Nicolas Cage’s Best to Worst Action Movies Revealed

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Nicolas Cage has established a strong presence across various film genres, but particularly excels in action movies, similar to actors like Keanu Reeves, Harrison Ford, and others including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, and Sylvester Stallone. These roles feel most natural to him. Among his theatrical action films (excluding direct-to-video releases), some have been successful while others have not lived up to expectations. The following movies represent his leading man action films in the theater, specifically those that fall under the traditional action category. Movies such as 8MM and Snake Eyes lean more towards thrillers rather than action, so they were omitted, along with Windtalkers, which leans more toward war genre than action.

Leaving Mandy out of the equation, since Nic Cage made several smaller films from 2012 to 2023, let’s explore his wide-release action movies, ranked. Here they are!

10) Season of the Witch

From 2006 onwards, the standard of Nicolas Cage’s film projects noticeably decreased. Films such as “The Wicker Man” (2006), “Next” (2007), “Bangkok Dangerous” (2008), “Knowing” (2009, a box office success but critically panned), “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (2010), and “Season of the Witch” (2011) were released during this period. Although these movies weren’t particularly well-received, they still featured Cage in leading roles and received widespread theatrical distribution.

It’s quite unexpected that “Season of the Witch” wasn’t destined for a direct-to-video release or streaming service, given its caliber. With movies like “Rage”, “Outcast”, “Dying of the Light”, “The Runner”, “Pay the Ghost”, “Dog Eat Dog”, “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage”, and many other low-budget, easily forgettable films that the actor produced between 2014 and 2020, it seems that “Season of the Witch” could have fit right in.

Stream Season of the Witch for free with ads on Tubi.

9) Ghost Rider

It might have been better for Ghost Rider not to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, as the character of Johnny Blaze is one that seems to be better left behind with Nicolas Cage. In fact, the role could have been played by almost any actor. The first film portrayed a gloomy narrative that was characteristic of Marvel movies during that time, but it also seemed to stray too far from series like X-Men and Spider-Man. As a result, Ghost Rider feels more like an awkward outlier from that period, even compared to films like Hulk or Mark Steven Johnson’s other uninspiring superhero movies, Daredevil.

In this movie, the overall acting performance seems rather mediocre, and the action scenes are forgettable except for one – Blaze’s daring climb up a skyscraper, which he leaves behind with fiery tire marks. The music is unremarkable, and there’s an obvious disparity in age between Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes (whose character is meant to be his contemporary). However, the standout aspect of Ghost Rider is Sam Elliott’s performance.

Stream Ghost Rider on AMC.

8) Gone in 60 Seconds

Among the collaborations between Cage and Bruckheimer, such as “The Rock”, “Con Air”, the two “National Treasure” movies, “G-Force”, and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “Gone in 60 Seconds” stands out as a prime example of style over substance. Compared to the car heist movie “The Fast and the Furious” that came out the following year, it seems almost like a work of high art.

In a more conversational style: The Fast and the Furious stands out because it had depth and unity in its performances, making it clear what type of action movie it was. Gone in 60 Seconds, on the other hand, lacked that spark. Despite being well-cast with stars like Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Robert Duvall, Will Patton, Delroy Lindo, Vinnie Jones, and Timothy Olyphant, their roles felt shallow and unremarkable.

Stream Gone in 60 Seconds on AMC+.

7) Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

The movie titled “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” doesn’t surpass the original significantly, yet it does show some improvement. Similar to “Drive Angry,” this film has a distinct B-movie allure that keeps it from being a powerfully impactful superhero flick, but it consistently maintains a unique character.

Instead of the 2007 film “Spirit of Vengeance”, this version of the story aims to allow Nicolas Cage to enjoy portraying Johnny Blaze more. However, it sometimes feels like he’s either half-awake or simply acting as his quirky character throughout the project.

Rent Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance on Amazon Video.

6) National Treasure: Book of Secrets

I find it rather peculiar that we’ve yet to see a third National Treasure movie, considering that National Treasure: Book of Secrets isn’t half-bad in my opinion. Granted, it didn’t quite match the solidity of the first film, which wasn’t exactly highbrow cinema but was still entertaining. Yet, its commercial success was strong enough to keep the franchise alive, making it surprising that we haven’t had a third installment yet.

