Nic Cage’s Messy Western Movie Era Was Dismissed Too Quickly

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Nicolas Cage is known for taking risks and choosing projects that many other actors would avoid. He consistently finds something compelling in unconventional material. He also brings a unique and unpredictable approach to his performances, keeping his work fresh and diverse. While he doesn’t always play characters in a typical way, this is precisely what makes his roles so unforgettable.

Taking risks can often lead to great rewards, and Nicolas Cage has certainly had a lot of successful films throughout his career. However, his willingness to try unconventional roles hasn’t always paid off. It’s understandable that some of his more unusual projects were missed by audiences who weren’t quite sure what to make of them. Now, as Cage prepares to join the blockbuster world again with Spider-Man Noir, it’s a good moment to revisit another period in his career – a time when he starred in many Westerns.

Nicolas Cage Has an Overlooked Western Movie Era

It might seem like Nicolas Cage appears in a lot of Westerns, but he hasn’t actually starred in many. Even when his films aren’t set in the Old West, they often borrow from the style and imagery of Westerns. Movies like Kill Chain and Red Rock West blend Western themes with the suspense of neo-noir, but they don’t fully fit into the Western genre itself.

Nicolas Cage is a big fan of classic movies, and he really respects the Western genre. Because of this passion, he started making his own Western-style films around the early 2020s, wanting to try his hand at the type of storytelling he loves.

Nicolas Cage’s first venture into genre filmmaking was Butcher’s Crossing, a collaboration with Saban Films. The film tells the story of a mysterious frontiersman and his crew as they battle the harsh realities of a buffalo hunt in the Old West. Set in the rugged Colorado wilderness, the movie pushes Cage’s character, a skilled gunslinger, to his absolute limits.

Nicolas Cage will also appear in The Old Way in 2023, a film from Saban Films. He plays a former hitman who’s trying to live a quiet family life. But when the son of one of his victims shows up, he’s forced to confront his violent past and defend the new life he’s created.

This film takes a familiar story and flips it on its head, with the actor playfully experimenting with the genre while trying to appeal to modern viewers. It heavily relies on and showcases well-known story elements.

Neither The Old Way nor Butcher’s Crossing achieved significant success. Both films were largely ignored and considered box office failures. While critics heavily disliked Butcher’s Crossing, The Old Way received somewhat better reviews, offering a small consolation.

Despite this, neither film gained much attention for Nicolas Cage, who hadn’t had a successful Western in a while. Gunslingers, set to release in 2025, showed he was struggling to find a new hit. While the story – about America’s most wanted man hiding in a small town – sounded interesting, viewers weren’t interested.

Nic Cage’s Films Released During a 2020s

It’s clear Nicolas Cage put a lot of thought into moving into Westerns. He hadn’t often starred in this type of movie, yet he appeared in three within a short time, suggesting this was a deliberate career move. It happened at a particularly interesting point in his career, and his decision to embrace the genre felt both well-timed and slightly unexpected.

To fully grasp this, let’s consider the broader industry. A good place to start is by examining streaming series.

Streaming services are all competing to create the next big Western, as audiences seem to enjoy the nostalgic feel of the genre but with a fresh, modern twist. Some shows focus on recreating the authentic atmosphere of the Old West.

While popular shows are doing well, classic Westerns are also gaining traction on streaming services, proving there’s still an audience for this type of story. Though not plentiful, a dedicated group of viewers is interested in seeing a return to the classic Western film style, even if it’s just on TV. Westerns aren’t currently box office hits, but they’re finding a strong following among people looking for an escape to the Old West.

Shows like Westworld have also influenced how we see Westerns today. They’ve evolved the traditional elements of the genre, moving away from classic Hollywood styles while still offering exciting action and familiar themes. While Nic Cage attempted to bring back traditional Westerns in theaters, he faced the challenge of streaming services, which favor blended genres, modern Western variations, and films released directly to home viewing, reaching a more limited audience.

Cage’s Western Experiment Was a Love Letter to a Golden Era

Considering everything we’ve discussed, let’s focus on Nicolas Cage and what he was trying to accomplish. At first, it might seem like he experimented with a few roles and didn’t succeed. However, there’s a larger strategy at work. Cage anticipated the resurgence of Western films and took a gamble, hoping to ensure the genre’s survival in theaters as streaming became increasingly dominant.

This wasn’t a gamble taken without thought. It was a chance for Nicolas Cage to reinvent himself as a Western star, keeping him current in today’s film landscape, and to explore a genre he’s passionate about. Cage is dedicated to his craft and a big fan of classic Westerns and John Wayne. Even with an established career, embracing a potential new era for Westerns seemed like a smart move.

This project was a test to see if a film could still succeed in theaters. It was also a response to the growing dominance of streaming services and how they were altering a film genre he loved. Ultimately, the release timing was unfortunate, as the films came out while this discussion was already happening.

Despite their efforts, it seems the streaming services have currently come out on top. It looks like Nicolas Cage’s run with Westerns might be ending sooner than expected.

Films like Butcher’s Crossing, The Old Way, and Gunslingers all try a fresh approach to Westerns, forming a thematically connected series. While not flawless, these movies stand out from typical streaming content and reveal Nicolas Cage’s vision for the genre today.

The Western genre might evolve once more, and when it does, Nicolas Cage’s contributions deserve recognition. He’s actively working to preserve its spirit and traditions.

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2026-02-17 21:08