P eople didn’t watch Downton Abbey for the social commentary. While the ITV series created by Julian Fellowes had plenty of moving storylines, fans were more into the lavish costumes and stunning settings – hallmarks of classic Sunday night TV. The acting was good too – Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary, Hugh Bonneville as her father, Lord Grantham, and Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess were particular highlights. There was scandal, death, marriage, war, infidelity and endless cups of tea. Ultimately, though, Downton was cuddly and harmless. It didn’t try to make any grand allusions to what was taking place in the 21st century. So it was interesting to find that the Downton Abbey movie is essentially a feature-length work of Brexit propaganda, wrapped up in a pretty velvet bow.

Fellowes knows the Downton Abbey world well. He was born in Cairo, Egypt, before being raised between South Kensington and Sussex. He attended several private schools, and later read English Literature at Cambridge where he was also a member of the Footlights club. He’s a lifelong Tory, appointed by David Cameron to the House of Lords in 2011. He now lives with his wife, Emma, at a manor house in Dorset with 50 acres of land. This isn’t to say that he doesn’t know what hard work is. He struggled as an actor for years, and scored a few minor roles in LA – he was the chauffeur in Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess – but lost out on a part in Fantasy Island, which he believed would have been his big break. He has expressed concern about social mobility in the UK, criticising the education system, and his portrayals of class, racial and gender divide in the Downton Abbey series were sensitive and illuminating.

Maybe he was a fan already, but I can guess what may have inspired Fellowes to get so giddy about the royals to the point that he turned his film into a piece of monarchist idolatry. There was the on-set visit from the Duchess of Cambridge in 2015 and a tribute by Prince William, who said it was “one of Catherine’s and my favourite programmes”. Even the cast have royal links – Harry Hadden-Patten, who plays Lady Edith’s husband Bertie Pelham, is Sarah Ferguson’s godson. Jim Carter, who stars as the butler, Carson, received an OBE from the Queen this year for services to drama while his wife, Imelda Staunton, got a CBE in 2016 (she also stars in the film). Fellowes is surely angling for a knighthood by now.

