For the past four decades, Nicolas Cage has been one of the most prolific and entertaining
actors in show business.
And this weekend, he’ll bring his singular style to the exciting action-comedy "The Unbearable
Weight of Massive Talent," which features the actor as, well, Nick Cage, an accomplished
blockbuster action star who's ready to retire.
However, once he's hired to attend the birthday party of a wealthy superfan named Javi, he
gets something of a second wind … and is then recruited by a CIA operative Vivian to
channel some of his most iconic fictional characters for a dangerous government mission.
The film marks the culmination of so many memorable moments from Cage's prodigious screen
career, from his sprawling adventure stories to searing action-dramas.
"Is this supposed to be me?
It's grotesque.
I'll give you $20,000 for it."
So to celebrate this marvelously meta role, here's a look back at Nicolas Cage's best
action movies of all time, ranked.
Just before the MCU emerged as a mainstay of the movie industry, Cage became one of
Marvel’s most fiery superheroes of all time – the title character of 2007's "Ghost Rider."
Cage stars as Johnny Blaze, a reckless stuntman who’s forced to become the enforcer of the
demon Mephistopheles.
"You."
"Hello, Johnny."
"Stay away from me."
Johnny has no choice but to do the devil's bidding because, as a teenager, he sold his
soul to save his father.
With Johnny Blaze, Cage's performance manages to make the character both ruthless and redeemable,
haughty and heartfelt, and condemned but not contemptible.
It's a bold balancing act that's perfectly matched by the visually arresting action scenes.
"Let's ride."
There’s something so satisfying about seeing Cage bring his skills to the screen for films
that have a bit of a supernatural bent, and "Drive Angry" is another prime example of that.
Cage stars in this 2011 3-D film as John Milton, a man who escapes from Hell armed with nothing
less than Satan's own gun.
Milton is on a mission to get revenge against a cult leader named Jonah King, a devil worshiper
who’s murdered Milton's daughter and stolen his baby granddaughter in order to sacrifice
the child and bring about Hell on earth.
It's clear throughout the flick that Cage has a lot of fun portraying this unholy, semi-human
character who has absolutely nothing left to lose — not even his own soul, which makes
for some hellishly good action and stylish fight sequences with an otherworldly flair.
Better buckle up for this high-speed film ride.
When it comes to Cage's sci-fi surprises, 2009's "Knowing" is a must-see.
In the film, he portrays John Koestler, a grieving widower and celebrated astrophysics
professor who gets his hands on a bizarre list of dates and coordinates that relate
to major catastrophes throughout recent history.
"9/11/01?"
But he soon discovers that the numbers don't only relate to past calamities – they predict
future ones.
He finds himself right in the thick of the chaos, and begins to suspect that the numbers
point to some dark moments for mankind in the near future.
As John scrambles to protect his child from the voices that are creeping into his own
head and the impending disaster, Cage delivers a searing performance as a parent who has
to grapple with the impossible before it's too late.
"How am I supposed to stop the end of the world?"
John Woo's 2002 war film "Windtalkers" centers on the Navajo code talkers who helped lead
the troops to victory in World War II's Pacific theater by using a code that was indecipherable
to enemy forces.
In the film, Cage delivers a riveting performance as Sgt.
Joe Enders, who’s assigned to the crucial undercover mission of protecting a code talker,
Private Ben Yahzee, from being captured at all costs.
When he and his fellow Marines find themselves in an ambush, Enders has to decide whether
to follow direct orders or forge his own path forward through the skirmish.
As Enders, Cage brings both valor and vulnerability to the role, and what results is a poignant
picture about a critical part of the Allied success in the war.
Some of Cage's best roles are those that allow him to show who he is, rather than spelling
out the nuances of the character through dialogue.
In 2013's "Joe," he plays something of an antihero with a mysterious, checkered past.
Although Joe prefers to keep his own company, he takes a shine to a young man who stumbles
onto his worksite looking for a job.
The boy, Gary, is hard-working but troubled, and soon, Joe finds out why.
The kid’s father is an abusive alcoholic.
Though Joe is initially inclined to stay out of it, as the details of Gary's home life
come into view, he has no choice but to act, putting his own peace and security at risk.
"And if I find out something's happening to that boy, I'm gonna whip whoever's ass had
something to do with it."
Put simply, Joe isn’t your average Joe, nor your prototypical heroic figure, and Cage's
understated performance perfectly captures the character in this thoughtful action drama.
In the 1993 neo-noir thriller “Red Rock West,” Cage plays Michael Williams, a combat
veteran who stumbles into the wrong place at the wrong time.
When he heads to the town of Red Rock, Wyoming, in search of work, he gets way more than he
bargained for when he’s mistaken for a hitman.
But when the actual hitman – portrayed by Dennis Hopper – arrives, the real chaos begins.
Soon, Michael finds himself in the middle of a deadly domestic dispute, with a hitman
and a powerful, rage-filled sheriff on his tail.
