Welcome to our ranking of the best and worst movies on the Nicolas Cage movies list! With a career spanning over four decades, Nicolas Cage has established himself as one of the most iconic and versatile actors in Hollywood. From his early roles in films like “Raising Arizona” and “Moonstruck” to his more recent performances in “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” with Pedro Pascal, “Mandy,” and “Color Out of Space,” Cage has proven time and again that he has the range and talent to tackle a wide variety of roles.
In this article, we will be ranking the movies on our list of Nicolas Cage movies in order, from best to worst, based on factors such as box office success, critical acclaim, and personal preference. By doing so, we hope to provide a comprehensive and objective look at Cage’s filmography, covering both his most celebrated and lesser-known works. Whether you are a fan of Nicolas Cage or simply want to learn more about his career, this movie list should provide a useful reference.
Nicolas Cage Movies List: Top 20 From Best to Worst
The ace American actor Nicolas Cage has had a long and varied career in film, starring in a wide range of movies that have received both critical acclaim and commercial success. Here are 20 films from the Nicolas Cage movies list, ranked best to worst.
1. “Leaving Las Vegas” (1995)
In this drama, Nicolas Cage plays Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who travels to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Elisabeth Shue co-stars as a prostitute who falls in love with him, and the movie received widespread critical acclaim. It has a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.3 rating on IMDb.
2. “Adaptation” (2002)
In this comedy-drama, Nicolas Cage plays twin brothers Donald and Charlie Kaufman, a screenwriter and his more successful twin brother, respectively. The movie follows Charlie’s struggles to adapt a non-fiction book about orchids into a screenplay, and it received positive reviews. It has a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.7 rating on IMDb.
3. “Moonstruck” (1987)
In this romantic comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Ronny Cammareri, a baker who falls in love with his fiancée’s (Cher) estranged and fiery younger sister (played by Olympia Dukakis). The movie received widespread critical acclaim and won three Academy Awards, including one for Cher’s performance. It has a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.2 rating on IMDb.
4. “Matchstick Men” (2003)
In this crime comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Roy Waller, a con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder who is trying to go straight. Sam Rockwell co-stars as his protege, and the movie received positive reviews. It has a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.1 rating on IMDb.
5. “Raising Arizona” (1987)
In this comedy, Nicolas Cage plays H.I. McDonnough, a thief who falls in love with a police officer (Holly Hunter) and decides to go straight. The movie received widespread critical acclaim and has a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.4 rating on IMDb.
6. “Face/Off” (1997)
In this action thriller, Nicolas Cage plays Castor Troy, a terrorist who undergoes facial transplant surgery to assume the identity of Sean Archer (John Travolta), an FBI agent trying to stop him.
The movie received positive reviews and has a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.3 rating on IMDb.
7. “The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” (2009)
In this crime drama, Nicolas Cage plays Terence McDonagh, a corrupt police lieutenant who becomes addicted to drugs after a Hurricane Katrina-related injury. The movie received positive reviews and has a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.7 rating on IMDb.
8. “Mandy” (2018)
In this horror film, Nicolas Cage plays Red Miller, a lumberjack who seeks revenge on a group of religious fanatics who kidnap and kill his girlfriend (Andrea Riseborough). The movie received positive reviews and has a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.2 rating on IMDb.
9. “The Rock” (1996)
In this action thriller, Nicolas Cage plays Dr. Stanley Goodspeed, a chemical weapons expert who is recruited by the FBI to stop a group of terrorists from releasing nerve gas on Alcatraz Island. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 56% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.4 rating on IMDb.
10. “The Family Man” (2000)
In this romantic comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Jack Campbell, a wealthy investment banker who is shown what his life would have been like if he had married his college sweetheart (Tea Leoni) and had children. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.6 rating on IMDb.
11. “Con Air” (1997)
In this action film, Nicolas Cage plays Cameron Poe, a parolee who is on a plane with a group of dangerous criminals who take over the flight. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 45% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.7 rating on IMDb.
12. “The Weather Man” (2005)
In this comedy-drama, Nicolas Cage plays David Spritz, a weatherman who is struggling with his personal and professional life. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 45% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.2 rating on IMDb.
13. “National Treasure” (2004)
In this adventure film, Nicolas Cage plays Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian who embarks on a treasure hunt to find a lost city of gold. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.9 rating on IMDb.
14. “Gone in Sixty Seconds” (2000)
In this action film, Nicolas Cage plays Randall “Memphis” Raines, a retired car thief who is forced to steal 50 cars in one night to save his brother’s life. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 39% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.4 rating on IMDb.
15. “Next” (2007)
In this science fiction film, Nicolas Cage plays Cris Johnson, a man with the ability to see into his own future who is pursued by the FBI and a terrorist group. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.2 rating on IMDb.
16. “Knowing” (2009)
In this science fiction film, Nicolas Cage plays John Koestler, a professor who discovers a code hidden in a time capsule that predicts future disasters. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 31% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.0 rating on IMDb.
17. “Vampire’s Kiss” (1988)
In this horror comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Peter Loew, a literary agent who becomes convinced that he is turning into a vampire after a one-night stand with a woman (Jennifer Beals). The movie received mixed reviews and has a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.6 rating on IMDb.
18. “Ghost Rider” (2007)
In this superhero film, Nicolas Cage plays Johnny Blaze, a stunt rider who becomes the Ghost Rider, a supernatural being who is tasked with defeating the devil’s son. The movie received mixed reviews and has a 26% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.2 rating on IMDb.
19. “The Wicker Man” (2006)
In this horror film, Nicolas Cage plays Edward Malus, a police officer who is sent to a mysterious island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews and has a 4% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.1 rating on IMDb.
20. “Season of the Witch” (2011)
In this action-horror film, Nicolas Cage plays Behmen von Bleiberg, a knight who is tasked with transporting a suspected witch (Claire Foy) to a monastery. The movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews and has a 9% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.8 rating on IMDb.
Other Titles on the Nicolas Cage Movies List
- “The Runner” (2015)
- “The Trust” (2016)
- “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” (2016)
- “Dog Eat Dog” (2016)
- “The Humanity Bureau” (2017)
- “211” (2018)
- “Looking Glass” (2018)
- “Mandy’s Dad” (2019)
- “A Score to Settle” (2019)
- “Prisoners of the Ghostland” (2021)
- “Joe” (2013)
- “Outcast” (2014)
- “The Dying of the Light” (2014)
- “The Trust” (2016)
- “The Runner” (2015)
- “Inconceivable” (2017)
- “Mom and Dad” (2017)
- “Between Worlds” (2018)
- “Running with the Devil” (2019)
- “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” (2021)
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