One of Martin Scorsese’s greatest achievements was the 2006 crime film The Departed. He managed to land an appearance from Jack Nicholson in the final years of his career while bringing Leonard DiCaprio into the lead role in one of his earlier collaborations with the director. Obviously, as with just about every Scorsese crime film, it was incredibly well-received and won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
We’ve put together a list of features that have similarities (from direction, to actors, to themes, to feel) to The Departed and will be appreciated by fans looking for more.
Infernal Affairs
The first film on our list has to be the one that caused The Departed to be made in the first place. Technically, The Departed is a remake of this 2002 Hong-Kong film, following the same story (a gang member infiltrates the police and at the same time the police infiltrate the gang).
The main difference is, of course, the actors and the language, but Infernal Affairs also received two sequels, something we should probably never hold our breath for regarding The Departed. Watch if you like: the story of The Departed.
The Godfather
A list about crime films wouldn’t be complete without mentioning The Godfather. Despite not sharing the same cast or director, the film is considered to be the definitive best crime film ever made, and quite frequently the single best film of all time.
Marlon Brando and Al Pacino star, with Pacino’s character’s development from reluctance to brutality being the main focus of the story. Watch if you like: incredible crime films.
The Shining
Of course, thematically, The Shining is completely alien to The Departed. One is a dramatic, often action-heavy crime film, and the other is a slow-moving horror. They’re both directed by people often considered to be up there with the greatest directors of all time, but it is their star that really links them.
The Shining allows audiences to view Jack Nicholson in his prime as arguably the best actor ever. His intensity and skill are exceptional. Watch if you like: Jack Nicholson.
Shutter Island
While The Departed was one of the earliest collaborations between Martin Scorsese and Leonard DiCaprio, Shutter Island was deeper into their partnership. It also allowed DiCaprio to take on an even more central role, with the events of the entire films following him exclusively.
The psychological aspect is something that doesn’t link to The Departed, but his conflicted and believable performance coupled with Scorsese’s directional style keep the two aligned.
The Irishman
The Irishman is a film that will go down in history. Now that Scorsese and his stars: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, are reaching the ends of their career, this could be the final film to unite such acting royalty on screen at the same time.
The Departed has a more modern feel than many of Scorsese’s films, so fresh faces aren’t exactly common in The Irishman, but the mob setting and criminal enterprise is a clear link. Watch if you like: Scorsese’s legacy.
Scarface
Brian De Palma’s masterpiece, Scarface, stars a post-Godfather Al Pacino in the lead role of Tony Montana. The tale follows Montana as he rises from refugee to drug lord.
Much like the themes of conflict and loyalty in The Departed, Scarface is centered on a character trying to fit into an unfamiliar setting. Watch if you like: the themes of The Departed.
Casino
Returning yet again to Scorsese, this time for Casino. Clocking in at almost three hours, the crime epic is another of Scorsese’s grand, spanning works set in a criminal landscape.
It brings Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro back together again and tells a story built on real characters. Sharon Stone was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Watch if you like: Scorsese and crime.
The Usual Suspects
Another crime film, but not in the traditional sense. The Usual Suspects is built around the interrogation of Verbal, one of the survivors of a slaughter on a boat fronted by the mysterious Keyser Söze.
While the action plays out very differently, the feeling that there is something more going on pollutes both films, with twists and turns appearing at key moments in both stories. Watch if you like: twists and turns.
Goodfellas
Of course, Martin Scorsese’s greatest masterpiece has to be included on this list. Goodfellas puts Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta together for one of the most engrossing and gripping crime films of all time.
The links to The Departed are littered throughout in just about every way possible, from acting style to content to themes to directorial choices. It’s the perfect film for fans of The Departed, even if most of those fans will have already seen Goodfellas.
Shark Tale
Hear us out. If you enjoyed The Departed but have young children who shouldn’t be exposed to such violence, then Shark Tale is a genuinely good choice.
Not only is it one of the very few animated films that actually focuses in on a story about the criminal underworld, but it also gives Martin Scorsese his only voice acting role. Watch if you like: crime films, but in a kid-friendly setting.