Black Mass

At the end of Black Mass, Whitey Bulger remains a fugitive, living on the run for nearly sixteen years after he is warned about his impending arrest. Despite sightings and a few close calls—including visits from the FBI to bookstores in Canada—he manages to evade capture until June 22, 2011, when he is finally arrested at age 81. His capture is the result of an anonymous tip, and law enforcement tricks are used to lure him out of his apartment peacefully. Bulger faces numerous charges, including murder, extortion, and money laundering, and is eventually convicted and sentenced to two life terms plus additional years. His health deteriorates during his prison years; he suffers from poor conditions and violence, and his life ends in October 2018 when he is beaten to death by fellow inmates in an Oklahoma prison, just short of his 90th birthday. Throughout his imprisonment, the characters connected to him face various fates: some, like his associates Kevin Weeks and Stephen Flemmi, receive prison sentences—Flemmi’s life sentence—while others, like Johnny Martorano, get shorter terms. Whitey’s brother, William Bulger, suffers political fallout after his relationship with Whitey comes to light and steps down from his university position. The film shows how the FBI’s protective deal with Bulger ultimately leads to widespread corruption and tragedy, exposing how complicity and betrayal played central roles in the downfall of a notorious criminal and the institutions that shielded him for years. The ending underscores the tragic consequences of Whitey Bulger’s long evasion and the heavy toll it takes on everyone involved.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44