He’s been praised, applauded, mocked, and maligned, however it doesn’t matter what, Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage has given his the whole lot; pouring his coronary heart and soul into every film position he is had. Occasionally his go-for-broke inventive selections have led him into the center of Meme Country, however there isn’t any denying Cage’s vigorous, explosive expertise.
He’s been in acclaimed rom-coms, soul-crushing dramas, and naturally, a few of the greatest and greatest motion hits of the Nineties. Nic Cage’s resume is so dense in reality, that we have allowed this “Best Of” to go to fifteen, slightly than the same old prime 10. He’s labored with powerhouse administrators like David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, Michael Bay, Ridley Scott, and his personal uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, delivering a few of the most memorable performances in film historical past. (Speaking of memorable, you should definitely additionally see the 40 greatest Nicolas Cage moments written by a Cage superfan who has seen each Nic Cage movie.)
Having tackled each style there may be in his 4 a long time of appearing; whether or not it is saving San Francisco from a chemical gasoline assault or heading to Las Vegas for a deadly bender to—nicely, play himself—in a meta-adventure about his personal profession, these are our picks for Nicolas Cage’s greatest films ever.
15. Red Rock West (1993)
After a powerful debut run within the ’80s, Nic Cage’s ’90s had been an eclectic mixture of blockbusters, rom-com chaos, and gritty crime dramas—very like Red Rock West, from neo-noir notable John Dahl. Cage performed a down-on-his-luck discharged Marine whose seek for sincere work in Wyoming plunges him right into a murder-for-hire mess between Dennis Hopper, J.T. Walsh, and Lara Flynn Boyle. This suspenseful gem featured extra of a subdued “everyman” efficiency from Cage, main him into larger motion hero roles down the road.
14. Kick-Ass (2010)
Cage wasn’t the headlining star of Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass, a full-throttle adaptation of the Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. comedian collection, however he stood out in a super-duper supporting position as Big Daddy, the Batman-style vigilante who raised his daughter, Hit-Girl, to be simply as violently unforgiving of crime as he was. Cage acquired to move his motion hero torch to a brand new crew of younger on this pre-MCU hero-verse of Rated R mayhem.
Read our Kick-Ass evaluation.
13. Longlegs (2024)
Nicolas Cage appeared to embrace all his crazed passions and eccentricities directly, unleashing an unhinged transformation as a satanic doll maker in Osgood Perkins’ shock hit Longlegs. The story of a haunted FBI agent (Maika Monroe) monitoring a collection of connected-yet-unexplainable murders was ambitiously accentuated by Cage’s efficiency, which was impressed by the whole lot from Heath Ledger’s Joker to falsetto ukulele participant Tiny Tim to his personal mom. Cage rolled each manic, memed film scene of his cinematic catalogue into one bundle for this portrayal of a madman hiding in plain sight.
Read our Longlegs evaluation.
12. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
Nicolas Cage discovered himself in a little bit of a profession resurgence in 2022 as current crucial indifference kind of spun full circle right into a newfound appreciation because the crazy, pleasant movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent hit theaters and Cage delighted audiences as a pompously candy model of himself, getting caught up in an comedic espionage journey after accepting 1,000,000 bucks to attend a rich super-fan’s birthday bash. The movie works as an absurdly enjoyable and winking bookend for Cage’s profession (which is not over but, after all).
Read our The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Review.
11. Pig (2021)
Cage garnered a few of the greatest opinions of his profession, and even some Oscar buzz, for 2021’s Pig, the surprisingly transferring story about an remoted Oregon truffle-hunter whose beloved pig will get kidnapped. It’s a mesmerizing odyssey about love and loss that deftly performs in opposition to expectations, reminding us how utterly charming Nic Cage may be in unhappy, delicate roles.
Read our Pig evaluation.
10. Con Air (1997)
Con-Air is a completely preposterous pleasure experience from begin to end. As a fast-moving blast-em-up, Con Air retains its tongue firmly in its cheek as Cage, and his wind blown hair, embody Cameron Poe, an Army Ranger who will get convicted of manslaughter and should hitch a experience aboard a jail transport aircraft filled with the worst criminals conceivable. When John Malkovich’s psycho mastermind Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom takes over the flight, it places Poe’s plans to reunite together with his spouse and daughter at risk, inflicting this terse Terminator to battle again. It’s a rambunctious, over-the-top traditional.
9. Wild at Heart (1990)
Cage and co-star Laura Dern sizzled and steamed as Sailor and Lula in David Lynch’s unbridled romance, Wild at Heart. It’s a sultry love-on-the-run darkish comedy that allowed Cage and Dern to faucet into their craziness whereas additionally bringing Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” into heavy rotation on MTV. Winner of the Palme d’Or on the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, Wild at Heart is an insane must-see, as polarizing as a Lynch movie can get.
8. National Treasure (2004)
The first of Cage’s two mini-franchises (the opposite being Ghost Rider), National Treasure was Indiana Jones with United States historical past. Cage leads as treasure hunter and cryptographer whereas Benjamin Gates should steal the Declaration of Independence to be able to maintain hidden gold out of the fingers of a criminal offense boss. It’s a robust, delightfully dorky household journey outing for Cage, who devoted most of his profession to the offbeat and outlandish.
Read our National Treasure evaluation.
7. The Rock (1996)
The Rock is without doubt one of the purest, most excellent ’90s Michael Bay extravaganzas, with Cage and Sean Connery teaming as much as thwart home terrorists’ plans to annihilate the Bay Area. Cage acquired to combine his quirky indie movie comedy chops into an underdog motion hero as Stanley Goodspeed, a biochemist in over his head. He’s surrounded by precise troopers meant to guard him and rises to the event by turning into a full champion. The Rock, as superior and grandiose because it was, solidified Cage as a viable participant within the realm of mega-movies.
6. Mandy (2018)
Cage’s superior, standout movie from 2018—that wasn’t a voice position in both Teen Titans Go! To the Movies or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse—was the psychedelic madhouse Mandy. The movie is a couple of peaceable logger, Red, dwelling within the woods of the Pacific Northwest within the ’80s, whose life will get horrifically upended by a deranged cult. Red then spirals into surreal rampage of vengeance, armed with with a crossbow and axe. Mandy is suave gonzo violence blended with feral performances and altered states. It’s one among Cage’s most triumphant fashionable flicks.
Read our Mandy evaluation.
5. Raising Arizona (1987)
One of Cage’s first starring roles got here in one of many Coen Brothers’ first function movies, Raising Arizona. As perpetual convict H.I. McDunnough, Cage emanated cartoonish sweetness as he and Holly Hunter’s Edwina helped themselves to one among an area {couples}’ new child pentuplets (Nathan Jr., we predict) as a result of the paper mentioned “they acquired greater than they’ll deal with.” What follows is essentially the most joyful, rollicking, absurd film about—er—little one kidnapping ever, that each solidified Cage as a formidably humorous performer and the Coens as cockeyed craftsmen.
Read our Raising Arizona evaluation.
4. Valley Girl (1983)
In Nic Cage’s second-ever film, he landed his first starring position as one half of a star-crossed rom-com duo. 1983’s Valley Girl was key in introducing “valley” tradition (and “valleyspeak”) to the remainder of America, as Deborah Foreman performs picture-perfect Julie of the materialistic, mall-obsessed San Fernando Valley. You can guess what comes subsequent as Julie falls for the brooding Hollywood punk, Randy (Cage). It’s an lovely, amiable, younger love story that showcased Cage’s charisma and locked him into fantastic romantic lead roles for years following.
3. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Nicolas Cage grew to become one of many few, elite performers within the enterprise to win a Best Actor Oscar. Cage was awarded this for Mike Figgis’ Leaving Las Vegas, a strong piece of ’90s grime a couple of man with a tragic, singular plan: go to Las Vegas and drink your self to dying. Co-starring Elisabeth Shue (who acquired a Best Actress nomination), Leaving Las Vegas is a tough, heavy watch, but in addition an important, glorious instance of yesteryear indie cinema. It’s riveting and darkish portrait of self-destruction.
2. Moonstruck (1987)
At solely 22 years outdated, Nic Cage made an enormous, hilarious splash reverse Cher within the Oscar-nominated field workplace hit, Moonstruck. This immediate traditional rom-com options Cher as a widow, Loretta, who thinks her love life is cursed, whereas Cage performs the wily, resentful brother of Loretta’s new fiancé. Loretta learns to imagine in impulsive, passionate love on this successful, endearing love story that gave us one among Cage’s earliest, and greatest, over-the-top line deliveries. Moonstruck, like Cage himself, is timeless.
1. Face/Off (1997)
Face/Off is taken into account by many to be the “final John Woo film” for a number of causes. Firstly, it employs all the director’s Hong Kong cinema hallmarks (double weapons, doves, weapons drawn on one another, and many others.) however it additionally absolutely engages in its preposterous premise to the purpose the place you are in, child. You do not query it for a second and simply go alongside for the insane experience. On prime of this, Nic Cage, and co-star John Travolta, had been two of the largest film stars on this planet on the time, and this movie squeezes them for all of the dopamine supply they’re price. These two acquired to play each hero and villain in the identical film, even unleashing slight impersonations of one another within the course of; and for Cage, it was an opportunity to showcase each operatic means he brings to the desk as an actor.
Upcoming Nicolas Cage Movies
Nicolas Cage’s appearing profession continues on in earnest with a number of upcoming movies. Below, you’ll be able to see what’s developing subsequent for the actor this yr and within the years forward:
- The Surfer (2024 Festival Premiere, 2025 in Theaters)
- Gunslingers (2025)
- The Prince (TBA)
- Madden (TBA)
- The Carpenter’s Son (TBA)
What is your #1 Nic Cage movie? Let us know within the feedback and vote in our ballot.
Matt Fowler is a contract leisure author/critic, overlaying TV information, opinions, interviews and options on IGN for 13+ years.
