AlthoughNicolas Cagehas been a major star for decades, his output over the past 15 years includes some ofhis best work. While Cage has been ridiculed for his unusual acting style and idiosyncratic choices, this is part of what makes him stand out as a defining actor of his generation and a performer who’s always been intensely interesting.
Whether it was inunderrated direct-to-video releasesormodern horror classics,Cage has brought commitment and intensity to every role he’s ever played. This willingness to lay it all on the line and embrace his weirder side is part of what’s made Cage such a cult favorite and why audiences continue to flock to his movies all these years later.
10The Surfer (2024)
Nicolas Cage cataloged a psychological descent into pure madness as only he can inThe Surfer. Telling the story of a man hoping to move back to his idyllic hometown with his son, things take a dark turn when he is tormented by a group of unwieldy locals who make it abundantly clear that he’s not welcome.
With Cage’s character becoming increasingly alienated, confused, and disheveled throughout the runtime,The Surfersees him question his own sanity as the lines between fact and fiction start to blur. Almost Kafkaesque in its strangeness,The Surfershowcases that even after decades in Hollywood,Cage is still willing to give himself over entirely to unusual projects.
WhileNicolas Cage has starred in plenty of lackluster straight-to-video moviesover the years, one example of him getting things right wasMom and Dad. This black comedy starred Cage opposite Selma Blair in a depiction of a town overtaken by mass hysteria that leads to parents trying to kill their own children.
With an outrageous premise that allowed Cage to fully embrace his unhinged persona,Mom and Dadwas a tongue-in-cheek look at the difficulties of parental responsibility and those who wish to break free of their child-rearing obligations. By combining parenthood with over-the-top gore,Mom and Dadstands as one of Cage’s most underrated movies.
8Kick-Ass (2010)
While earlier attempts in Nicolas Cage’s career to become a superhero, such as his cancelledSupermanmovie or the critically malignedGhost Riderfilms, never really took off,Kick-Asswas where he got things right. As the ex-cop turned vigilante Damon Macready, Cage played the mentally disturbed but ultimately sincere mentor toward his daughter Hit-Girl.
Kick-Asshilariously played up the absurdity of superheroesby placing them in a real-world environment and showcasing their ultra-violent tendencies for the chaotic, misguided power fantasies that they are. With a fantastic performance from Cage,Kick-Asswas a major factor in revitalizing his career for the 2010s and beyond.
7Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
With outstanding visuals and a genuinely engaging story,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versestands as one of the most impressive animated films of all time.Nicolas Cage lent his recognizable voice to the character of Peter Parker, but he wasn’t the lead, as he portrayed an alternate dimension version of the character known as Spider-Man Noir.
As a hilarious send-up of film noir tropes, Cage’s deadpan delivery and effective gravitas leaned into cliches of hard-boiled detective heroes. Cage’s vocal performance was effective enough that it led to the development of aSpider-Noirtelevision series that’s set to debut on MGM+ in 2026 with Cage reprising his role.
6Color Out Of Space (2019)
Nicolas Cage teamed up with director Richard Stanley for the incredible Lovecraft adaptationColor Out of Spacein 2019. This was Stanley’s highly anticipated return to Hollywood after being controversially fired as the director ofThe Island of Dr. Moreauback in 1996, and it acted as a triumphant return to form that captured the essence of Lovecraft’s original story.
With Cage as the family man, Nathan Gardner, things take a dark turn after a strange meteorite crash-lands at the property they had recently moved to. With a slow-burn style that walks the line between over-the-top body horror and unnerving existential dread,Color Out of Spacewas an intense journey of ever-heightening cosmic terror.
5Dream Scenario (2023)
Nicolas Cage addressed modern society’s obsession with fame and notoriety inDream Scenario, an intensely original satirical comedy. Cage played Paul Matthews, a college professor who shoots to global fame overnight after he inexplicably starts appearing in the dreams of others.
While Paul is initially a popular figure in the world of celebrity, things take a dark turn as the dream version of himself starts terrorizing and upsetting citizens.Dream Scenariorevealed the fickle nature of modern life and how society can turn on you at any given moment.
4Longlegs (2024)
It’s a testament to Nicolas Cage’s ability to fully lose himself in a role that he was practically unrecognizable as the title character inLonglegs. As a terrifying horror that brought to mind classics likeThe Silence of the Lambs, Cage played a deranged occultist serial killer who has been murdering and terrorizing families in Oregon.
Despite only having limited screen time, Cage’s transformative performance left a major impact as he was garbed in silicone-encapsulated prosthetic makeup to showcase the character’s damaged skin. With an unnerving aura that brought to mind classic killers like Dr. Hannibal Lecter,Longlegswas yet another example of Cage’s unique talent.
3Pig (2021)
Nicolas Cage delivered one of his most subdued and emotionally restrained performances inPig, a film that was a masterclass in slow-building tension and quiet emotions. As a meditation on grief and identity,Pigsubverted the traditional formula of a revenge filmby having Rob Feld search not for vengeance but understanding.
WhilePighad minimal dialogue, Cage got maximum impact out of his performance, as this story of a truffle hunter’s stolen prized pig reflected broader themes of trauma and letting go. While Cage has had plenty of great roles in recent years,Pigwas a key release in his latest late-career renaissance.
2Mandy (2018)
In a career filled with wild and unwieldy performances, Cage’s unhinged reputation reached a whole new level in Mandy. With Cage as the lumberjack Red Miller, this man’s secluded life in a forest was turned completely on its head when a hippie cult murdered his girlfriend.
This was where all hell unleashed as Miller went on a surreal quest for revenge and reputation that was characterized by intense visuals and a dark sensibility. Through his gut-wrenching portrayal of a broken man with nothing left to lose,Mandywas about as wild as Cage gets, and it is not a film for the faint of heart.
1The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent (2022)
It doesn’t get any more self-referential than Nicolas Cage inThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a film that leans heavily into its star’s public persona. WithCage as a fictionalized version of himselfwho is struggling in Hollywood, the meta-commentary on the nature of celebrity saw him endlessly tormented by a version of his former self known as Nicky Cage.
As a blend of action, comedy, and tongue-in-cheek satire, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent brought to mind other self-referential movies likeBeing John Malkovichand Last Action Hero. This was a love letter toNicolas Cage’scareer and a prime example that, although some audience members like to make fun of his unconventional acting choices, he’s in on the joke.
