The Departed poster

The Departed

2006151 minutesR
4.5
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.5IMDb
🍅 91%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 85/100Metacritic
🎬 8.2TMDb
📊 9.8Popularity
🏆Won 4 Oscars. 100 wins & 141 nominations total
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
In this crime-action tour de force, the South Boston state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by their double lives, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations they have penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy - and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save themselves. But is either willing to turn on their friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover?

Box Office

Budget:$90.0M
Revenue:$291.5M
Profit:$201.5M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision5.6/10
Emotional Arc Impact3/10
Thematic Consistency5/10
Overall Score4.5/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

The Departed Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
5 min
3
Set-Up
15 min
4
Catalyst
25 min
5
Debate
40 min
6
Break Into Two
55 min
7
B Story
70 min
8
Fun and Games
90 min
9
Midpoint
100 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
120 min
11
All Is Lost
135 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
140 min
13
Break Into Three
145 min
14
Finale
149 min
15
Final Image
151 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Boston underworld. Colin Sullivan and Billy Costigan shown in parallel lives. Atmosphere of tension and crime.

#2

Theme Stated

5 min

Theme: duality, identity, deception, loyalty, and betrayal introduced through undercover dynamics.

#3

Set-Up

15 min

Costigan infiltrates the mob; Sullivan works in police. Introduces key characters and conflicts. Stakes established.

#4

Catalyst

25 min

Costigan successfully integrates into mob. Tension rises as both sides remain unaware of the spy within.

#5

Debate

40 min

Costigan struggles with morality and fear. Can he survive undercover? Risks personal safety and mental health.

#6

Break Into Two

55 min

Costigan commits deeper to undercover work. Threshold into danger zone fully crossed.

#7

B Story

70 min

Relationships with police colleagues and mob members deepen. Emotional stakes: trust, loyalty, deception.

#8

Fun and Games

90 min

Cat-and-mouse games escalate. Costigan and Sullivan’s paths parallel; tension and suspense grow.

#9

Midpoint

100 min

Costigan discovers key information about Sullivan and mob. Stakes heighten; false sense of control.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

120 min

Sullivan becomes suspicious. Mob pressure and police scrutiny increase. Danger intensifies.

#11

All Is Lost

135 min

Costigan’s identity nearly exposed. Threat of death and betrayal peaks. Emotional low point.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

140 min

Costigan and Sullivan face moral and existential dilemmas. Fear and tension dominate.

#13

Break Into Three

145 min

Final confrontations set in motion. Characters prepare for resolution and reveal.

#14

Finale

149 min

Violence and betrayal culminate. Truths revealed. Survivors emerge; justice mixed with tragedy.

#15

Final Image

151 min

City resumes life. Costigan dead. Sullivan alive but haunted. Moral ambiguity and consequences clear.