Nicolas Cage is an American actor and producer who has won many awards, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He is well known for his versatility as an actor. He has starred in many films in various genres, earning him a cult following early on.
Nicolas Cage starred in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982) and “Valley Girl” (1983). Other breakout movies at the beginning of his career included “Rumble Fish” (1983), “The Cotton Club” (1984), and “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1986) alongside Kathleen Turner. Now that you know the beginning of his career, let’s dive into the top 10 Nicholas Cage performances.
1. Leaving Las Vegas
First on our list of 10 Nicolas Cage performances is “Leaving Las Vegas”. This movie is about Ben, who recently lost his job and family while living in Los Angeles, CA. After these events, he packed up his belongings, loaded up his car with liquor and beer, and moved to Las Vegas. He decided he was going to drink himself to death. In Las Vegas, he meets a prostitute, played by Elisabeth Shue. They begin a relationship, and she supports his drinking. At one point, he said to her, “You can never ask me to stop drinking”.
2. Pig
Next on our list of 10 Nicolas Cage performances is about a truffle-hunter who lives alone in the Oregon wilderness. He must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved pig after she is kidnapped. It happened one night when unidentified assailants attacked Rob, and they stole his pig. He is now on a quest to find his foraging pig. This dramatic, emotional, and exciting movie received a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the screenplay.
3. Adaptation
Third on the list of 10 Nicolas Cage Performances is “Adaptation”. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is hired to write the screenplay for “Adaptation”. He struggles with anxiety, social phobia, depression, and low self-esteem. His twin brother, Donald, has moved into Charlie’s house and is freeloading. In making Charlie and Donald so different (Nicolas Cage plays both characters), Nicholas gets to showcase everything he can. This is a funny movie that reaches the core of being a creative person.
4. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Fourth on the list of 10 Nicolas Cage performances is Nicolas Cage’s character accepting a 1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan’s birthday party. Things turn wild when a CIA agent recruits him for an unusual mission. In this exciting, suspenseful action movie, He soon channels his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.
5. Matchstick Men
Roy, a depressed con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Frank, his partner, discover their line of work is complicated by the arrival of Roy’s (Nicolas Cage’s) daughter. Angela brings spirit and hope back into his life, and some of our disorder symptoms disappear. The story leads you down a path of deception and heartbreak, with the ending becoming a wonderful delight. This movie was given a 4.3-star rating. This rounds out the top 5 of our 10 Nicolas Cage Performances list.
6. Weather Man
Next on the 10 Nicolas Cage performances list is “Weatherman”. Weather Man is not just about the forecast, but about the weather in his life. His wife is depressed, he is depressed, and his children are not very happy. This movie is about discovering who you are, getting to know your children, and bonding and connecting with them in a way that makes them feel good about themselves. You may be unsure if you will like it, but I did. If you are a Nicolas Cage fan, check it out!
7. Face/Off
Face/Off is a wacky movie that is so dynamic! Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) and Sean Archer (John Travolta) are rivals. Castor is a mind-blowing criminal, and Sean is a police officer. Sean survives an attack by Castor, but in the line of fire, his son was killed. Years later, Troy is in a coma, and in an attempt to try to get inside Castor’s head, they switch faces. Sean is now in jail as Castor, and Castor is now Sean on the streets, living with his wife and his family. Can Sean Archer save his family?
8. Moonstruck
Italian widower Loretta (Cher) accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. Then all of a sudden, she discovers that she is falling for his younger brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). She tries to resist him, but Ronny lost his hand in an accident and blames his brother. Ronny continues to pursue Loretta despite his brother being out of the country. As she falls deeper in love with Ronny, she discovers she is not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
9. Longlegs
This is a horror film that follows FBI agent Lee Harker as she investigates a series of gruesome murders. The killings are linked to a serial killer named “Longlegs” who leaves behind letters with satanic symbols and coding. She discovers a personal connection to Longlegs, leading to discoveries about her mother and a decades-long pact she made with the killer. The film explores themes of family, sacrifice, and the dark nature of people. Who do you think Longlegs is?
10. It Could Happen to You
Last but not least on our 10 Nicolas Cage performances is “It Could Happen to You”. She was a waitress at a diner; he was a police officer. They met one day when he came into the restaurant with his partner. He told her he would split it with her if he won the lottery. Guess what, he won! This romantic comedy explores being selfless, discovering who you are, love, and that it’s okay to be who you are. Nicolas Cage turns his friendly guy cop character into a different character he would normally gravitate toward.
