Nicolas Cagehas been lighting up the big screen with his performances for decades. Although his career has had many ups and downs, he is undoubtedly a talented actor, and he always delivers an entertaining performance. He has touched on nearly all genres including drama, comedy, action, and horror. Even though he has taken several questionable roles, no one can deny that he has the acting capabilities and physicalityto make him a legend; with two Academy Award nominations, winning Best Actor forLeaving Las Vegas.
Cage was born in Long Beach, California, and is the nephew of legendary filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola. Having been born into such a prestigious filmmaking family, his destiny to become an actor was almost certain. His first feature film role was Brad’s Bud inFast Times At Ridgemont High. From there, his career took off with his breakout role in the Coen Brothers' classic,Raising Arizona. Through the ups and downs of an impressive career, here are this superstar’s 17 best movies.
Updated on September 6th, 2023 by Yosra Ben lagha:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
17The Family Man (2000)
The Family Mantells the story of Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage), a successful Wall Street executive who gets a chance to see what his life would have been like if he hadn’t taken the road less traveled.
After a chance encounter with an angel, played by Don Cheadle, Campbell wakes up on Christmas morning, now married to his ex-girlfriend Kate (Tea Leoni), with two children in suburban New Jersey. It is a story of redemption and realizing what is truly important in life. Cage gives a heartfelt performance from beginning to end.
16Con Air (1997)
Con Airis an action-packed movie with an all-star cast. The film follows an Army Ranger named Cameron Poe on his way home after seven years in prison. While aboard an airplane with some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, it is up to Poe to save the day after the airplane is taken over by the convicts.
Con-Airis filled with everything needed for a classic action film. There are explosions, bullets, and thrills from start to finish. The fantastic cast includes John Cusack, Dave Chappelle, and John Malkovich as the main villain.
15Lord Of War (2005)
InLord of WarCage plays Yuri Orlov, an illegal arms dealer who achieves great success while in a cat-and-mouse chase with an FBI agent named Jack Valentine (Ethan Hawke). It is a cold, hard look at the dangers and risks of the arms business and the death and torment it can create.
Although Yuri earns a fortune, his morals are tested as he has to look at the wars and deaths that his business creates. Although he may have millions of dollars, Yuri loses his wife and family who cannot sit by as Yuri carries out his business. Jared Leto plays Vitaly, Yuri’s drug-addicted brother, in a fantastic supporting role.
14The Weather Man (2005)
The Weather Manis an underrated dark comedy starring Nicolas Cage as David Spritzer a well-paid and successful weatherman who garners little respect from the surrounding community, who have made a habit of throwing fast food at him when they see him in public.
Despite his successful career, David’s family life is in shambles. Dave also feels the need to live up to the expectations of his Pulitzer prize-winning father Robert Spritzer (Michael Caine) as he senses his father’s disappointment with his inability to keep his family together. When Robert is diagnosed with a terminal illness, David falls into a deep depression and takes up archery as a way to calm his anxiety and stress.Cage talked to Movieweb about the projectin 2005.
13Moonstruck (1987)
In this1987 romance, Cage acts opposite Cher in a film that would go on to win three Oscars.Moonstruckfollows an Italian-American woman named Loretta (Cher) who falls in love with her fiance’s younger brother Ronny (Cage).
The Oscar-winning script features memorable lines and scenes to make this film a romantic classic. The chemistry between Cher and Cage is phenomenal and the supporting cast, including Olympia Dukakis all shine.
Related:Nicolas Cage’s Top 10 Highest-Grossing Movies
12It Could Happen To You (1994)
What would you do if you won the lottery? If you’re like this film’s main character inIt Could Happen To You,you would split it with a waitress after making a promise the day before. The film tells the story of an honest cop, Charlie (Cage), who promises a waitress named Yvonne (Bridget Fonda) to split his lottery winnings when he doesn’t have enough money to leave a tip.
Surprisingly Charlie wins and must live up to his promise despite what his wife (Rosie Perez) thinks. Through it all, Charlie and Yvonne teach us that it’s love that brings you happiness, not money, in this endearing love story.
11The Rock (1996)
Directed by Michael Bay,The Rockis about disheartened Brigadier General Francis Hummel who holds the city of San Francisco hostage from Alcatraz Island by the threat of nuclear warfare. His demands are a ransom of 100 million dollars to be distributed to the family of men who had died under his watch on secret missions.
FBI chemical warfare agent Stanley Goodspeed is partnered with ex-con John Mason the only man to escape Alcatraz Island. The pair must break into the impenetrable prison and disarm the nuclear weapons and rescue civilian hostages. Cage delivers a humorous and action-packed performance and has great chemistry with the other lead Sean Connery.
10Joe (2013)
One of Cage’s best performances is his role in the powerful dramaJoe, directed by David Gordon Green. The story follows a man called Joe, who is tormented by his troublesome and violent past. He hires a 15-year-old boy named Gary only to discover that his father is an abusive drunk who hits him and takes away his earnings.
Joe faces the ultimate choice of either looking away or interfering to save the boy and fully earn his much-needed redemption. Cage brilliantly balances the dark, gruesome side of Joe, the violent ex-con, with the new redemption seeker who is ready to be selfless and do the needed. Undoubtedly, it’s a balance that is hard to strike, but Cage’s full and unrestricted immersion in the character leaves no room to questionhis matchless performance.
9Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
People who can’t see Nicolas Cage in a rom-com, should give 1986Peggy Sue Got Marrieda try. It’s one of his first movies and a real jump in his career as an actor. He plays the role of Charlie, Peggy Sue Bodell’s husband. As they are on the verge of divorce, Peggy Sue deeply regrets her marriage to Charlie after he’s been unfaithful. However, things change radically when she strangely wakes up in 1960 as her teenage self and gets to relive the high-school experience leading to her marriage all over again.
If you think being 17 will be easier after you’ve reached 30, this humorous and emotional rollercoaster of a movie will be a shocking ride. We meet Cage first as a 40-year-old man, and then again, as a teenager who is almost clueless but true in his feelings for Sue. Only a few can play the complexity of different selves or personalities across time better than Cage whose talent and experience is a big repertoire of interesting characters and personalities.
8National Treasure (2004)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub,National Treasureis an action/adventure film that tells the story of Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) the last descendant of a treasure hunter family. Despite his father’s efforts to deter him, Ben is intent on finding a national treasure hidden somewhere in the country. With the help of his accomplice Ian, he gets closer to reaching his goal, but things quickly deteriorate when, after a disagreement over the plan, the two partners start working against each other.
Nicolas Cage might have taken way more serious roles, but his impeccable treasure haunting performance shows the actor’s huge range and sharp talent. The movie was so successful ($347.5 million) that a sequel,National Treasure: Book of Secrets, was made only three years later.