35 great films that bombed at the box office Show all 35 1 /35 35 great films that bombed at the box office 35 great films that bombed at the box office Children of Men (2006) While it's now revered as one of the best films of the 21st century, Alfonso Cuarón's dystopian thriller failed to make its money back at the box office at its time of release in 2006. Universal Studios 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) This Robin Williams comedy grossed just $8m against its $46m budget, losing the studio a staggering $38m. Columbia Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Ali (2001) Ali opened in the US on Christmas Day, 2001, and grossed a total of $87.7m worldwide – and still lost an estimated $63.1m. Initial Entertainment Group 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) Andrew Dominik's lyrical western only just made back half of its $30m budget in 2007, but found love upon its release on DVD. Warner Bros 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Astronaut's Wife (1999) Despite starring Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron, this drama was a certified bomb at the box office, making a total of $19.6m from a $75m budget. New Line Cinema 35 great films that bombed at the box office The BFG (2016) Steven Spielberg's Roald Dahl adaptation grossed just $183m against its $140m budget – a low profit by Disney's standards. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Blackhat (2015) Michael Mann's cyber thriller was a box office bomb, earning only $19.7m at the box office against a budget of $70m. Universal Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Blade Runner 2049 (2017) Just like Ridley Scott's original flopped, this lengthy sequel from Denis Villeneuve grossed just $259m worldwide and is considered a flop. Sony Pictures Releasing 35 great films that bombed at the box office Citizen Kane (1941) This Orson Welles film may be a beloved classic, but at the time release, it failed to recoup its costs at the box office. Rex Features 35 great films that bombed at the box office Clockers (1995) Spike Lee's Clockers saw one of the director's most disappointing performances at the box office, taking just $13m from a $25m budget. Universal Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Deepwater Horizon (2016) Peter Berg's real-life drama fell more than $30m short of its $156m budget, a shame considering it's one of the Friday Night Lights creator's best films to date. Summit Entertainment 35 great films that bombed at the box office Donnie Darko (2001) Donnie Darko grossed just over $7.5m worldwide on a budget of $4.5m, not helped by its marketing campaign featuring a plane crash weeks before 9/11. Rex Features 35 great films that bombed at the box office Event Horizon (1997) Upon release, this cult horror was a commercial and critical failure, grossing $26.7m on a $60m production budget. Paramount Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Fight Club (1999) There was something of a controversy surrounding David Fincher's Fight Club, which aided in making a modest profit of just under $40m at the box office. It's opening run, though, was markedly underwhelming. 20th Century Fox 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Good Dinosaur (2015) While far from being a catastrophic flop, The Good Dinosaur struggled to reach the heights of other Pixar releases. The film grossed $332m worldwide against a $175m budget. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Hard Rain (1998) This entertaining 1990s thriller had such poor box office takings in the US, it was released straight-to-DVD in other countries, including the UK. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 35 great films that bombed at the box office Heaven's Gate (1980) Michael Cimino's drama is notable for being one of the biggest box office bombs of its time, losing the studio an estimated $37m (over $114 million when adjusted for inflation). United Artists 35 great films that bombed at the box office Hugo (2011) Martin Scorsese's charming family film was a commercial failure, grossing just $185m against its $150–$170m budget. Paramount Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Insider (1999) While acclaimed by critics, Michael Mann's drama – starring Al Pacino and Russell Crowe – never made back its $68m budget. Buena Vista Pictures Distribution 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Iron Giant (1999) Despite being one of the best animated films of all time, The Iron Giant was a victim of Warner Bros scepticism towards the genre after the failure of previous effort, Quest for Camelot. Future Pixar director Brad Bird's film made $31.3m worldwide against a budget of $70–80m. Warner Bros 35 great films that bombed at the box office It's a Wonderful Life (1946) While not a major flop, the classic underperformed at the Christmas box office due to stiff competition from other big films. National Telefilm Associates 35 great films that bombed at the box office Ishtar (1987) Elaine May's maligned comedy, which is being reassessed with every passing year, became a notorious failure at the box office. Columbia Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office The King of Comedy (1982) Although Scorsese's drama was well-received by critics, it bombed at the box office. Lead Robert De Niro said that the film "maybe wasn't so well received because it gave off an aura of something that people didn't want to look at or know." 20th Century Fox 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Lone Ranger (2013) This unfairly maligned Disney release was a box office bomb, grossing only $260.5m worldwide against an estimated $225–250m production budget and an additional $150m in marketing costs. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Man on the Moon (1999) This Jim Carrey film from Milos Forman cost Universal a lot of money after it failed to make back its $52-82m budget. Universal Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office mother! (2017) While making its money back, polarising reviews meant that Darren Aronofsky's psychological horror settled for a $14m profit. Paramount Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Mulholland Drive (2001) It's considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, but David Lynch's head-scratcher failed to make back its $20m budget. Universal Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) Despite positive reviews from critics, this spoof grossed just $9m, failing to meet its budget of $20m. Universal Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Scott Pilgrim vs the World (2010) Edgar Wright's beloved cult was a box office bomb, grossing $47.7m against its production budget of $85–90m. Universal Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office The Shawshank Redemption (1994) This Stephen King adaptation was a box office disappointment, earning only $16m during its initial theatrical run. It would later get re-released and earn $58.3m. Columbia Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Shoot 'Em Up (2007) This fun action film starring Clive Owen recouped far less than its $39m budget. New Line Cinema 35 great films that bombed at the box office A Simple Plan (1998) This Oscar-nominated noir didn't meet its budget despite sitting at a paltry $17m. Paramount Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office This Is Spinal Tap (1984) It wasn't until its home entertainment release that this mockumentary became the beloved classic it is today. Embassy Pictures 35 great films that bombed at the box office Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) Valerian grossed $225m worldwide, but due to its high production and advertising costs, it was considered a commercial failure. EuropaCorp Distribution 35 great films that bombed at the box office Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) This beloved Roald Dahl adaptation starring Gene Wilder made just a $1m profit upon its original release in 1971. Rex Features

While the series attracted its own accusations of fawning over the aristocracy, the movie is so saccharine that it’ll make your teeth rot. In fact, there’s so much curtsying and simpering that it’s a wonder the characters get anything done. Perhaps that explains the complete lack of a real story: subplots aside (there’s an entire story dedicated to a boiler being fixed), the main event is a royal visit by King George V (a bored-looking Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James). News of the visit prompts Mary to ask Tom Branson (Allen Leech), an Irish Republican, if he’s planning on building a bomb. Meanwhile, Daisy the cook is scolded for questioning why everyone is so excited about a bunch of strangers coming to Downton.

Downton Abbey - Trailer 2

Back in the real world, for some a dodgy boiler means choosing between starving or freezing. Unless you’re the actual Queen, whose 60-year-old boiler was part of a £3.1 million utility bill in 2013. To distract from revelations such as this, the establishment has an infuriating habit of wheeling out the royal family every time morale is at an ebb. Hate crimes are at an all-time high? Let’s throw a royal wedding! The government’s going to s*** over Brexit? Who cares, Meghan’s pregnant!

And this is precisely what Downton Abbey, so beautifully timed, is also doing. When I interviewed Michelle Dockery for the film, I asked her if she felt fans would read into the (rather unsubtle) messages in the film. “There’s a message that Julian puts across, perhaps,” she said tactfully, echoing many other cast members by calling the film a form of “escapism” rather than my suggested word: “Distraction”.

Fellowes, meanwhile, couldn’t be clearer. The character Tom abandons his socialist views and bows his head to the king and queen, having saved the head of state from a would-be assassin. Later, the king thanks him for persuading his daughter, Princess Mary, to stay in a loveless marriage with an emotionally abusive man who seems to hate his own children, because that’s her royal duty. It’s sickening, but Boris Johnson must be delighted, given the battering the prime minister has taken over the past week in the now-suspended parliament.