10. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Starring Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson, Leaving Las Vegas is a powerful and heartbreaking drama about a man who has hit rock bottom. After losing his job, wife, and will, Ben decides to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. There, he meets Sera, a prostitute with her own troubled past. Despite their differences, the two form an unlikely bond as they struggle to find solace in a city of excess and despair. With its raw and honest portrayal of addiction, Leaving Las Vegas is a powerful and unforgettable film.
Nicolas Cage was paid only $240,000 for his role in the movie, but he still won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.
9. Face/Off (1997)
Starring Nicolas Cage and John Travolta, Face/Off is an action-packed thriller about an FBI agent and a terrorist who switch faces to access each other’s secrets. After a daring operation to capture the terrorist, FBI agent Sean Archer (Cage) undergoes a radical surgical procedure to assume the terrorist’s identity. But when the terrorist, Castor Troy (Travolta), wakes up from a coma, he too undergoes the same procedure and takes on Archer’s identity. With their faces switched, the two men must battle each other in a thrilling game of cat and mouse, as each tries to outwit the other and reclaim their identity.
Nicolas Cage and John Travolta learned to fly a helicopter for their roles in the movie.
8. Con Air (1997)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Con Air is an action-packed thriller about a group of dangerous criminals who hijack a prison transport plane. After the inmates take over the plane, U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (Cage) is tasked with bringing it down before it reaches its destination. With the help of a former prisoner, Larkin must battle the inmates and their leader, Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom (John Malkovich), to save the passengers and crew. With its intense action sequences and star-studded cast, Con Air is a must-see for any fan of Nicolas Cage.
Nicolas Cage was paid $20 million for his role in the movie, making him the highest-paid actor at the time.
7. National Treasure (2004)
Starring Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates, National Treasure is an action-packed adventure film about a treasure hunter who embarks on a quest to find a legendary fortune hidden by the Founding Fathers of the United States. With the help of his loyal sidekick, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), and a beautiful historian (Diane Kruger), Gates must decipher a series of clues and riddles to uncover the secret of the National Treasure. Along the way, they must outwit a team of FBI agents and a ruthless treasure hunter (Sean Bean) who are also after the treasure. With its thrilling action sequences, clever puzzles, and captivating story, National Treasure is a must-see for any fan of Nicolas Cage.
Nicolas Cage was the first actor to be paid $20 million for a single movie role in National Treasure.
6. The Rock (1996)
Starring Nicolas Cage, The Rock is an action-packed thriller about a group of renegade Marines who take over Alcatraz Island and threaten to launch a deadly chemical attack on San Francisco. Cage plays Stanley Goodspeed, an FBI chemical weapons expert sent to stop them. With the help of a former British spy (Sean Connery), Goodspeed must find a way to infiltrate the island and prevent the attack. With its intense action sequences and thrilling plot, The Rock is a must-see for any fan of Cage’s work.
Nicolas Cage was initially offered the role of John Mason, but he turned it down to play the role of Stanley Goodspeed.
5. Adaptation (2002)
Adaptation is a 2002 American comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze and starring Nicolas Cage. The film follows the story of a struggling screenwriter, Charlie Kaufman (Cage), who struggles to adapt a non-fiction book into a screenplay. As he struggles to make sense of the book’s complex subject matter, he finds himself in a surreal world of his own creation, filled with strange characters and unexpected plot twists. With the help of his twin brother Donald (also Cage), Charlie must find a way to make his adaptation work before it’s too late. Adaptation is a unique and thought-provoking film that explores the creative process and the power of the imagination.
Nicolas Cage was the first actor nominated for an Academy Award for playing a fictionalized version of himself.
4. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a crime drama starring Nicolas Cage as a corrupt and drug-addicted police lieutenant in post-Katrina New Orleans. The film follows Cage’s character as he attempts to solve a series of murders while struggling with his demons. With a stellar supporting cast including Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, and Xzibit, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a gritty and intense look at the dark side of the Big Easy.
Nicolas Cage was paid $8 million for his role in the movie, making it the highest salary he has ever received for a single role.
3. Raising Arizona (1987)
Raising Arizona is a classic comedy starring Nicolas Cage as H.I. McDunnough, an ex-convict who falls in love with Edwina (Holly Hunter), a police officer. After they get married, they find out they cannot have children, so they kidnap one of the quintuplets of the wealthy Arizona family. Hilarity ensues as they try to hide the baby from the police and the Arizona family. With its unique blend of comedy and drama, Raising Arizona is a must-see for any Nicolas Cage fan.
The film was the first collaboration between the Coen Brothers and Nicolas Cage and the first time Cage was cast in a lead role.
2. Moonstruck (1987)
Starring Nicolas Cage, Moonstruck is a romantic comedy about a young Italian-American woman, Loretta Castorini (Cher), engaged to a man she does not love. When she meets his brother, Ronny (Cage), a passionate and volatile man, she finds herself drawn to him and must decide between her arranged marriage and the possibility of true love. With its witty dialogue, memorable performances, and classic love story, Moonstruck is a timeless classic that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.
Nicolas Cage was the first actor to be cast in the movie.
1. Kick-Ass (2010)
Nicolas Cage stars as Big Daddy, a former cop-turned-vigilante who teams up with a teenage girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) to take on a ruthless crime boss. This action-packed movie is full of thrilling fight scenes and unexpected twists. Cage’s performance is intense and captivating; the movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Nicolas Cage was paid only $500,000 for his role in the movie, a fraction of his usual salary.
My personal best movie with Nicolas Cage is Kick-Ass for its funny moments and awesome soundtracks. Especially the Omen by The Prodigy 🙂
