The Departed currently beats E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 59–41
Scorsese's rat psychology outmaneuvers Spielberg's childhood fable.
The Verdict Decade Duel
The moment you realize that Costigan and Sullivan are mirror images — both informants, both performing a version of themselves for an audience that would kill them if the performance slipped — is when The Departed stops being a crime thriller and becomes something closer to existential horror. Scorsese built a Boston where identity itself is the weapon, and DiCaprio and Damon play it like they’re both drowning. E.T. is constructed with equal intelligence but in service of sentiment rather than dread. At 59 to 41, voters prefer the film where nobody can be trusted. The gentler Spielberg has been, the harder Scorsese hits by contrast.
The Numbers
| E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | The Departed | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 41% | 59% |
| Overall Win Rate | 42% | 57% |
| Championships | 8 | 41 |
| Avg Decision | 1.7s | 1.4s |
| Budget | $11M | $90M |
| Return | 75.9x | 3.2x |
Where This Matchup Sits
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is in the bottom quarter of Science Fiction on BingeBracket; The Departed is in the top quarter of Drama. Different categories, but both have standing in theirs.
When matched against other films, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial can handle GoodFellas but The Departed can't. What one film wins comfortably, the other loses.
Adjusted for what they cost, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) returned 75.9x its budget while The Departed (2006) managed 3.2x. Despite the ROI gap, The Departed wins the head-to-head on BingeBracket.
Think E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial deserves better?
You're in the 41%.
Play the bracket these votes came from. Your pick shifts the result.
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region.
Want to pit The Departed against something else?
Build your own bracket with any films you want.