“Downton Abbey” is the comfort food of cinema.

Sit down, put the kettle on and have a cuppa with a biscuit or scone with cream and jam.

This time, though, we’re going to spill the tea.

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is, pun intended, crawling with scandal for the Crawleys.

Or at least what passes for scandal among the English aristocracy circa 1930.

The fictional Crawleys are the wealthy family and keepers of the fictional castle, Downton Abbey, in Yorkshire, England.

Lady Mary has been served, divorce papers, that is. Clutch your pearls. Mary is persona non grata. She is upbraided in front of invited guests and booted from Lady Petersfield’s annual ball.

Meanwhile, it costs a ton, you might say, to maintain Downton Abbey. The Crawleys weigh in about selling their Grantham House in London to raise capital.

Complicating matters is a Crawley investment gone sour. Cora’s brother, Harold, who arrives from the United States, discloses that he trusted the investment to financial adviser Gus, who pulled out of the stock market before it crashed and invested it elsewhere.

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is crawling with subplots for the Crawleys:

Charlie Carson, the Crawleys’ rock-solid butler, is retiring. A screenwriter, a former footman at Downton Abbey, is polishing his next screenplay. The celebrated playwright Noel Coward pays a visit. The Crawleys go to the races at Ascot. There’s dissention on the annual county fair committee.

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” is the third feature film in the franchise. “Downton Abbey” was released in 2019. A sequel, “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” was released in 2022.

The movies are based on “Downton Abbey,” the British historical drama television series set from 1912 to 1926. Created and co-written by Julian Fellowes, the series was televised in the United Kingdom in 2010 and in the United States on PBS “Masterpiece Classic” in 2011. There were 52 episodes in six seasons.

Most all of the actors in the television series and films are back with the notable exception of Maggie Smith (1934-2024), who played Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham.

The “Downton Abbey” cast was nominated for five Screen Actor Guild Awards, winning three SAGs for ensemble acting in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

Simon Curtis (director, “Downton Abbey,” “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” as well as “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” 2019; “Goodbye Christopher Robin,” 2017; “My Week with Marilyn, 2011) is back to direct “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”

Curtis directs at a leisurely pace from the screenplay by Julian Fellowes (Oscar, screenplay, “Gosford Park,” 2002), who retains the characters he created for “Downton Abbey” with a stiff upper lip dripping with charm and snark.

Curtis, working with Director of Photography Ben Smithard, lets the camera track, pan and zoom slowly. It’s as though the film is in slow motion. Call it Slow Cinema.

The camera lingers on the actors in often silent scenes. The actors move slowly, each expression and movement a measured gait.

The actors express in many ways with what pop artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987) referred to in his own soap opera terminology as “consternation fades.” A picture is worth a thousand words.

Michelle Dockery (four Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, including three for actress, “Downton Abbey,” 2012, 2013, 2014) is resplendent and absolutely riveting in her every scene as Lady Mary Talbot, especially as the lady in red in a ravishing gown.

Jim Carter (four Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, supporting actor, “Downton Abbey,” 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) as Charlie Carson, head butler, is perhaps the next most recognizable character and he doesn’t disappoint. His subtle double takes are ones for the ages.

Hugh Bonneville (two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, actor, “Downton Abbey,” 2012, 2013) conveys a singular intensity as Robert Crawley.

Paul Giamatti (two-time Oscar nominee: actor, “The Holdovers,” 2024; supporting role, “Cinderella Man,” 2006) is his usual avuncular self as cousin Harold.

Alessandro Nivola (“The Brutalist,” 2024) is a rakish rascal as Gus.

Arty Froushan is wonderful as Noël Coward.

Joely Richardson is Lady Petersfield.

Familiar faces returning include:

Elizabeth McGovern (Oscar nominee, supporting role, “Ragtime,” 1982) as Lady Grantham;

Joanne Froggatt (three Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, supporting actress, “Downton Abbey,” 2012, 2014, 2015) as Anna;

Penelope Wilton (Lady Merton);

Laura Carmichael (Lady Edith Hexham);

Sophie McShera (Daisy Parker), and

Dominic West (Guy Dexter).

Production Designer is Donal Woods (eight Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, production design, including six for “Downton Abbey,” and one win, “Downton Abbey,” 2016). Art Directors are Naomi Bailey and Philippa Mumford.

Set Director is Linda Wilson (four Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, and one win, production design, “Downtown Abbey,” 2016).

Costume Designer is Anna Mary Scott Robbins (two-time Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, costumes, “Downton Abbey,” 2015, 2016).

The iconic “Downton Abbey” main theme will transport you to another time and place. The composer is Jon Lumn (five Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, including two wins, “Downton Abbey,” 2012, 2013).

It’s a world of tea and tiaras, of castles and secrets kept, of a world many of us will never know.

“Downton Abbey” is one of many TV series and movies among the some 100 listed on Internet Movie Database about the royal families and aristocracy of Great Britain, including “Bridgerton” (2020 - present), “The Crown” (2016-2023). “The Favourite” (2018) and “Upstairs Downstairs” (2010-2012).

Though some may consider such fascination with the Crawleys as creepy-crawly, many Americans can’t seem to get enough of British royalty. It’s as if the Colonies, the United States, in defeating the king and England, has had centuries of separation anxiety, ever mindful of the Royals’ pomp and pageantry. To this day, not only movie-goers seek an audience with the aristocracy.