This stylish little thriller has a bit of everything – high-speed chases, clever jailbreaks,
and some very surprising twists, and Cage is as charismatic as ever in the role.
If you want to see a film that allows Cage to channel every inch of his ability to become
unhinged on-screen, look no further than Werner Herzog's jarring crime drama "Bad Lieutenant:
Port of Call New Orleans."
"Shoot him again."
"What for?"
The film features the actor as one of the Big Easy's most corrupt cops, Terence McDonagh.
Terence might’ve started out his career as a by-the-book police officer, but throughout
the shocking events of the film, we watch him unwind into a spectacular disaster whose
errant energy sends shockwaves throughout the city.
He also deals with his own deteriorating grasp on reality.
As the consequences of his bad behaviors bubble up and his grip on sanity continues to wane,
Terence chooses to lean into his warped views of justice, leading to one breathlessly messy
action-adventure and a truly riveting screen turn for Cage fans.
The "National Treasure" series is electric from start to finish, and is a definite must-watch
for Nicolas Cage fans.
In the first film, released in 2004, Cage's character, Benjamin Franklin Gates, decides
he must steal the Declaration of Independence in order to protect it – and the treasure
map on the back of it.
Meanwhile, in the second pic from 2007, he has to kidnap the actual president of the
United States in order to get his hands on another map that leads to a fabled city of gold.
In both films, Cage imbues the character with a true sense of honor, unstoppable charm,
and a commitment to protecting the most precious pieces of the past — even if that means
being completely reckless along the way.
"Here's to the men who did what was considered wrong, in order to do what they knew was right."
With centuries-old conspiracies and some larger-than-life set pieces, the "National Treasure" series
is a wholesome double adventure for all ages.
The star-studded 2000 smash hit film "Gone in 60 Seconds" has a whole lot of glorious
roadway action.
Cage stars in the film as Randall "Memphis" Raines, a retired car thief who has to quickly
assemble a crew who can help him track down and steal 50 specific luxury cars in the space
of just three days to save his brother's life.
Together, the group puts pedal to the metal to organize a speedy series of heists to take
place simultaneously across the city of Long Beach, California.
What results is a smashing series of highway chases involving some of the snazziest cars
that have ever been seen on screen.
And Cage is, as always, at his best as a smooth-talking criminal who knows exactly what he wants.
"I don't have one here, however I do have one in the warehouse."
"Superb. What else do you have in the warehouse?"
Superhero movies may come in all shapes and sizes, but 2010's "Kick-Ass" is still one of a kind.
"I didn't say anything to anyone, I swear."
"Good move, Ass Kick."
The film centers on a nerdy kid named Dave, who decides to try a superheroic alter ego
on for size — because why not?
The thing Dave doesn't know, though, is that he isn't the only person training to deliver
some homegrown justice.
Amid his roughshod crime-fighting adventures, Kick-Ass eventually meets Hit-Girl and her
vengeance-seeking father, Big Daddy, played by Cage.
As Big Daddy, Cage is a real riot, parading around in a Batman-esque suit and coaching
his daughter on how to destroy armies of goons all by herself.
The role is darkly comedic and shows off Cage's sublime gift for blending action sequences
with quirky anecdotes and some very off-the-wall character moments.
"But it's really no more painful than a punch in the chest."
"I hate getting punched in the chest."
"You're gonna be fine, baby doll."
Cage is particularly gifted at playing characters who have a lack of scruples and absolutely
no regrets, and that's certainly the defining characteristic of his character in 2005's "Lord of War."
Cage stars in the pic as Yuri Orlov, a successful gunrunner who delights in providing arms to
some of the world's most dangerous individuals.
"By the mid '80s, my weapons were represented in eight of the world's top ten warzones."
Alongside his brother, Yuri becomes a major player in the 1982 Lebanon War and catches
the attention of Interpol, and, well, let's just say he finds himself in the middle of
some very dangerous conflicts.
As Yuri, Cage is a complete enigma, bringing both humor and horror to a story that's truly
engaging and intelligent.
"Can you bring me the gun of Rambo?"
"Part one, two, or three?"
Ridley Scott’s 2003 black comedy “Matchstick Men” features Cage at the absolute top of his game.
His character, Roy Waller, is at once a cavalier con artist and a desperately unraveling individual
with a lonely home life.
His ability to smooth-talk unsuspecting marks into handing over their hard-earned money
is impressively strong, but he’s also hanging on by a thread when it comes to his own sanity
and sense of purpose.
"I know, but this is an emergency."
"Hey buddy, ever heard of a line?"
"Hey, have you ever been dragged down the sidewalk and beaten until you pissed blood?"
Things take a major turn for Roy when he’s introduced to the teen daughter he didn't
know he had, Angela, and decides to embrace his dad status and teach her all he knows
about running a game.
"You're ready for this."
