Praised, applauded, mocked, and scrutinized—Oscar winner Nicolas Cage leaves nothing on the table, committing fully to every role he takes on. While his bold creative risks sometimes veer into meme territory, his raw, electrifying talent remains undeniable.
From beloved romantic comedies to gut-wrenching dramas and iconic '90s action films, Cage’s filmography is remarkably extensive—so much so that we’ve expanded this "Best Of" list to 15 entries instead of the usual 10. Collaborating with legendary directors like David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, Michael Bay, Ridley Scott, and his uncle Francis Ford Coppola, he’s delivered some of cinema’s most unforgettable performances. (For more unforgettable moments, check out this curated list of 40 standout Nicolas Cage scenes by a devoted superfan who’s seen them all.)
Across four decades, Cage has mastered every genre imaginable—whether he’s thwarting a chemical attack in San Francisco, spiraling into Vegas madness, or playing himself in a surreal dive into his own career. Here, we present our picks for Nicolas Cage’s greatest films.
