The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›The Departed
Entertainment • Film

The Departed

The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. Set in Boston, the film follows an undercover police officer and a police informant inside an Irish-American crime organization as each tries to identify the other. It is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film was widely distributed in Canada as an English-language Hollywood release and is commonly discussed in Canadian film coverage as a landmark gangster thriller.

Plot

The story centers on a state police operation against an Irish-American crime syndicate in Boston. An undercover officer infiltrates the mob while a mob informant rises inside the police, creating a cat-and-mouse search for each other’s identities.

Production and source material

The Departed was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. It is a remake of Infernal Affairs, the 2002 Hong Kong crime film.

Reception and awards

The film was a major box-office success and received strong critical attention. It won four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Cast

The principal cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Alec Baldwin.

Key facts

  • Set in South Boston, the film follows an undercover cop and a mob informant exposing each other.
  • It is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs.
  • Won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
  • Directed by Martin Scorsese, his first Oscar for Best Director.
  • Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson.
🍁
Canadian context

The film was widely distributed in Canada as an English-language Hollywood release and is commonly discussed in Canadian film coverage as a landmark gangster thriller.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Departed about?
It follows an undercover state police officer and a criminal informant inside the police force as they try to expose each other while working for opposing sides in Boston.
Who directed The Departed?
Martin Scorsese directed the film.
Is The Departed a remake?
Yes. It is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs.
What awards did The Departed win?
It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing.
When was The Departed released?
It was released on October 6, 2006.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Departed
    Supports: Directed by Martin Scorsese; release year; Boston setting; remake status; Academy Award wins; Scorsese's first Best Director Oscar.
  2. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Departed
    Supports: Core cast, plot summary, source material, and production details.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/departed
    Supports: Cast, genre, runtime, release date, distributor, rating, and synopsis.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/
    Supports: Plot premise and principal cast.