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We’re into September and we’re seeing a flood of new films, including some highly anticipated new films. Below is a look at all the new films I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Theaters)
Starring: Laura Carmichael, Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, and Michelle Dockery
Synopsis: Endings are tricky. We first met the Crawley family in 2010 as the series began with the sinking of the Titanic. Through five seasons, we moved through years of triumphs and tragedy, with the series drawing to a close in 2015. Since that time, we’ve kept up with the characters and events through a series of movies. The first debuted in 2019 with a follow up, the final appearance for star Maggie Smith, in 2022. And now, three years later, we get the third and final film. It’s a last chance to catch up with these characters we’ve followed for 15 years as the Crawley family—and the rest of the world—hits 1930. The film picks up after the events of the previous film. Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) is preparing to take over as the master of Downton Abbey and the whole family is still mourning the late Violet (Smith). But they are trying to survive the season in London and embrace the changes in the world. All that becomes an even bigger challenge when word of Mary’s impending divorce becomes public. It’s a scandal that damages her position in elite society. This angers her father, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), who doesn’t want to see his daughter and heir cast out of society. Meanwhile, the family is bracing to receive Lady Grantham’s (Elizabeth McGovern) brother Harold (Paul Giamatti). Her mother has died, and it’s been up to Harold to settle the estate and he's come to bring a report. But Harold isn’t alone. He’s come with Gus (Alessandro Nivola), a mysterious and cunning stranger that seems to have his own plans for the family’s fortunes. While trying to ferret out Gus’s true intentions, Edith (Laura Carmichael) also teams with her mother and Anna (Joanne Froggatt) to host a social gathering to restore Mary’s place in the community. If you’ve been a fan of Downton Abbey over the years, any return to the world is a happy return. This is no different. It picks up in the aftermath of the second film and continues the adventures of this family as everyone moves on to that next phase. It feels like a fitting ending that provides closure to the characters and storylines we’ve followed for more than a decade. The look of this film is solid. Julian Fellowes pens the script, which is good, but director Richard Curtis adds some wonderful visual flourishes that capture the majesty of the world and setting. I particularly liked an opening sequence gliding through the theater that provides a wonderful opening to the film. But what works best is the way this advances the story to a logical conclusion. By the end of the run, you feel ready to bid these characters farewell. The closing sequence, with Mary alone in the house remembering all those in her family and in the family’s service, is a beautiful and touching moment. It’s also a wonderful tribute to Smith, who receives the dedication at the end of the film. I have loved Downton Abbey since it debuted, so this film is certainly for me. But I loved the raw emotions, the beautiful look, and being back in this world. The Grand Finale lives up to its name and is worth checking out if you’re a fan of the characters or just a fan of a fun story.
Rating: Rated PG for suggestive material, smoking and some thematic elements.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

The Long Walk (Theaters)
Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Mark Hamill
Synopsis: This new film is based on a novel from Stephen King. It’s set in an alternate world where a major war has left the country changed. There is mass economic struggle and as a means of inspiring and controlling the people, The Long Walk was created. A volunteer from each of the 50 states enters. They walk, maintaining a pace of three-miles-per-hour or greater, until only one is left. When someone falls below pace, or falls period, their ticket is punched—permanently. There is only one winner and no finish line. In this year’s contest, we meet a group of young men, each with different dreams and motivations. We follow two of them (Hoffman and Jonsson) closely. The competition is run by The Major (Hamill), who is ruthless in keeping the event on task. Can they survive? And what will survival mean? This is a fascinating and at times dire set up. The film features a couple of great performances from Hoffman and Jonsson, who create a pair of interesting and in-depth characters. Francis Lawrence, who worked on several of the Hunger Games films, does a nice job putting it together. And the script from JT Mollner does a nice job of building tension and emotion. You can’t help but invest in these young men, even though you know their future is bleak. The ending is also something of a gut punch, but it certainly sticks with you. I thought this was a great film, one of the best of 2025 so far. It’s a tough watch, but it demonstrates good craft and a story you can’t look away from.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, suicide, pervasive language, and sexual references.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (Theaters)
Starring: Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean
Synopsis: Back in 1984, Reiner delivered a delightful mockmentary about a fictional band on tour. The band, played by Guest, Shearer, and McKean, was known as Spinal Tap. For more than 40 years, the film has endured for its story and its comedy. Now, we get a follow up as Reiner’s Martin DiBergi catches up with the band for a reunion show. It is fun to drop back into this world and appreciate the guest appearances by musicians like Questlove, Paul McCartney, and Elton John. The film is a brisk 85 minutes and features plenty of laughs on par with the first film. I remember the original film as my gateway to mockmentaries, which Guest, Shearer, and McKean kept going in films like A Mighty Wind and Best in Show. This is a fun return to that format and shows they’ve still got it. If you’re a fan, this is worth checking out.
Rating: Rated R for language including some sexual references.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Twinless (Theaters)
Starring: Dylan O’Brien and James Sweeney
Synopsis: This new film debuted at Sundance and now is getting its release in theaters. It focuses on Roman (O’Brien), whose twin brother Rocky (O’Brien) was suddenly killed in a car accident. Roman is mired in grief and turns to a support group for those who’ve lost twins, which is a special kind of loss. There, he meets Dennis (Sweeney), a fellow member of the group. Roman and Dennis spark a friendship that helps Roman heal and move forward. But it turns out there is more to Dennis than he presents, including a prior connection to Rocky. When the truth comes out, will their friendship survive? This is a fascinating story and one that has some depths when it comes to looking at friendship, love, and grief. It features a great performance from O’Brien in a dual role. He creates two unique characters, but really shines during a few emotional sequences later in the film. There are some awkward twists here as Sweeney—who also wrote and directs—tries to unravel this story. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but it ends up being an enjoyable enough story that feels unique.
Rating: Rated R for sexual content/nudity and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

The Wrong Paris (Netflix)
Starring: Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fode
Synopsis: The latest from Netflix is a romantic comedy about a young woman (Cosgrove) who dreams of attending art school in Paris, France. She gets into the school but needs money to make the dream a reality. Her sister suggests she apply for a reality dating show which is set to have a new season in Paris. It seems the perfect way to make the trip and earn some cash. She applies and is accepted, only to learn the season is being shot in Paris, Texas. Desperate to end her time, she ends up drawn to the bachelor (Fode), which complicates her plans. This is a simple enough set up that has some fun moments. Cosgrove keeps it light in the lead role and Fode makes for a nice romantic foil. It’s deep as a puddle and the ending is fairly predictable, but it makes for a nice streaming binge on date night.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five