"I was born ready."
"Whew, glad I missed that day."
But as the stakes of his heists reach new heights and his mental health continues to
waver, Roy has to worry about more than just his own financial interests for the first
time in his life.
Things eventually culminate into a gloriously chaotic climax with some dynamite twists that
keep you guessing right until the end.
1987's "Raising Arizona" was one of Nicolas Cage's first major films, but it contains
one of his all-time greatest comedic-action performances.
The movie, which helped bring the Coen brothers into the mainstream, features the star as
"Hi" McDunnough, a former convict who marries a police officer named Ed.
After they decide they want to have children but are unable to bear or adopt any themselves,
Hi and Ed decide to kidnap one of the quintuplet sons of a famous furniture magnate and raise
him as their own.
Though they initially try to raise him as little "Junior" and pass him off as their
own biological child, things get completely out of hand once the couple is reacquainted
with some of Hi's former pals from prison, as well as other wildcard characters like
Hi's offensive foreman and a monstrous biker from Hell.
From there, poor Junior becomes the unwitting centerpiece of some blackly hilarious and
action-packed exchanges.
"Son, you got a panty on your head."
"Just drive fast, okay?"
It's not often that a movie with intense fighting and a complicated game of cat and mouse can
also be a meaningful meditation on grief, but that's exactly what "Pig" manages to pull off.
The film features Cage as Rob, a man who lives completely off the grid in the forest alongside
his prized pig.
They spend their days hunting truffles, but when his talented pig is stolen amid a violent
attack, he has to return to the city to face his mysterious past in order to save her.
"I'm looking for a truffle pig."
"I don't, I don't understand."
Though the film is dripping with dread and features some very satisfying moments of action,
it’s also refreshingly subversive and emotionally engaging.
Anchoring it all is Cage's sensational and critically revered leading performance in
the pic, which proves that even as accomplished as he already is, he's still got many surprises
up his sleeve.
Nicolas Cage has always had some strong rock-and-roll energy, and the 2018 horror flick “Mandy”
is a prime example of that.
The psychedelic film features the actor as Red Miller, a reclusive logger who’s content
to spend his quiet life with his girlfriend, Mandy.
Their peace is completely shattered, however, when a terrifying hippie cult attacks the
couple in their home with the help of some demonic bikers.
In addition to being a gonzo revenge story, the film is a gory, scary sensory experience,
with Cage's deliciously berserk performance bringing all the batty action home.
"Welcome to the Rock."
The cast of 1996's "The Rock" is a veritable who's who of action movie all-stars from the era.
Cage stars as FBI Special Agent Dr. Stanley Goodspeed, a lab geek who has to work alongside
a group of Navy SEALs and a highly classified spy turned prisoner — played by Sean Connery
— to infiltrate the notorious Alcatraz prison after it's taken over by a group of dangerous
former Marines.
Audiences are treated to a taut thrillride packed with plenty of punches and, as is the
custom in any good Cage movie, a lot of iconic moments.
For a film that manages to incorporate all of the trappings of a traditional action film,
John Woo's "Face/Off" is still an incredibly original thrill.
Sure, you may have seen planes crash into hangars, high-speed boat chases, and mega
shootouts on-screen before, but chances are good that you’ve never seen these events
unfold during a blood feud between two people wearing each other's faces.
At least, not until you check out this 1997 classic.
"You know, I can, uh, eat a peach for hours."
The film features Cage and John Travolta playing dual roles, with Cage starting off as the
ruthless criminal Castor Troy before his face is surgically switched with John Travolta's
FBI Agent Sean Archer.
With their roles reversed and each man pretending to be the other around their family members
and colleagues, the performances of Cage and Travolta are exquisitely nuanced and off-kilter.
"Wow, we've got something in common."
They also both seem to be having the absolute time of their lives in these roles, which
amplifies the rush factor as this memorable action ride brings the duo together for an
epic – that's right – face-off.
There are many, many roles that seem to have been specifically crafted for Nicolas Cage's
unique screen talents, but 1997's "Con Air" truly hinges on his particular gifts.
Here, he stars as Cameron Poe, a decorated combat veteran who’s sent to prison after
drunkenly killing a man who attacked his wife.
While incarcerated, he ends up on board a prison transport plane with the country's
most hardened criminals, who scheme to take over the plane and escape from custody.
For Cage fans, this film has a little bit of everything that makes him such a Hollywood
legend.
The character is tough but vulnerable, serious but also self-aware, and he has some unforgettable
one-liners that only he can deliver.
"I said, put the bunny back in the box."
Put simply, when it comes to Nic Cage's most iconic action films, "Con Air" truly nails
the landing.
With all of these amazing performances under his belt, it's no wonder Cage manages to corral
such intense fandemonium from the likes of Javi in "The Unbearable Weight of Massive
Talent," a must-see theatrical experience you should catch with friends in all its action-packed
glory this weekend.
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