What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Departed
Martin Scorsese · Film · 2006
If you loved The Departed, start with Infernal Affairs (Alan Mak Siu-Fai, 2002) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Departed across media.
If The Departed hooked you, it is likely because you crave stories where blurred lines of identity and loyalty dismantle lives.
Start with the source
The source
Infernal Affairs
Alan Mak Siu-Fai · Film · 2002
Books on the same thread
The Sympathizer
Viet Thanh Nguyen · Book · 2016
Explores: Dual identity, Unreliable narrator, The immigrant experience.
Much like the undercover tension in The Departed, this novel explores the psychological toll of living a double life where your true identity is constantly threatened by divided loyalties.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
The Departed captures the tragic consequences of building a life on deception, a theme that resonates deeply with the hollow pursuit of identity found in this modernist classic.
Dubliners
James Joyce · Book · 1992
Explores: Paralysis, Epiphany, Irish Identity.
While The Departed focuses on the criminal underbelly of Boston, these stories offer a similarly atmospheric look at Irish identity and the paralyzing weight of one's environment and background.
The Godfather
Mario Puzo · Book · 1969
Shares 2 threads with The Departed: Loyalty, Betrayal.
If the complex power dynamics and brutal betrayals in The Departed kept you watching, you will find the blueprint for those themes within this definitive crime family saga.
Series on the same thread
The Wire
David Simon · Series · 2002
Shares a thread with The Departed: Moral Ambiguity.
The Departed highlights how systemic corruption erodes moral clarity, a concept that this series expands upon by showing how institutions and criminal organizations mirror each other in their bureaucratic decay.
Dexter
James Manos Jr. · Series · 2006
Shares a thread with The Departed: Moral Ambiguity.
Similar to the protagonist of The Departed, Dexter lives a double life that forces him to navigate the dangerous intersection of law enforcement and his own hidden, dark nature.
The Sopranos
David Chase · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with The Departed: Moral Ambiguity.
Fans of The Departed will appreciate how this series dissects the existential crisis of a man caught between his domestic responsibilities and the demands of a ruthless criminal organization.
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto · Series · 2014
Shares 2 threads with The Departed: Moral Ambiguity, Neo-Noir.
The Departed thrives on the tension of unearthed secrets, and this series masterfully utilizes that same investigative dread to explore how past trauma and corruption haunt the present day.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Departed: moral ambiguity.
The Departed relies on intense, morally ambiguous situations to pull you in, and this anthology delivers that same visceral impact through short, cinematic stories that challenge your perspective.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Departed: moral ambiguity.
If you were fascinated by the human cost of crime in The Departed, this podcast offers a compelling look at the gray areas where morality and legality often collide.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Departed based on the 2002 movie Infernal Affairs?
Yes, The Departed is an adaptation of the 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller titled Infernal Affairs. While both films follow the premise of an undercover police officer and a mole infiltrating opposing sides, The Departed shifts the setting to the Irish Mafia in South Boston.
Should I watch Infernal Affairs if I enjoyed The Departed?
If you enjoyed the tense cat-and-mouse dynamic of The Departed, watching Infernal Affairs is recommended. As the original source material, it provides a different cultural perspective on the same narrative structure involving two men embedded in enemy organizations, allowing you to compare the two directorial approaches.
What is the premise of The Departed?
The Departed focuses on the conflict between the South Boston Irish Mafia and the police. The police force sends an officer to infiltrate the syndicate, while the syndicate simultaneously plants a mole within the police department, leading to a dangerous game of discovery for both men.
How does the plot of The Departed compare to Infernal Affairs?
Both The Departed and Infernal Affairs center on the dual infiltration of a police force and a criminal organization. While the core plot remains consistent, The Departed adapts the story specifically to the environment of South Boston, whereas Infernal Affairs is set within the context of Hong Kong.