Entertainment

Nicolas Cage Filmography

While the internet’s gif and meme culture may have tarnished Cage’s image, his ability to delve into expressionistic performances that range from erratic facial tics to heightened enunciation remains undiminished. The best of these films, like Pig, a bloated chef trapped in the Oregon wilderness with only a truffle-hunting pig for company, remain eerily resonant.

1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

From toking up with Sean Penn’s Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High to wrecking chainsaw vengeance on cultists in Mandy, Cage has shown that he can do just about anything on the big screen. He’s also proved adept at romantic comedies and dramas, including earning critical acclaim for Moonstruck and Adaptation.

In Snake Eyes, Cage puts his signature unhinged spin on a pulsing thriller that’s still as tense as ever. He’s joined by a great cast, including Sam Rockwell and Brendan Fraser. This is a must-see for any Cage fan.

2. Valley Girl (1983)

Cage was already developing a charm and sense of on screen camaraderie in this comedy-horror film. The short shooting schedule allowed him to dive into the headspace of Ben, an alcoholic screenwriter on a deathly bender.

Filmmaker Martha Coolidge noted that he moved “from hurt but not defeated to a man who has accepted his own mortality.” That’s exactly the kind of nuance Cage brings to all his roles. He possesses a unique unpredictability that’s rare in this business.

3. Rumble Fish (1983)

Cage’s performance in this thriller about a con artist trying to go straight is lauded as one of the best performances of his career. Sam Rockwell co-stars.

The nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, Cage went on to make a number of movies in the 1980s including Moonstruck and Raising Arizona. He also starred in the dramas Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation. He was in a string of action movies and even made his directorial debut with 2002’s Sonny.

4. The Cotton Club (1984)

From wildly OTT performances like Mandy, Face-Off and Con Air to Oscar-worthy work in Raising Arizona, Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation, Cage proves his versatility with each new role. He can do serious and dramatic things like in Gone in 60 Seconds and Windtalkers (his portrayal of Navajo code talkers during World War II), and he can deliver a hilarious satire as well.

Police officer Mike Chandler finds himself in over his head during a bank heist in this suspense-filled drama. Despite critical backlash, critics praised Cage’s performance.

5. The Wicker Man (1987)

A knight tasked with destroying a witch during the Crusades returns to find Europe infested by pestilence. While this fantasy flick has a low Tomatometer score, Cage delivers another solid performance here.

Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, and Adaptation all fall into this category of the actor’s filmography. It’s where he swings for the fences, and occasionally, like here, hits a home run.

6. Moonstruck (1987)

Cage’s chemistry with Cher in this iconic romantic comedy about a Brooklyn family proves he can do more than just ham it up. He also proved he could handle drama with his Oscar-winning performance in Leaving Las Vegas and again excelled in big-budget action movies like Snake Eyes, Con Air, and Kick Ass.

While he’s been known to pick some stinkers, there’s no doubt he can still deliver Oscar-worthy performances like Raising Arizona, Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation. He can also be a riot as an over-the-top villain, such as in Bad Lieutenant.

7. Vampire’s Kiss (1988)

After proving his comedic chops in films like Raising Arizona and Moonstruck, Cage moved into dramatic roles with the Coen brothers’ Adaptation and Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center. He also made his directorial debut with 2002’s Sonny.

The ibomma telugu movies film wasn’t a box office hit, but the critics liked it. Cage tried to inject German expressionism—a style that rejected realism—into the film, but it didn’t work for this particular story.

8. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

Whether he’s smoking a joint with Sean Penn’s Spicoli or waging chainsaw vengeance in Mandy, Cage has always invested his roles with full-on commitment. In this one, he’s a corrupt cop whose warped moral code drives him to extreme acts.

Newly promoted lieutenant Terence McDonagh investigates the execution-type killing of a Senegalese family and follows the trail to an elusive drug lord, Big Fate (played by Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner). Werner Herzog’s film doesn’t quite have the same impact as Abel Ferrara’s scummy original but does feature an iguana cam and plenty of local color.

9. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2013)

Whether it’s a splatter-gore epic about demon bikers in a hellish dimension or Panos Cosmatos’ mesmeric heavy metal odyssey Mandy, Nicolas Cage’s career choices are rarely dull. He often swings for the fences and occasionally hits a home run – namely Moonstruck, Raising Arizona and Adaptation.

Tom Gormican’s 2022 film puts Cage in on the joke as he channels some of his most iconic roles into this black comedy about career slump and resurgence. It may not be an instant classic, but it does deliver a fair amount of laughs.

10. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Cage is an accomplished actor, producer, and director who has been in the industry for decades. He has starred in a wide range of movies, earning critical acclaim for his performances and an extensive fan base.

He won a Best Actor Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas, which also earned him Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. His other critically acclaimed films include Raising Arizona, Moonstruck, and Adaptation.