The Best Nicolas Cage Movies of All Time

OK, it's a bit of a stretch to call Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse strictly a Nic Cage film, but we have to give a shoutout to his voiceover role as Spider-Man Noir. Cage puts on the perfect amount of melodrama, leaving a lasting impression—even as an obscure version of Spider-Man.

Don't you want to know where this historic meme is from? This cult-classic horror comedy is a great option to throw on with friends. (If you want to see Cage—after falling victim to a vampire bite—absolutely lose it for 100 minutes, of course.)

This romantic dramedy stars Cage as a successful bachelor, who is suddenly transported to an alternate timeline—one where he has a family with his college sweetheart. This film captures the distinct vibe of other movies from the time, like Liar Liar and Freaky Friday. You know the ones: coming-of-age stories with odd magical twists, which just aren't made nowadays.

This World War II drama—from the mind of John Woo—didn't get a fair shake when it first came out, but it features some incredible wartime action sequences throughout its two-hour runtime.

Cage's turn as a car thief who comes out of retirement to boost 50 cars in 72 hours—to save the life as his brother!—is cheesy '00s goodness.

In this Werner Herzog-directed crime comedy, Cage plays a cop who descends into drug addiction and corruption after he's prescribed Vicodin for a back injury. Cage puts a uniquely unhinged spin on the character that only he can pull off.

Snake Eyes is a mystery suspense thriller that's still tight as a drum. It features Brian De Palma's slick direction and a pulsing, tense story that follows Cage's character, who is in charge of investigating a political assassination at a boxing match.

In Peggy Sue Got Married, Cage is a highlight as Charlie, Peggy Sue's high school sweetheart. This film was one of Cage's big breaks in Hollywood—and it's still a great nostalgia watch. (Fun fact: Cage's real-life uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, directed Peggy Sue Got Married.)

This crime film from Paul Schrader, the screenwriter behind Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, is anchored by Cage and Willem Dafoe's beautiful chemistry.

So what if the plot doesn't really make sense? Nicolas Cage stole the Declaration of Independence! In my heart, I'll always believe that the Declaration has a secret treasure map on the back of it that you can reveal with a hair dryer—and we have National Treasure to thank for that.

In this H.P. Lovecraft adaptation (which really puts the cosmic in cosmic horror), Cage experiences strange visions after a meteorite lands on his family's property. This Richard Stanley-directed film is dark, twisted, and totally engrossing.

Leaving Las Vegas, which won Cage his only Academy Award, is not an easy watch by any means: he plays a man who is determined to drink himself to death. The actor handles the difficult subject matter of alcoholism and depression well—not resting on common acting tropes that would have cheapened it.

In this violent adaptation of the beloved comic book series, Kick-Ass, Cage is a scene-stealer as a costumed vigilante named Big Daddy. Cage has a hilarious dynamic with a young Chloë Grace Moretz, who plays the character's daughter and trainee, Hit-Girl.

Playing a fictionalized version of yourself is a tricky proposition—but Cage brought the perfect balance of goofiness and heart to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Pedro Pascal is (characteristically) incredible in this film, too.

Con Air should top this list for Cage's mullet alone, but it still stands tall as a phenomenal '90s blockbuster. The film boasts engaging fights, as well as an incredible ensemble cast—including John Malkovich's iconic performance as the villain.

If you haven't caught it yet, Cage's turn as a scammer—one who has to see a shrink—is essential viewing. Plus, Cage bounces off his co-star Sam Rockwell (who plays his partner in crime) exceptionally well.

This absolutely bonkers sci-fi action blockbuster can only be seen to be believed. In Face/Off, Cage plays deranged terrorist Caster Troy. John Travolta plays the FBI agent pursuing him, though Cage has to stretch his performance as the titular face-swapping comes into play. This John Woo flick is still incredibly watchable today—and is packed with great action from the very first moments on.

Pig is a laser-focused drama where Cage plays retired chef who is seeking revenge on the people who kidnapped his hunting pig. Pig also has the distinction of being Cage's favorite film he ever made, as he shared in this interview with Stephen Colbert.

Nicolas Cage AND David Lynch? It's a bizarre match made in weirdo heaven. In the '90s, Wild At Heart caused quite a stir—and even had audiences and critics divided when it won the Palme D'or at the Cannes Film Festival. Nevertheless, its legacy has been cemented as an epic, strange, and romantic road adventure.

This violent horror film is dripping in unique style, featuring harrowing performances from Cage and the entire cast. Cage and Andrea Riseborough star as a loner couple who suddenly find themselves in the clutches of a terrifying cult—and an even more monstrous biker gang.