Our team compiled the best Nicolas Cage movies and here is what they came up with
Nicolas Cage is one of the most iconic and recognizable actors of our time, known for his eclectic and often over-the-top performances. With a career spanning several decades, Cage has starred in a wide variety of movies, from indie dramas to blockbuster action films. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular Nicolas Cage movies of all time, and explore why he is so beloved by audiences around the world.
Here are the 22 best Nicolas Cage movies to check out on the streaming service.
1. National Treasure (2004)
Rated PG, In this action-adventure film, Cage stars as Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and treasure hunter who discovers a clue to the location of a vast treasure hidden by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Along with a team of experts, including his father (Jon Voight) and a skeptical FBI agent (Diane Kruger), Gates must race to decipher the clues and beat his rival treasure hunters to the treasure. “National Treasure” was a box office hit and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s entertaining premise and Cage’s charismatic performance, while others criticized the film for its historical inaccuracies and lack of logic.
2. The Rock (1996)
Rated R, In this action-packed thriller, Cage stars as FBI chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed, who is tasked with infiltrating Alcatraz Island to stop a group of rogue Marines who have taken control of the prison and threatened to launch rockets filled with deadly nerve gas. Along with a former prisoner (Sean Connery) who has intimate knowledge of the island, Goodspeed must navigate a series of deadly traps and fight his way to the control room to stop the launch. “The Rock” was a box office hit and received positive reviews for its thrilling action sequences and the chemistry between Cage and Connery.
3. Con Air (1997)
Rated R, In this high-octane action film, Cage stars as Cameron Poe, a parolee who is being transported on a prison plane with a group of dangerous criminals. When the convicts stage a takeover of the plane, Poe must use his skills as a U.S. Army Ranger to take back control and save the hostages on board. “Con Air” was a box office success and received positive reviews for its over-the-top action and Cage’s charismatic performance.
4. Face/Off (1997)
Rated R, In this science fiction action film, Cage stars as Sean Archer, an FBI agent who is obsessed with capturing a terrorist named Castor Troy (John Travolta). When Troy is severely injured in a fight, Archer undergoes a revolutionary medical procedure to transplant Troy’s face onto his own in order to infiltrate his inner circle. However, when Troy wakes up and takes on Archer’s identity, the two men become locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse. “Face/Off” was a box office hit and received positive reviews for its inventive premise and the intense performances of Cage and Travolta.
5. City of Angels (1998)
Rated PG-13, In this romantic drama, Cage stars as Seth, an angel who falls in love with a mortal woman named Maggie (Meg Ryan) after watching her from afar for years. As Seth struggles to come to terms with his newfound humanity, he must also contend with the jealousies and rivalries of other angels. “City of Angels” was a commercial success and received mixed reviews, with some praising Cage’s performance as a sensitive and romantic angel, while others criticized the film for being overly sentimental.
6. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
Rated PG-13, In this high-octane action film, Cage stars as Memphis Raines, a retired car thief who is forced to come out of retirement to steal 50 high-end luxury cars in order to save his younger brother from a ruthless gangster. Along with a team of expert car thieves, Memphis must race against time to pull off the heist of the century. “Gone in 60 Seconds” was a box office hit and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s intense action sequences and Cage’s charismatic performance, while others criticized the film for being overly simplistic and formulaic.
7. Windtalkers (2002)
Rated R, In this World War II drama, Cage stars as Joe Enders, a Marine sergeant who is assigned to protect a Navajo code talker (Adam Beach) during the Battle of Saipan. As the two men fight to survive the brutal combat, they also must confront their own personal demons and the racism they encounter from their fellow Marines. “Windtalkers” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising Cage’s portrayal of a battle-hardened Marine and the film’s depiction of the Navajo code talkers, while others criticized the film for its stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans and its heavy-handed approach to the subject matter.
8. Adaptation (2002)
Rated R, In this meta-comedy-drama, Cage stars as twin brothers, Charlie and Donald Kaufman, who are both struggling screenwriters. Charlie is tasked with adapting a non-fiction book about orchids, but finds himself unable to make any headway. Meanwhile, his twin brother Donald, who is a fictional creation of Charlie, appears to be able to write with ease and enjoys the Hollywood lifestyle. “Adaptation” was a critical and commercial success and received positive reviews for its clever and self-referential script and Cage’s dual performances as the brothers.
9. Matchstick Men (2003)
Rated PG-13, In this crime-comedy-drama, Cage stars as Roy Waller, a con artist suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder who teams up with a young protege (Sam Rockwell) to pull off a series of elaborate scams. But when Roy discovers he has a teenage daughter (Alison Lohman) he never knew existed, he must confront his past and try to make amends. “Matchstick Men” was a box office success and received positive reviews for its witty script and Cage’s nuanced performance as a man struggling with his mental health.
10. Ghost Rider (2007)
Rated PG-13, In this supernatural action film, Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt rider who makes a deal with the devil to save his father from cancer. As the Ghost Rider, Blaze is imbued with the powers of a demon and must use them to defeat the devil’s son and other supernatural threats. “Ghost Rider” was a box office success and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s stylish action sequences and Cage’s over-the-top performance, while others criticized the film for its lackluster story and weak character development.
11. Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
Rated R, In this action-thriller, Cage stars as Joe, a hitman who travels to Bangkok to complete a series of contract killings. As he becomes embroiled in the city’s criminal underworld, he also begins to fall for a local woman (Charlie Yeung) and question the morality of his actions. “Bangkok Dangerous” was a box office disappointment and received negative reviews for its predictable plot and lack of originality.
12. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)
Rated R, In this crime-drama, Cage stars as Terence McDonagh, a corrupt and drug-addicted police detective in post-Katrina New Orleans. As he investigates a series of murders, McDonagh’s descent into madness and depravity threatens to consume him. “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising Cage’s fearless and unhinged performance, while others criticized the film for its graphic violence and lack of coherent narrative.
13. Drive Angry (2011)
Rated R, In this action-horror film, Cage stars as John Milton, a vengeful ghost who escapes from hell to track down the cult leader (Billy Burke) who murdered his daughter and kidnapped his granddaughter. Along the way, he teams up with a young waitress (Amber Heard) and battles hordes of demonic minions. “Drive Angry” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s over-the-top action and Cage’s entertainingly manic performance, while others criticized the film for its nonsensical plot and poor special effects.
14. Seeking Justice (2011)
Rated R, In this action-thriller, Cage stars as Will Gerard, a high school teacher whose wife (January Jones) is brutally attacked. Desperate for justice, Will agrees to participate in a vigilante group that promises to take care of the perpetrator, but soon finds himself in a web of deception and violence. “Seeking Justice” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising Cage’s intensity and the film’s exploration of vigilante justice, while others criticized it for its implausible plot and underdeveloped characters.
15. Joe (2013)
Rated R, In this drama, Cage stars as Joe Ransom, an ex-convict who hires a young man (Tye Sheridan) to work for him in his tree-poisoning business. As Joe takes the boy under his wing, he also tries to escape his violent past and make amends with his estranged family. “Joe” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising Cage’s nuanced and understated performance, while others criticized the film for its slow pacing and lack of action.
16. The Runner (2015)
Rated R, In this political drama, Cage stars as Colin Pryce, a powerful and corrupt congressman from Louisiana who becomes embroiled in a scandal when a sex tape of him and a prostitute surfaces. As Colin tries to contain the damage and keep his political career alive, he also must confront his own moral shortcomings and the state of politics in America. “The Runner” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising Cage’s portrayal of a flawed and complex politician, while others criticized the film for its lack of depth and originality.
17. Dog Eat Dog (2016)
Rated R, In this crime-thriller, Cage stars as Troy, a ex-convict who teams up with his old cellmate (Willem Dafoe) to pull off a daring heist. But as the heist goes wrong and the stakes get higher, Troy’s mental stability begins to unravel and the lines between right and wrong become blurred. “Dog Eat Dog” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s gritty and violent atmosphere and Cage’s manic performance, while others criticized it for its lack of coherent plot and character development.
18. Color Out of Space (2019)
Rated R, In this science fiction horror film, Cage stars as Nathan Gardner, a farmer whose property is affected by a meteorite that brings a strange and deadly force of color. As Nathan and his family face the increasingly dangerous and bizarre effects of the color, they must also confront their own fears and secrets. “Color Out of Space” received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s trippy visuals and Cage’s over-the-top performance, while others criticized it for its uneven pacing and lack of coherent narrative.
19. Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Rated R, In this action-science fiction film, Cage stars as Jake, a member of an ancient order of martial artists who must defend Earth from an alien invader known as Brax. As Jake and his comrades fight to stop Brax and his minions, they also must confront their own flaws and personal demons. “Jiu Jitsu” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s martial arts action and Cage’s charismatic performance, while others criticized it for its convoluted plot and poor special effects.
20. The Croods: A New Age (2020)
Rated PG, In this animated adventure-comedy sequel, Cage reprises his role as Grug Crood, a caveman who leads his family on a journey to find a new home. Along the way, they encounter a rival family of homo-sapiens and must learn to cooperate and evolve in order to survive. “The Croods: A New Age” was a commercial success, grossing over $200 million worldwide and receiving positive reviews for its entertaining storyline, colorful animation and Cage’s voice-over performance as Grug.
21. The Humanity Bureau (2018)
Rated R, In this science fiction film, Cage stars as Noah Kross, an agent of The Humanity Bureau, a government organization responsible for exiling “non-productive” citizens to a colony called New Eden. When he comes across a single mother and her son who are deemed non-productive, Noah starts to question the government’s policies and his own morality, and decides to help them escape. “The Humanity Bureau” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s exploration of social and political issues and Cage’s powerful performance, while others criticized it for its lack of originality and poor pacing.
22. The Trust (2016)
Rated R, In this crime-thriller, Cage stars as Waters, a corrupt police officer who teams up with his younger colleague (Elijah Wood) to plan and execute a robbery of a drug lord’s safe. But as the heist goes awry and the stakes get higher, Waters and his partner must confront their own moral code and the consequences of their actions. “The Trust” was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews, with some praising the film’s intense and gritty action, while others criticized it for its lack of depth and originality.