behind No Time To Die in 2021), and $1.3 million from Australia. In its second weekend, the film made $6.6 million, and in its third weekend, it made $3.6 million.
Domestic
| Area | Release Date | Opening | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | May 20, 2022 | $16,000,495 | $21,225,535 |
Europe, Middle East, and Africa
| Area | Release Date | Opening | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Apr 29, 2022 | $3,863,651 | $15,312,541 |
| France | Apr 27, 2022 | $1,029,041 | $2,943,855 |
| Germany | Apr 29, 2022 | $638,400 | $2,543,890 |
| Netherlands | Apr 28, 2022 | $545,496 | $2,048,118 |
| Finland | May 6, 2022 | – | $1,283,261 |
| Spain | Apr 29, 2022 | $346,838 | $1,145,637 |
| Italy | Apr 28, 2022 | $443,255 | $1,069,593 |
| Norway | Apr 29, 2022 | – | $610,373 |
| Denmark | May 19, 2022 | $315,656 | $459,284 |
| Belgium | May 4, 2022 | – | $444,836 |
| Switzerland | Apr 27, 2022 | – | $365,003 |
| Austria | Apr 29, 2022 | – | $207,058 |
| Poland | May 6, 2022 | – | $129,262 |
| Hungary | Apr 28, 2022 | $32,574 | $91,356 |
Storyline
Tom Branson, the widowed son-in-law of the Earl of Grantham, marries Lucy Smith, Lady Bagshaw’s hidden illegitimate daughter and sole heir to the Bagshaw estate, in 1928. Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, soon reveals to the family that the recently dead Marquis de Montmirail had given her a villa many years previously, but she had never told anyone about it. Violet wishes to leave it to Sybbie, Tom’s little daughter with the late Lady Sybil Crawley, Violet’s great-granddaughter.
Meanwhile, Downton Abbey is being considered for a silent film called The Gambler by a production group. Despite Robert’s opposition, Lady Mary Talbot, Robert’s eldest daughter, and estate manager, claims that the suggested cash will cover the cost of restoring Downton’s leaky roof. Mr. Carson, the retired butler, is also against it, but the home staff is excited to see the movie’s stars.
The new Marquis de Montmirail extends an invitation to the family to visit him in France. Violet is unable to travel due to her illness, but Tom and Lucy, Lady Bagshaw, Robert Crawley (Lord Grantham), and his wife, Cora, as well as their daughter Lady Edith and her husband Bertie Pelham, accept. Lady Mary has stayed at Downton Abbey to supervise the filming.
The marquis greets the family as they enter the villa. Madame Montmirail, his mother, wants to fight Violet Crawley’s ownership of the villa, but the marquis says it is Violet’s legally. The Dowager Countess paid a visit to the Marquis in 1864, which the Marquis informs Robert about. He suggests to Robert, who was born nine months later, that they might be half-brothers. Cora subsequently informs Robert that she may be terminally ill, leading him to sob as he considers the possibility of losing his mother, his Crawley surname, and his wife all on the same day.
The Gambler is canceled at Downton Abbey because silent films are no longer profitable. Lady Mary advises that the dialogue be dubbed in. The voice of actor Guy Dexter is adequate, but the regional accent of actress Myrna Dalgleish is incorrect for her upper-class character. Lady Mary is persuaded by Barber to dub Dalgleish’s voice. Dalgleish leaves, fearing that her career will be wrecked, but Downton staff Anna and Daisy persuade her to continue the film. Mr. Molesley, is a former Downton footman who can lipread, reconstructs, and craft new language from previously filmed scenes.
While filming proceeds, the family returns to Downton Abbey. Lady Mary rejects director Jack Barber’s advances, despite her husband Henry’s long absence straining their relationship. Thomas Barrow, Downton’s secret butler, accepts Guy Dexter’s invitation to maintain his Hollywood mansion and travel with him. Cora has pernicious anemia, which is a treatable illness, according to Dr. Clarkson. Cora assists Myrna Dalgleish in acquiring an American accent, which could save her job. When the underpaid extras in the financially ailing film walkout, the Downton staff replaces them, ensuring the film’s completion. Mr. Molesley is offered a lucrative screenwriting job by Barber. Mr. Molesley then proposes to Miss Baxter, completely ignorant that their conversation is being recorded on an open microphone.
In the meantime, Violet reassures Robert that the previous Lord Grantham was his father and that despite his pursuit of Montmirail, nothing transpired. Violet’s health deteriorates, and she passes away in the company of her loved ones. Mary instructs Carson to teach Downton’s new butler, Andy, as a footman. Tom and Lucy return to Downton with their newborn baby months later. In the main hall, a new portrait of the late Dowager Countess hangs.
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Review
On Rotten Tomatoes, 85 percent of 155 critic reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. “While Downton Abbey’s frothiness comes close to curdling into outright suds, A New Era’s traditional comforts will please longstanding fans,” says the website’s consensus.
Based on 45 critics, Metacritic gave the film a score of 63 out of 100, indicating “generally good reviews.” CinemaScore scored the film a “A” on an A+ to F scale (the same as the first film), while PostTrak reported that 93 percent of audience members gave it a good review, with 79 percent indicating they would definitely recommend it.
