20 Years Later, Leonardo DiCaprio’s 4-Oscar Winner Remains a Defining Crime Thriller

Originally posted on IndeNews | By Pratham Gurung | Last updated Apr 30, 2026 4:21 PM ET

20 years later, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning crime thriller The Departed still stands as one of the most influential gangster films of the 21st century. While the film earned four Academy Awards and a global audience, its raw, morally tangled world continues to define the genre. Even in the streaming era, its popularity proves it has not lost its edge.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, the Boston-set thriller follows a cop and a mob mole embedded in each other’s worlds. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, though DiCaprio himself was notably not nominated. Two decades later, the film continues to hold strong critical acclaim.

It boasts a 91% critics’ score and 94% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise centered on its tension and sharp dialogue. Its ensemble cast, including Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, remains one of its biggest strengths.

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The film has also found renewed life on streaming platforms like Max. It recently surged among the most-watched titles worldwide, introducing a new generation to its gritty storytelling. Its influence on modern crime dramas continues to be widely felt.

Even as The Departed endures, DiCaprio and Scorsese are already shaping their next cinematic chapter together.

A new Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese collaboration takes shape

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to reunite with Martin Scorsese for What Happens at Night. The psychological thriller also stars Jennifer Lawrence, marking another collaboration following Don’t Look Up. The film adapts Peter Cameron’s novel, with a screenplay by Patrick Marber.

The story follows a couple traveling to a remote European town to adopt a child, only to find themselves in an unsettling and increasingly surreal environment. Scorsese leans into a gothic tone, exploring identity and relationships through a more intimate lens. The setting and themes signal a shift from his traditional crime narratives.

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The cast also includes Mads Mikkelsen, Jared Harris, and Patricia Clarkson. With production underway, anticipation is building around how Scorsese will translate the story’s eerie atmosphere to the screen. For fans, it represents another evolution in one of cinema’s most celebrated director-actor partnerships.

This article first appeared on IndeNews and was syndicated with permission.

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