Paul Giamatti's New $103M Historical Movie Officially Releases On Netflix Next Week After Ending A 15-Year Franchise Era

2 weeks ago 10

Published Feb 25, 2026, 9:51 AM EST

Abigail is an editor for ScreenRant, currently writing and editing movie news. You may also have seen her thoughts on animated television, musical theater, and fantasy literature in Paste Magazine, Fantasy Hive, or The Oxford Blue. She has also written SR lists and op-eds covering movies, TV, and books as well. She is an English major through and through, having graduated with a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara and an MPhil from Oxford University.

Paul Giamatti's new period piece is coming to Netflix soon, bringing a historic franchise to its conclusion.

Giamatti stars in 2025's Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the third Downton Abbey movie following the six-season British drama series. The most recent installment was released theatrically in the U.S. on September 12 last year and is currently streaming via Peacock, as well as being available on digital. However, it is now hitting the premier streaming service.

Per Netflix, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will be on the streaming platform in the U.S. from March 7, joining 2019's Downton Abbey (the first movie) and 2022's Downton Abbey: A New Era. The original TV series aired from 2010 to 2015, and is available on platforms Prime Video and BritBox. Many cast members star throughout the show and in all three movies.

The Grand Finale returns to the lives of the Crowley family, who are preparing for eldest daughter Mary (Michelle Dockery) to inherit full responsibility of their estate, when she is caught up in a scandal owing to her recent divorce. Longtime franchise stars Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, and Elizabeth McGovern all return.

Mary exchanges a wry look with Tom while Isobel and Harold stand beside them in Downton Abbey The Grand Finale

Giamatti starring, however, was more of a surprise. In the 2025 film, Giamatti portrays Lady Grantham's (McGovern) brother Harold Levinson, reprising his role from only one episode of the TV series, which aired in 2013. It was undoubtedly a win for Downton Abbey to have the two-time Oscar nominee back, though, with his last movie role being in 2023's Best Picture nominee The Holdovers.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale achieved 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, maintaining the series' critical acclaim until the end. It grossed $103.4 million at the worldwide box office, but it was always set up to be an even bigger at-home hit. Thus, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale was previously a major hit on iTunes, increasing its revenue and indicating what its Netflix release will be like.

Though the story may be over, Downton Abbey has long been cemented as a staple of the prestige period drama genre, meaning The Grand Finale is a solid addition to Giamatti's repertoire in this area. However, the A-list actor continues to take roles across many genres — Downton Abbey may not even be in Paul Giamatti's top 10 movies.

It is very notably only no. 13 among his highest-rated movies on Rotten Tomatoes, given his stellar career. But those who are fans of him in any role and can relish the luxurious production and costume design of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (and who are Netflix subscribers) can revisit it very soon.