5 Things You Didn't Know About ‘The Departed’

(L to R) Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Departed.' Photo: Warner Bros.

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking and Oscar-winning crime thriller ‘The Departed,’ which was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.

The Departed

"Cops or criminals. When you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?"

RDrama Thriller Crime

Audience

Release Oct 5, 2006Runtime 2h 31mBudget $90M

WHERE TO WATCH

The film, packed with undercover identities, double-crosses and unforgettable performances follows an undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.

Let's dive in...

Related Article: Martin Scorsese is Attached to Produce New Las Vegas Casino TV Series

1. It’s a remake of a Hong Kong crime thriller

(L to R) Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in ‘Infernal Affairs.’ Photo: Miramax.

The film was adapted from ‘Infernal Affairs,’ a 2002 Hong Kong movie directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. Both films follow a police officer infiltrating a criminal organization and a criminal secretly working inside the police force. Scorsese and screenwriter William Monahan transformed the story into a distinctly Boston-set crime saga, with a stronger focus on Irish-American identity and organized crime.

2. Jack Nicholson helped make Frank Costello terrifying

(L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson in 'The Departed.' Photo: Warner Bros.

Nicholson’s performance as crime boss Frank Costello is one of the movie’s most unpredictable elements. He reportedly had considerable freedom to improvise and contribute ideas to the character. His menacing, darkly comic portrayal gives the film some of its most unsettling moments. Costello was also loosely inspired by real-life Boston gangster Whitey Bulger.

3. The movie helped Martin Scorsese finally win his first competitive directing Oscar

Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio at the Governors Ball after the 79th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 25, 2007. Photo: Courtesy of AMPAS/©A.M.P.A.S.

Despite decades of acclaimed filmmaking, Scorsese had never won the Academy Award for Best Director before ‘The Departed.’ At the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, he finally won, beating fellow nominees including Clint Eastwood and Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film won four Oscars in total, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing.

4. Scorsese hid an “X” as a clue to impending deaths

(L to R) Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson in 'The Departed.' Photo: Warner Bros.

Keep your eyes open when watching the movie: Scorsese uses the letter X in the background or composition of certain shots to foreshadow death. This is a tribute to the 1932 gangster classic ‘Scarface,’ which used the same visual technique. It’s a subtle detail that rewards eagle-eyed viewers on a second viewing.

5. It contains an astonishing number of swear words

Alec Baldwin in 'The Departed.' Photo: Warner Bros.

The film is famous for its exceptionally colorful dialogue. According to widely reported counts, ‘The Departed’ contains approximately 237 uses of the F-word. The frequent profanity helps establish the abrasive, volatile atmosphere of its Boston police and criminal underworld.

What is the plot of ‘The Departed’?

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an undercover state trooper who infiltrates the criminal organization of ruthless mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), while Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is a corrupt police officer secretly working for Costello from inside the Massachusetts State Police. As both sides race to uncover the identity of the mole within their ranks, the two men find themselves caught in a dangerous game of deception, betrayal and survival.