Two decades after its 2006 theatrical release, Martin Scorsese’s gritty Boston crime thriller The Departed has surged back onto United States streaming charts. Data from FlixPatrol reported by Yahoo shows the film climbed to No. 6 on the HBO Max U.S. movie chart on October 15. It spent nine days firmly in the platform’s top 10 after arriving on October 1. However, Collider reported a bittersweet caveat for subscribers: the acclaimed classic is scheduled to leave the platform soon.
The renewed interest highlights the enduring legacy of a film that marked a turning point in Scorsese’s career. Based on the acclaimed 2002 Hong Kong crime film Infernal Affairs, The Departed relocated the cat-and-mouse dynamic to South Boston. It pits the Massachusetts State Police against a powerful Irish mob network led by the unpredictable Frank Costello.
A High-Stakes Game of Cat and Mouse
The story centers on two men caught in parallel deceptions. Undercover cop Billy Costigan, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, infiltrates Costello’s inner circle because of his deep ties to South Boston’s criminal underworld. Simultaneously, career criminal Colin Sullivan, played by Matt Damon, infiltrates the state police department as a mole, feeding internal law enforcement intel directly to Costello.
As both organizations realize a traitor is operating within their ranks, Costigan and Sullivan race against time to unmask each other before their lives are cut short. This relentless tension helped the film secure a 91% critics’ score and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Box Office Success and Historic Oscar Wins
Before dominating modern streaming charts, The Departed was a commercial and critical heavyweight. Made on a reported production budget of $90 million, the movie grossed over $291 million worldwide. It became one of Scorsese’s highest-grossing directorial efforts up to that point, outperforming several of Damon’s earlier blockbuster hits.
The film’s defining legacy remains its historic night at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007. Despite directing cinematic masterpieces for decades, Scorsese won his first and only Oscar for Best Director with The Departed. The film triumphed in four major categories overall:
- Best Picture
- Best Director (Martin Scorsese)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (William Monahan)
- Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker)
Mark Wahlberg earned the film’s sole acting nomination, receiving a nod for Best Supporting Actor for his fierce portrayal of Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam. The star-studded ensemble cast also featured Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, and Ray Winstone.
Where to Watch The Departed Now
With its tenure on HBO Max nearing an end, fans looking to revisit the multi-Oscar winner still have alternative options. The Departed is widely available for digital purchase or rental across major video-on-demand platforms, including Prime Video and Apple TV, ensuring Scorsese’s Boston underworld stays open for business.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Departed
What is The Departed about?
The film follows an undercover cop in South Boston trying to infiltrate an Irish mob boss’s crew, while a mole from the same mob infiltrates the police department. Both men must figure out each other’s identities before they are exposed.
Is The Departed based on a true story?
No, the film is a Hollywood remake of the 2006 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs, directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. However, some elements of Frank Costello’s character were loosely inspired by Boston gangster Whitey Bulger.
How many Oscars did The Departed win?
The film won four Academy Awards at the 2007 ceremony: Best Picture, Best Director for Martin Scorsese, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
Did Leonardo DiCaprio win an Oscar for The Departed?
No. Although Leonardo DiCaprio delivered a critically acclaimed performance as Billy Costigan, he was not nominated for an Oscar for this film. Instead, he received a Best Actor nomination that same year for his role in Blood Diamond.
Who starred in The Departed?
The film features an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, and Ray Winstone.