You may not be able to fly or sail away to visit Merry Olde England. You can drive to the movie theater to visit “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.”

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” MPA rated PG (Parental guidance suggested, meaning some material may not be suitable for children) for suggestive material, smoking and some thematic elements; Genre: Drama; Run time: 2 hours, 3 minutes. Distributed by Focus Features.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” was filmed May to August 2024 in Highclere Castle (exteriors and interiors); Hampshire, and Bampton and Horsted Keynes Station in Oxfordshire and Yorkshire counties.

Scenes during the credits show the characters getting on with their lives. There’s archival footage of Dame Maggie Smith. The film is dedicated “In loving memory of Dame Maggie Smith 1934 - 2024.”

At The Movies: “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Sept. 19-21: “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle - Part 1: Akaza Returns” continued at No. 1 two weeks in a row with $17.3 million in 3,342 theaters, $104.7 million, two weeks. The Japanese anime fantasy action film is the all-time top-grossing anime movie, according to Hollywood Reporter.

2. “Him,” starring Tyriq Withers, Marlon Wayans, Julia Fox and Tim Heidecker, an Allentown native, in the Horror film, $13.5 million in 3,168 theaters. 3. “The Conjuring: Last Rites” dropped one place, $12.9 million in 3,413 theaters, $151.1 million, three weeks. 4. “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” dropped one place, $6.3 million in 3,711 theaters, $31.6 million, two weeks. 5. “The Long Walk” dropped one place, $6.3 million in 2,845 theaters, $22.7 million, two weeks. 6. “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” starring Colin Farrell, Margot Robbie, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Billy Magnussen, Kevin Kline and Jennifer Grant in the Fantasy Romance Drama, $3.5 million in 3,300 theaters, opening. 7. “The Senior,” starring Michael Chiklis as Mike Flynt, who in the true-story based Sports Drama at age 59 tries out for his alma mater’s college football team, $2.7 million in 2,405 theaters, opening. 8. “Toy Story,” 30th anniversary re-release,” $3.5 million in 2,375 theaters; $5.8 million, two weeks. 9. “Sight & Sound Presents: NOAH Live,” the filmed version of Sight & Sound Theatres, Lancaster, Lancaster County, 30th anniversary season production, $1.3 million in 933 theaters, opening. 10. “Weapons” dropped four places, $1.2 million in 1,186 theaters, $149.7 million, seven weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Sept. 21 is subject to change.

Unreel, Sept. 26:

“One Battle After Another,” MPA rated R; 2 hours, 41 minutes. Paul Thomas Anderson directs Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, Chase Infiniti, Alana Haim, Regina Hall and John Hoogenakker in the Crime Comedy Action film. A group of ex-revolutionaries rescue one of their own daughters.

The film’s director Paul Thomas Anderson (director, “There Will Be Blood,” 2007; “Boogie Nights,” 1997) has five Oscar nominations for “Licorice Pizza” (2022) and “Phantom Thread” (2018).

DiCaprio is a five-time Oscar nominee (“Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,” 2020; “The Wolf of Wall Street,” 2014; “Blood Diamond,” 2007) and Oscar winner (“The Revenant,” 2016).

Penn is a five-time Oscar nominee (“I Am Sam,” 2002; “Sweet and Lowdown,” 2000; “Dead Man Walking,” 1996) and two-time Oscar winner (“Mystic River,” 2004; “Milk,” 2009).

Del Toro is a two-time Oscar nominee (“21 Grams,” 2004) and Oscar winner (“Traffic,” 2001).

“Eleanor the Great,” MPA rated PG-13; 1 hour, 38 minutes. Scarlett Johansson directs June Squibb, Erin Kellyman and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the Drama War film. An elderly woman recounts a story of war.

Johansson is a two-time Oscar nominee (“Marriage Story,” 2020; “Jojo Rabbit,” 2020) “Eleanor the Great” is Johansson’s theatrical feature movie directorial debut.

Squibb is an Oscar nominee for “Nebraska” (2014).

Ejiofor is an Oscar nominee for “12 Years a Slave” (2014).

“Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” MPA rated G: 1 hour, 32 minutes. Ryan Crego directs Laila Lockhart Kraner, Kristen Wiig, Carla Tassara, Tara Strong, Sainty Nelsen, Gloria Estefan, Kyle Mooney and Fortune Feimster in the DreamWorks Live Action Computer Generated Imagery Animation, Fantasy Comedy. Gabby and Grandma Gigi’s road trip takes an unexpected turn when Gabby’s dollhouse must be retrieved.

“Bau: Artist at War,” MPA rated PG-13; 2 hours, 10 minutes. Seam McNamara directs Emile Hirsch, Inbar Lavi and Yan Tual in the Drama, Romance, Comedy, War film. Joseph Bau, an artist, forged documents to help hundreds escape concentration camps. The movie is based on a true story that was included in the movie, “Schindler’s List.”

“The Strangers: Chapter 2,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 36 minutes. Renny Harlin directs Rachel Shenton, Gabriel Basso, Richard Drake and Madelaine Petsch in the Horror Slasher film. A couple on a cross-country road trip stops at an Airbnb where they are terrorized by three strangers.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of Sept. 21 are subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes