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With a career as varied as his hairpiece collection, Nicolas Cage is currently making waves in WA’s South West region, the backdrop for his latest flick The Surfer. We’re not kidding when we say Nicolas Cage’s career is vast – a quick look at his IMDB page shows this Hollywood oddball has racked up about 116 film credits over the last 30-plus years. And, with another new movie slated to hit cinemas in November, it’s safe to say Nicolas Cage is an international treasure (heh).
Best Nicolas Cage Movies at a Glance
- Best overall: Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
- For action: The Rock (1996)
- For drama: Pig (2021)
- For kids: The Croods (2013)
- For comedy: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
- For unbridled Cage: Face/Off (1997)
Nicolas Cage Best Movies List
Known for his “why not?” approach to script selection, Nic Cage proves that one man’s absurdity is another man’s art. As such, narrowing down his best films was like choosing our favourite memes of the man – an almost impossible task. Anyway, the good news is we’ve managed to do it so get comfy as we unveil the best Nicolas Cage movies.
Pig (2021)
- Director: Michael Sarnoski
- Co-stars: Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
- Global Box Office: $7.4 million (USD)
In Pig, Cage takes on the role of Rob, a reclusive truffle hunter on a mission to find his missing pig. Set in Portland’s foodie scene, the film digs into themes of loss, loneliness, and emotional bonds. As Rob navigates the high-end culinary world, he embarks on a quest that leads to self-discovery, touching on issues like identity and consumerism. The movie might sound a bit odd, but don’t let that fool you—it’s a deeply moving Nic Cage movie that showcases one of his most memorable performances.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
- Director: Mike Figgis
- Co-stars: Elisabeth Shue, Julian Sands
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
- Global Box Office: USD$49.8 million
The film that earned Nic Cage his only Best Actor Oscar to date, Leaving Las Vegas is an incredibly powerful movie. Cage plays Ben Sanderson, a Hollywood screenwriter plagued by alcoholism who moves to Las Vegas with the explicit intent to drink himself to death. There, he forms an unlikely relationship with Sera, a compassionate prostitute played by Elisabeth Shue. It’s a grim, no-holds-barred look at the debilitating effects of addiction, and it unfolds like a slow-motion car crash that’s impossible to look away from. Through a lens of brutal honesty, the film explores themes of human vulnerability, loneliness, and the dark complexities of love and addiction.
Red Rock West (1993)
- Director: John Dahl
- Co-stars: Dennis Hopper, Lara Flynn Boyle
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
- Global Box Office: USD$2.5 million
Don’t let the box office numbers fool you – Red Rock West is a neo-noir thriller that transformed into a cult classic. Tragically overlooked on its release, it casts Cage as Michael, a down-on-his-luck drifter who is mistaken for a hitman and becomes embroiled in a complex web spun by a scheming husband and his treacherous wife. This tight, suspenseful story features numerous plot twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
- Director: Tom Gormican
- Co-stars: Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87%
- Global Box Office: USD$29.1 million
In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Nicolas Cage plays a fictional version of himself who is desperate to land a role in a Quentin Tarantino movie while also struggling with debt. He accepts a USD$1 million offer to attend a fan’s birthday party (none other than Pedro Pascal) but soon discovers that things are not as they seem. The meta-concept offers a rich playground for exploring Cage’s own eccentric filmography while folding in action, comedy, and even some emotional beats. It’s a clever, self-referential romp that mixes reality with fiction in unexpected ways, creating a laugh-out-loud flick any Nic Cage fan is guaranteed to love.
National Treasure (2004)
- Director: Jon Turteltaub
- Co-stars: Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 46%
- Global Box Office: USD$347.5 million
Possibly one of his most well-known films, National Treasure is, well, a global treasure. Cage plays Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and amateur cryptologist searching for a Revolutionary War treasure. Despite its low critical rating, National Treasure still managed to find commercial success. But then, it’s an action-packed Nic Cage flick mixed with intriguing historical puzzles! Who wouldn’t wanna watch that? The film takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of historical landmarks across the United States, blending education with entertainment. It’s silly, it’s fun, it’s totally Nic Cage and we love it.
Face/Off (1997)
- Director: John Woo
- Co-stars: John Travolta, Joan Allen
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
- Global Box Office: USD$245.7 million
In this high-octane action thriller, Cage and John Travolta switch faces—literally. Cage plays Castor Troy, a ruthless terrorist, who ends up wearing the face of his nemesis, an FBI agent (Travolta), due to a surgical procedure. What follows is a delirious chase full of double identities, stylised action, and, of course, over-the-top performances you can’t help but obsess over. Face/Off is often referred to as one of the quintessential action movies of the ’90s, offering a blend of suspense, sci-fi, and character-driven drama.
Con-Air (1997)
- Director: Simon West
- Co-stars: John Cusack, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 58%
- Global Box Office: USD$224 million
The Rotten Tomatoes rating may not be particularly kind to Simon West’s 1997 sky-high blockbuster, but it would be impossible to curate a list of Nicolas Cage films without mentioning Con-Air. Featuring Cage in arguably his most famous role, the movie is the perfect amalgamation of action and stupidity, played out at 30,000 feet. Our loveable hero plays a newly paroled ex-con and former U.S. Ranger Cameron Poe, who finds himself trapped in a prisoner transport plane that is hijacked by a team of criminals. Poe must sabotage the mission, save the plane, and prevent total chaos from reigning down on the civilians below, all for the love of his country.
Needless to say, Con-Air is a ridiculous premise that by and large, makes little sense, however, that does nothing to diminish the tension. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Steve Buscemi, John Cusack and John Malkovich in a terrifying role, the action smash is a proverbial buffet of ’90s star power. Even Cage’s wandering accent, which starts Southern and slowly deteriorates into a mix of Irish, Canadian and Australian isn’t enough to stop this action vehicle from making a crash landing in our hearts.
Mandy (2018)
- Director: Panos Cosmatos
- Co-stars: Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
- Global Box Office: USD$1.4 million
Cage gives an electrifying performance in Mandy, a phantasmagoric revenge thriller. It hit theatres in 2018 on a limited release run (hence the low box office numbers) but ended up earning critical acclaim for Cage’s incredibly committed performance. Set in 1983, he plays Red Miller, a lumberjack out for vengeance after a cult murders his love, Mandy. Fusing elements of horror, fantasy, and action, the film takes viewers on a hallucinatory journey through nightmarish landscapes.
Moonstruck (1987)
- Director: Norman Jewison
- Co-stars: Cher, Olympia Dukakis
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94%
- Global Box Office: USD$91.6 million
In this romantic comedy-drama, Cage plays Ronny Cammareri, a passionate and irritable baker who falls in love with a woman (Cher) engaged to his brother. Set in the Italian-American enclave of Brooklyn, Moonstruck explores love in all its illogical, complicated beauty. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success, capturing the quirks and nuances of love and family in a way that resonated across generations.
Raising Arizona (1987)
- Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Co-stars: Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
- Global Box Office: USD$29.2 million
This screwball comedy directed by the Coen brothers stars Cage as H.I. McDunnough, an ex-convict who, along with his wife, Ed (Holly Hunter), kidnaps a quintuplet to raise as their own. The film delves into a surreal, slightly twisted American Southwest, complete with oddball characters and off-the-wall situations. Raising Arizona is full of rapid-fire dialogue, visual gags, and a distinctive comedic rhythm that make it a standout in both Cage’s and the Coens’ filmographies.
Adaptation (2002)
- Director: Spike Jonze
- Co-stars: Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
- Global Box Office: USD$32.8 million
Adaptation features Cage in a dual role as Charlie and Donald Kaufman, brothers who are polar opposites. Charlie is a neurotic screenwriter struggling to adapt a nonfiction book, while Donald is a breezy, aspiring writer. The film offers a meta-narrative that blurs the lines between fiction and reality, challenging viewers to consider the nature of storytelling itself. It’s a complex, intellectually stimulating movie that nevertheless offers emotional resonance, largely thanks to Cage’s nuanced performances.
Dream Scenario (2023)
- Director: Kristoffer Borgli
- Co-stars: Lily Bird, Julianne Nicholson
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
We’ve added Nicolas Cage’s newest (unreleased) film to the list because all signs point to this film being one of his best movies yet. Dream Scenario, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, stars Cage as Paul Matthews, a nondescript university professor who becomes an unexpected figure in people’s dreams. Slated for release in the US on November 10, 2023 (and looking like it’ll hit Australia and New Zealand on Jan 1st 2024) it premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews. The movie weaves a tapestry of comedy, dread, and surreal fantasy, reminiscent of Cage’s offbeat roles in Adaptation and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. As audiences navigate the blurred lines between Paul’s reality and the collective subconscious, Dream Scenario is set to be a mind-bending trip that challenges our perception of normality.
The Rock (1996)
- Director: Michael Bay
- Co-stars: Ed Harris, Sean Connery
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 67%
- Global Box Office: USD$335 million
The Rock could well be the greatest ’90s action extravaganza ever committed to film. The Michael Bay-helmed epic pairs Cage with seasoned action veteran Sean Connery as the two mismatched anti-heroes attempt to thwart a potential chemical weapon attack from Alcatraz. It’s got everything you would want from a Nicolas Cage action flick: intense fight scenes, weird sex scenes, and a lead actor who seems to have absolutely no volume control. Ed Harris does an impeccable job as the military veteran turned terrorist hellbent on making his presence felt, while Sean Connery steers the ship as the disgruntled, ageing criminal with a heart of gold.
The Croods (2013)
- Director: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders
- Co-stars: Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 71%
- Global Box Office: USD$587.2 million
The Croods is Cage’s most successful movie at the box office, raking in USD$587.2 million globally. In this heartfelt flick, Cage lends his voice to Grug, the overprotective patriarch of a prehistoric family. Set in a fantastical world of strange creatures and stunning landscapes, The Croods cleverly combines humour, heartfelt emotion, and big life lessons, making it a serious hit among kids and adults alike.
Honorable Mentions
When it comes to an actor like Nicolas Cage, there’s no shortage of source material to judge. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Cage has amassed a varied resume of titles that feels perfectly unbalanced, so reducing it to the cream of the crop was no mean feat. For this list, we chose to focus on films where Nicolas Cage played the lead role, rather than great films in which he was a supporting character.
For example, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is among the top-rated films in Nicolas Cage’s filmography. However, his limited screen time prevented the film from making the list. Similarly, there were incredible hits from early in his career, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Vampire’s Kiss, Wild at Heart and Peggy Sue Got Married that could have all made the list.
How We Chose This List of Best Nicolas Cage Movies
Our criteria weighed multiple factors including critical acclaim, audience reception, cultural impact, artistic merit, and the versatility of roles Cage has undertaken. As expert journalists, we have also provided our independent opinion in formulating Man of Many’s selections. The resulting list aims to capture not just the highlights of Cage’s career, but also the sheer breadth of his talent, offering something for both dedicated fans and newcomers alike. You can review our editorial policy surrounding how we maintain our independence in our editorial reviews.
Alternatives to Nicolas Cage Movies
Not a Nic Cage fan? It’s okay, we’ll let it slide just this once. If you’re looking for a list of cracker movies for your next big night in, here are some that are sure to tickle ya fancy.
