Nicolas Cage has garnered a reputation as an over-the-top and sometimes hammy actor. The films in his catalog have spanned from huge blockbusters to independent films and there are very few types of films that Cage hasn't appeared in.
Though he has shown much range as an actor, some of his best works have been overshadowed by Cage's more eccentric performances. From surreal dramas like Wild at Heart to war epics like Windtalkers, Nic Cage's filmography is stuffed with overlooked classics.
Wild At Heart (1990)
Though one of the lesser-known gems in The Wizard of Oz with Lynch's own unique style for an interesting mixture.
Cage's performance, opposite co-star Laura Dern, saw him embody a tough character and do it convincingly. Cage's own unique style of acting blended well with the eccentric nature of the film and he made the absurd premise believable.
Vampire's Kiss (1989)
Some films show off Cage's subtlety, while others allow him to go over-the-top and audiences usually enjoy the ride. Vampire's Kiss sees Cage as a young businessman whose obsession with money is slowly driving him mad. He has a strange encounter with a woman and begins to believe that he has been turned into a vampire.
Vampire's Kiss was one of the first instances in Cage's career that he was able to play his part big. As Peter Loew, Cage exhibited many of the acting staples that he would be known for and he set the bar high for his future hammy performances. Though the film was not well-received upon its release, it has garnered a cult following in the years since.
Rumble Fish (1983)
Sometimes, films of a similar style can overshadow one another and it can cause a film to become a hidden gem. Director Francis Ford Coppola's classic film Rumble Fish tells the story of a young man who attempts to live up to the legacy of his ex-gang member brother.
A young Nic Cage isn't given much to do in one of his earliest roles, but the film still stands strong with an all-star cast. Coming on the heels of Coppola's The Outsiders, Rumble Fish was largely overshadowed by its more successful predecessor. Despite this, the film soars with an avant-garde visual style that carries throughout.
Moonstruck (1987)
After breaking out through quirkier roles, Moonstruck gave a young Nicolas Cage the chance to show that he was romantic lead material. The film follows a woman who is distraught to find that she is falling in love with the brother of the man she is supposed to marry.
In one of the best acting performances by a musician, Cher deftly shares the screen with her co-star, Cage. The young actor showed that he could not only handle the comedic aspects of the film, but the romantic as well and he gives a strong performance. Though the film was well-received, it isn't as well-ed as some of Cage's more eccentric outings.
Red Rock West (1993)
Though Cage is usually the over-the-top actor, Dennis Hopper's memorable performance in Red Rock West was the highlight of the film. The story follows a young man who drifts into a small town and is believed to be a hired assassin. Complications arise when the actual assassin arrives in town and wants to eliminate the young man.
The classic Neo-noir thriller allowed Cage to flex his muscles as an action hero and he proved that he could fit the role nicely. Playing off of the eccentric Dennis Hopper, Cage's performance was perfectly understated considering the subject matter.
Windtalkers (2002)
Though dozens of films have been made about WWII, few focused on such specific events as Windtalkers. The film follows a pair of marines who are tasked with protecting a group of Navajo soldiers who use their native language as code which is undecipherable to the enemy.
Playing off of director John Woo's signature style of over-the-top action, the film is filled with an appropriate amount of cheesiness. Though it doesn't necessarily do its subject matter much justice, it is an exciting action film and Cage delivers the perfect performance for the film.
Adaptation (2002)
Writer-director Charlie Kaufman's greatest films take a simple concept and expound upon them with a healthy dose of existential philosophy. Adaption follows a fictionalized version of Kaufman as he struggles to adapt a book into a screenplay.
Cage, in one of the best performances of his career, plays both Kaufman and his fictional twin brother as he struggles with his own mental block. The film blends elements of fiction and non-fiction together until it leaves the viewer questioning what, if any, of the story was true.
Pig (2021)
Of late, the films of Nicolas Cage have taken a turn for the absurd and more often than not, Cage is playing a caricature of himself on screen. However, Pig was an opportunity for Cage to show his range and he excelled. The film follows a solitary man who must go to nearby Portland Oregon in an attempt to find his stolen truffle pig.
Though the film could have easily delved into absurd territory, Pig is a thoughtful drama and Cage's unique performance fits perfectly with the film. He is given the opportunity to be both mysterious and menacing while also maintaining an air of loneliness as well. The film showed that Cage as an actor was so much more than his sillier roles.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
In one of the saddest movies of his career, Cage is also given a chance to strut his stuff as a legitimate dramatic actor. Leaving Las Vegas follows a Hollywood screenwriter who has lost his career to alcoholism. Resigned to drink himself to death in Las Vegas, the writer befriends a woman who agrees to not interfere in his life.
Though well-received critically, Leaving Las Vegas' dour philosophy left many viewers cold. However, Nicolas Cage's brilliant performances helps to elevate the dark material and he showed that he could handle any type of role given to him. Perhaps not as fun as many of Cage's classic films, Leaving Las Vegas was a well-written gem with strong characters.
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Films about time travel are numerous but Peggy Sue Got Married took a unique approach to the concept. The film follows a depressed woman who attends her high school reunion only to faint and find herself back during her senior year of high school.
The film asked interesting questions about fate, love, and happiness while also delivering a fun and compelling story. A young Nic Cage is phenomenal as Peggy Sue's high school sweetheart Charlie, and he plays the part with an appropriate boyishness. Seen through the lens of nostalgia, Cage's performance gives the character an air of unreality that matches the magical realism of the story.
