Downton Abbey movie reviews: 'Delightful, exquisite, expect SURPRISES for big characters'

Four years after the hit period drama ended and Downton Abbey have been given the big-screen treatment. Set two years after we last saw Lord Grantham and co, the film is set in 1927 as King George V pays a visit to the stately home. Last night the Downton Abbey movie premiere took place in London and now the first reviews are in, with a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 85%. Most of the critics gave three-star, but hail the movie as another cosy outing with the much-loved characters. 

CinemaBlend
Overall, Downton Abbey is an exquisite return to the wonderfully familiar, while at the same time featuring a sharper wit and even more gorgeous scenery than ever seen in the canon before.

The Hollywood Reporter
Satisfyingly sumptuous.

Empire
Gentle, unchallenging drama for people who already know they like it, this is a nostalgic and rosy depiction of an England that was, surely, never so innocent.

The Guardian 
It is at all times ridiculous – but, I have to admit, quite enjoyable

The Sun
This film puts the lite into polite, the fine into refined and the cent into decent.

Daily Telegraph
Watching it is like settling into a reupholstered armchair which still creaks in the same old places.

READ MORE: TRUE STORY OF KING GEORGE V STATELY HOME VISIT

Daily Mirror 
The film-makers sensibly resist the temptation to do anything other than build on their established crowd-pleasing formula

Daily Mail
There’s absolutely no point seeing it if you don’t already know who all these people are. If you do, how can you possibly resist?

BBC
The film is delightful fun, even though the plot is obvious almost to the point of stupidity, and there are few surprises for the well-known characters, some of whom are handed unnecessary subplots to give everyone some screen time.

The Wrap
This is Julian Fellowes’ Avengers; they can assemble over and over, and there will always be enough tea cakes go around.

However, not everyone was a fan of the Downton Abbey movie. 

Variety
[T]his journey to the past may end up feeling ultimately less nostalgic than backward-looking.

New York Post 
Two thumbs “Downton”

Meanwhile, the Downton Abbey movie’s official film companion book has revealed some hilarious behind-the-scenes revelations.

According to The Sun, setting up the royal banquets took hours to prepare. he feasts were made all the more difficult when the crew had to make sure that the right amount of food and drink were on plates and glasses as the previous scene.

Apparently, the actors would become “bloated” if they kept finishing off their dishes again and again. Amusingly, this meant they’d have to just nibble on watercress and cucumber.

Downton Abbey is released in UK cinemas on September 13, 2019.