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Few actors command the screen with the same intensity as Nicolas Cage. From his breakout roles in 1983's Valley Girl and 1987’s Moonstruck, Cage has consistently brought a fearless energy to his performances. Whether it’s his over-the-top portrayal of Castor Troy in 1997's Face/Off or his deeply moving turn in 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, Cage’s versatility is unmatched.
For those eager to witness Cage’s full dedication to his craft, here are 10 of his films you can stream right now.
1. Leaving Las Vegas (1996)
Cage earned an Academy Award for his role as Ben Sanderson, a troubled alcoholic who moves to Las Vegas to embrace his self-destructive fate. There, he encounters Sera (Elisabeth Shue), who attempts to guide him toward a different path. Remarkably, the entire film was completed in just 28 days.
Watch It: Amazon Prime
2. Lord of War (2005)
In this incisive critique of the arms trade, Cage plays a cunning weapons dealer. Director Andrew Niccol revealed that obtaining real firearms for the movie was simpler than sourcing prop guns, highlighting the unsettling reality of the industry.
Watch It: HBO Max
3. Pig (2021)
Cage delivers one of his most praised performances as a former renowned chef who isolates himself in the Oregon wilderness. When his treasured truffle pig is taken, he reenters the society he once abandoned. Cage shared that he visited Portland restaurants in his blood-stained outfit, and no one batted an eye.
Watch It: Hulu
4. The Frozen Ground (2013)
Cage takes on a grounded role as an Alaska state trooper pursuing serial killer Robert Hansen (John Cusack) in this chilling true-story thriller. Hansen, who died in prison in 2014, exhibited disturbing tendencies early in life, such as burning down a school bus garage at 21 after reportedly facing rejection in high school.
Watch It: Paramount+
5. Willy’s Wonderland (2021)
Cage finds himself in a scenario reminiscent of Five Nights at Freddy’s in this indie film. Playing a silent, unnamed wanderer, Cage takes on a job to clean a run-down family entertainment center, only to discover its animatronic characters have turned deadly. To make it through the night, he must fend off menacing figures like Willy the Weasel and Ozzy the Ostrich. (Screenwriter G.O. Parsons wrote a single line for Cage’s character in the final showdown: “Come at me, bro.” Cage chose not to deliver it.)
Watch It: Hulu
6. Face/Off (1997)
Cage and John Travolta lead this high-octane action thriller, where a detective and a criminal swap faces through a sci-fi twist, intensifying their already fierce rivalry. Director John Woo, despite the heavy use of firearms in his movies, has admitted he’s never fired a gun himself.
Watch It: Amazon Prime
7. Adaptation (2002)
Cage takes on two roles in this eccentric Charlie Kaufman tale about a screenwriter struggling to adapt Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief (a real book) while battling personal insecurities and his twin brother’s influence. Orlean was initially resistant to the unconventional adaptation but eventually embraced it. Meryl Streep portrays Orlean in the film.
Watch It: Hulu
8. National Treasure (2004)
Cage embraces a family-friendly role as Benjamin Franklin Gates, a treasure hunter who uncovers a hidden map on the back of the Declaration of Independence, pointing to a massive fortune amassed by the Freemasons. Director Jon Turteltaub and Cage share a long history, having been classmates at Beverly Hills High. The 2007 follow-up, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, is also available on Disney+.
Watch It: Disney+
9. Drive Angry (2011)
Cage dives into the revenge genre with this high-octane film about a man who breaks out of Hell to seek justice for his daughter’s murder. The movie was initially released in 3D.
Watch It: Hulu
10. Kick-Ass (2010)
Cage appears in this adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic as Big Daddy, a father training his daughter, Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz), to become a superhero. Cage revealed that he based Big Daddy’s voice on Adam West’s iconic portrayal of Batman from the 1960s TV series.
Watch It: HBO Max
