Well there was that plot about trying to shoot the king. I thought that was the most weird and unnecessary part of the movie - unless they’re setting up for a an action sequel where Tom Branson and Lady Mary travel the countryside fighting bad guys. It was like something out of another movie dropped into this one. I would have preferred to see more of the parade.
It’s said they tried to script each character just enough to give them both some airtime and wrap up their story lines a little. I think that’s what some reviewers reacted to (breadth vs depth.) No matter, it’s satisfying.
I often go to films alone. What surprised me in this viewing was the number of other women there by themselves. I think it’s some reflection of the desire to see it, sooner rather than waiting for a group to go. Granted, this was matinee.
Previews were the Bruce Springsteen concert movie Western Stars, Malicifent, Harriet, Ford vs. Ferrarri maybe another one or two!
It was a bit too fluffy for me, but still very enjoyable, like catching up with old friends, or at least friends on Facebook who post only the most exciting and positive aspects of their lives. I went with a group to an arts theater. It was almost sold out on Saturday afternoon, and the audience was definitely mainly over 50 and female. Watching it from my living room on TV all those years, I hadn’t thought about it being most popular among an older demographic, but I can definitely see how it appeals more to women than men.
One preview was for Judy, with Renee Zellweger playing Judy Garland in the year before her death.
I don’t know how they know the sex or age of specific moviegoers
I think Downton Abbey fans would be interested in a prequel–how Robert and Cora met, a younger Violet must have been hell-on-wheels! Would require a new, younger cast, but The Crown doesn’t seem to be missing a beat changing over the cast.
OR–a movie that takes place at the brink of WWII–Sybbie, George, and Marigold would be young adults, Violet would be deceased by then, unfortunately, but Robert, Cora, Mary, Tom, et al, would be the older generation.
From your lips to Julian Fellowes’ ears! I would go to both those movies.
Attention Julian Fellowes: Downton Abbey began with an imperiled inheritance. England abolished the entail (the original problem that brought Matthew into the story) in 1925. Let’s say Robert, Lord Grantham, has a medical crisis and decides it is unfair that only little George will eventually inherit all of Downton and the money. Nothing for little Sybie, Henry’s child with Mary, or Marigold. The law now permits him to leave his half to whomever he wishes.
Then let the fighting begin.
Mark Zuckerberg told them. 
Wife and I saw the movie today–thoroughly enjoyed it, but they were preaching to the choir! Both of us agreed that our Blu-rays of the 6 seasons we watch at home were noticeably clearer than the projected image at the theater (it’s obvious we don’t go to movies much!!). We’re looking forward to re-watching in crystal-clear Blu-ray at home when the disks are released (and with captions, I might add).
Since I started the discussion about trailers, our were: 1.–The Tom Hanks Mr. Rogers movie, 2–an Emma Thompson Christmas movie whose setting is London, and 3–The Harriet Tubman movie.
Spoiler alert. Don’t click if you haven’t seen it yet
Dozens of reasons to like the film. Here’s one look
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2480991/downton-abbey-movie-7-of-the-best-moments-according-to-a-superfan
I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved it!
I would be delighted with another one or two, but honestly the logistics of getting that huge cast to agree and to be able to coordinate schedules? Time will tell.
spoiler space
Clearly Maggie Smith will not be in any further sequels even if she is still alive.
Aw, they missed Elizabeth McGovern and the way she kept kept tilting her head. (Was it the NPR review that picked upon that? It was annoying.) But even this spoof made me smile.
Total worldwide box office is at $107,649,885 to date. Total budget was between $13-20 million.
There will be more.
Great! It would be lovely to have more Downton sequels!
Keeping the spoiler space, but really at this point, if people have not seen the movie, they desrve to have it spolied when clicking on a thread about the movie.
But anyway, read nothing into the scene with Violet and Mary. Maggie has been quite vocal in the past about being happy that Downton was over, saying on one talk show “By the time we finished, she must have been about 110”.:
https://youtu.be/rvrMVf8HJ44?t=173
And yet she’s back. Additionally, while the scene gives a potential “out” for her if there is a next film, Maggie herself changed the dialogue from the script from “do not” to “may not.”
I’m happy!
DA’s box office has topped $135M. They’d be silly not to go for one more movie…
Question about the movie:
Who was the young girl sitting on Mary’s lap in the scenes with the children? Did Mary and Tolbert have a child together? At one point she mentioned “George and Caroline” so I assume that was the girl’s name, but I don’t remember that she was pregnant in the series.
Yes, that was the child that Mary told Henry she was expecting in the final episode of the tv series.