The Best Nicolas Cage Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 25, 2023 51.6K votes 6.5K voters 410.5K views
Over 6.5K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Nicolas Cage Movies
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Latest additions: The Retirement Plan, Sympathy for the Devil, Renfield
Most divisive: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Here is a list of the best Nicolas Cage movies, ranked best to worst by film fans just like you. Nic Cage is a huge action star today, but his first role was a small part in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Nicolas Cage's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Nicolas Cage movies will be at the top of the list. Nic Cage has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Cage movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Nick Cage films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Nicolas Cage role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Nicholas Cage performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

Including films like Face/Off and Con Air, this list also has all of Nicolas Cage's direct-to-video movies. 

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Nicolas Cage movies?" and "What are the greatest Nicolas Cage roles of all time?" If you are a fan of Cage's heroic roles, you might also enjoy our list of the best Tom Cruise movies and best John Travolta movies.

Michael Bay and Brett Ratner are among those who have directed Nicolas Cage at one point or another during their careers in the film industry. Nicolas Cage has been in some really popular films, and is right up there with stars like John Travolta and Bruce Willis in terms of fame and success.

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  • The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
    1

    The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

    Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish
    2,380,982 votes
    • Released: 2022
    • Directed by: Tom Gormican
    Unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, actor Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan's birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.

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  • The Rock
    2

    The Rock

    Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris
    1,517 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Michael Bay

    Character: Dr. Stanley Goodspeed

    In the thrilling action-adventure The Rock, hardened FBI chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage) is paired with the only man to have ever escaped Alcatraz, former British spy John Patrick Mason (Sean Connery). Their mission? To thwart a rogue group of US Marines, led by disillusioned General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris), who've seized control of Alcatraz Island and threatened San Francisco with deadly nerve gas. Directed by Michael Bay, this high-stakes thriller combines an intriguing plot with intense action sequences, making it a notable entry in the 90s action cinema.

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  • Con Air
    3

    Con Air

    Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich
    1,758 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Simon West

    Character: Cameron Poe

    In Con Air, Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage), a newly released ex-con and former U.S. Ranger, finds himself trapped on a prisoner transport plane when the passengers seize control. Among them is Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom (John Malkovich), a cunning and ruthless criminal mastermind. With help from U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (John Cusack), Poe must thwart their deadly plans, save his friend Baby-O (Mykelti Williamson) and get home to his daughter. This action-packed thriller, directed by Simon West, blends high-stakes tension with explosive spectacle, delivering a wild ride in the sky.

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  • Face/Off
    4

    Face/Off

    John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen
    1,659 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: John Woo

    Character: Castor Troy

    In John Woo's high-octane thriller Face/Off, FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) and his arch-nemesis, terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), become entangled in a macabre dance of identity theft. After an experimental face transplant procedure, Archer is forced to assume the visage of Troy to infiltrate his criminal organization. Meanwhile, Troy awakens from a coma and claims Archer's face and life as his own. This twisted tale of swapped identities, filled with explosive action sequences, won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking special effects.

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  • National Treasure
    5

    National Treasure

    Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha
    1,674 votes
    • Released: 2004
    • Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

    Character: Benjamin Gates

    In the thrilling adventure film National Treasure, Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) is a third-generation treasure hunter. He's on an exciting quest to uncover one of history's most coveted treasures - the legendary Templar Treasure. Together with his tech-savvy friend, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), and the beautiful, skeptical archivist Dr. Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), they follow a trail of clues left by America's founding fathers. Clues that lead them across the nation, from the hallowed halls of Washington D.C. to iconic American landmarks. This movie combines suspense, action, and history in a captivating mix that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

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  • Gone in 60 Seconds
    6

    Gone in 60 Seconds

    Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Robert Duvall
    1,372 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Dominic Sena

    Character: Randall "Memphis" Raines

    Gone in 60 Seconds is a 2000 American action film, starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Christopher Eccleston, Robert Duvall, Vinnie Jones, and Will Patton. The film was directed by Dominic Sena, written by Scott Rosenberg, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of The Rock and Con Air and Armageddon, and is a loose remake of the 1974 H.B. Halicki film of the same name. The film was shot throughout Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.