If there’s anything hindering the “Book of Secrets,” it might be its tendency to follow a similar path as its predecessor. Their tones are remarkably alike, and in terms of storyline, they don’t offer much that sets them apart. Essentially, some of the freshness has faded, but there’s still enough novelty to make it an enjoyable cinematic experience.

Stream National Treasure: Book of Secrets on Disney+.

5) Drive Angry

The film titled “Drive Angry” is actually more whimsical compared to “A Goofy Movie”, and surprisingly, this was exactly the tone it needed. It’s a storyline revolving around a man who breaks free from Hell to save his on-earth daughter from being held captive by a cult.

Similar to other films of his time during Cage’s transition to direct-to-video production, budgetary limitations are evident, and the actor’s energy could be higher. However, it maintains a B-movie charm that keeps it engaging. What truly propels Drive Angry is the captivating antagonist portrayal by William Fichtner as the Accountant of Hell.

Stream Drive Angry on fuboTV.

4) National Treasure

Nicolas Cage thoroughly enjoyed working on the “National Treasure” movies, and it shows. His passion for the project and the character, Benjamin Franklin Gates, is evident. In many ways, Gates can be seen as Cage’s version of Indiana Jones, and his enthusiasm for the role keeps “National Treasure” from sinking, even when it veers towards being overly playful or poorly written.

The film “National Treasure” manages to succeed with Jerry Bruckheimer’s signature style of grandeur. As a PG-rated movie, it is restricted in the intensity of its action scenes, but it effectively makes use of what it has at its disposal. Additionally, it’s always entertaining to watch Sean Bean portray a villainous character.

Stream National Treasure on Disney+.

3) Con Air

A classic ’90s action film that remains thrilling, “Con Air” stands out among high-octane movies. The pace is relentless for its two-hour runtime, with each actor delivering their role brilliantly and more explosions than can be easily counted. What truly sets it apart is the exceptional casting, especially Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich. They both embody their characters flawlessly, understanding that they’re part of a somewhat absurd movie. Yet, they never seem to disrespect the material, even when they crank up the intensity to maximum levels.

Among the three action movies Nicolas Cage made between 1996 and 1997, “Con Air” is considered the least impressive, but this doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie. The playful tone that adds charm to the film also holds it back from reaching greatness as an outstanding piece of cinema. It’s undeniably enjoyable, but not quite a cinematic masterpiece.

Stream Con Air on Hulu.

2) The Rock

It’s tough to choose which of John Cage’s action movies released between 1996 and 1997 stands out the most, as they are quite similar in quality. On one side, “The Rock” is commendable because it marked a departure for Cage, who was mainly known for romantic comedies at that time. This film presented him as the co-lead of a large-scale action flick, a far cry from his roles in films like “Valley Girl,” “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “Raising Arizona,” “Moonstruck,” and “Honeymoon in Vegas.” His closest brush with action was either as a fugitive in “Red Rock West” or as an unstable gangster in “Kiss of Death.

Maybe that’s what makes “The Rock” stand out as a Nicholas Cage action flick: he doesn’t play the typical action hero. Instead, the role of Stanley Goodspeed is more like an awkward, intellectual guy thrust into perilous circumstances. He’s clearly out of his depth and struggling to keep up. By the end of the movie, Goodspeed hasn’t quite found his footing during the action scenes. This role was a great introduction for Cage to the genre and it remains one of his best performances, if not for a high-idea John Woo film in his career portfolio.

Stream The Rock on Hulu.

1) Face/Off

One of the top summer hits from the ’90s, “Face/Off” directed by John Woo, offers a thrilling, action-packed journey that’s skillfully acted. Spanning approximately two and a half hours, some viewers might find the intense violence a bit overwhelming, but its intriguing plot and electrifying performances from Nicolas Cage and John Travolta are sure to captivate nearly everyone.

It’s striking how effectively Face/Off manages to maintain its credibility, despite the face-swapping concept being quite absurd. Yet, it retains a touch of silliness, but the film is self-aware about this and deserves praise. Nicolas Cage, in particular, does an outstanding job, never treating the material as if it’s not worthy of serious consideration. He delivers some memorable facial expressions, yet he convincingly portrays the idea that he is genuinely John Travolta’s Sean Archer, trapped in a situation where he can’t even convince his closest ones that he is indeed the one they love most sincerely.

Stream Face/Off on Paramount+.

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2025-03-25 18:12