NEW YORK (AP) — Raise your tea cups! The big-screen encore of "Downton Abbey" handily (but very politely) thumped both Brad Pitt's "Ad Astra" and Sylvester Stallone's "Rambo: Last Blood" in theaters over the weekend in one of the more unlikely box-office upsets.

"Downton Abbey" debuted with $31 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, royally trumping the $19.2 million-opening for "Ad Astra" and the $19 million debut for "Rambo: Last Blood." Neither the draw of Pitt in space nor a bandanna-wearing Stallone could match the appeal a tea party with old friends.

While the sto...