WatchTree Recommendations
What to Watch After The Departed
From Boston’s Streets to Miami’s Stash: Four Crime Thrillers That Echo The Departed
If you loved the razor‑sharp double‑crosses and relentless tension of Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, you’ll find a fresh quartet of thrillers ready to keep your pulse racing. From the Miami heat of The Rip, where a stash of cartel cash tears a police unit apart, to the satirical gun‑fueled romp Bad Man, each pick offers a distinct flavor of crime‑filled chaos. The Immortal Man, a continuation of the beloved Peaky Blinders saga, delivers the same brooding gangster drama that made The Departed a modern classic, while Fight or Flight catapults the intrigue onto a doomed aircraft for a high‑altitude showdown.
Together these titles map a spectrum of the genre: a brand‑new release that pushes the envelope, a beloved audience favorite that mixes humor with danger, a critically lauded continuation of a cult series, and a fail‑proof action‑comedy that guarantees thrills. Whether you crave the gritty realism of Boston’s underworld or the stylized suspense of a plane‑bound mercenary, this lineup proves there’s always another way to chase the mole, the money, and the madness.
Why these movies are similar to The Departed
To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.
These recommendations branch out from The Departed with similar tone, themes, genre elements, or audience appeal.
The Rip
MOVIE • 2026
action • thriller • crime
Why Watch Next
A modern, high‑octane crime thriller that mirrors The Departed’s cat‑and‑mouse intrigue, with a Miami squad hunting hidden cartel money and watching trust dissolve.
Overview
Trust frays when a team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash inside a run-down stash house, calling everyone — and everything — into question.
Bad Man
MOVIE • 2025
action • comedy • crime
Why Watch Next
A crowd‑pleasing blend of action and satire that captures the undercover‑agent twist of The Departed while delivering the laugh‑out‑loud moments audiences love.
Overview
In Colt Lake, Tennessee, Sam Evans tackles a meth epidemic. He is side-lined on arrival of Bobby Gaines, an undercover agent. Despite Evans' local ties, Gaines is hailed as hero. Suspicions arise on Gaines which unravels a complex narrative.
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
MOVIE • 2026
crime • drama
Why Watch Next
The closest thematic echo to The Departed, this gritty drama follows a notorious mob boss navigating betrayal and war‑time stakes, earning critical acclaim and fan devotion.
Overview
After his estranged son gets embroiled in a Nazi plot, self-exiled gangster Tommy Shelby must return to Birmingham to save his family — and his nation.
Fight or Flight
MOVIE • 2025
action • comedy • thriller
Why Watch Next
A guaranteed crowd‑pleaser that swaps city streets for a turbulent flight, delivering the same tense, double‑crossing energy that made The Departed a classic.
Overview
A mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect that target when they're surrounded by people trying to kill both of them.
More shows and movies featuring actors from The Departed
Looking for familiar faces? These picks include performers connected to The Departed.
One Battle After Another
MOVIE • 2025
Why It’s Relevant
This gritty crime thriller blends intense on‑the‑run tension and themes of betrayal and family loyalty, echoing the dark, high‑stakes atmosphere of The Departed.