The greatest artist of our time Nicolas Cage simply will not stop. Recently he was asked if he would retire after such a long and beautiful career (100+ movies). His response “‘That Can’t Happen…I Need It. I’m healthier when I’m working, I need a positive place to express my life experience, and filmmaking has given me that. So I’m never going to retire’
An absolute legend, and in his honor, I will be ranking his movies in order from my favorite to least favorite. I don’t say best to worse because that is subjective and everyone should be entitled to judge a movie for by what you like. Screw others opinions (like the Boss Luke who thinks Cinderella (2021) rocks when everyone else thinks it stinks) and take my rankings for what they are – an appreciation of a once in a generation talent who has devoted his life to bringing joy to a screen near you.
Over the next year (maybe more we’ll see how bored I am and how many movies I can crank through) I’ll be chipping away at his movies and adding to the list where I believe necessary. For now, here is my ranking.
Rank | Year | Title | Role |
1 | 2004 | National Treasure | Benjamin Franklin Gates |
2 | 2007 | National Treasure: Book of Secrets | Benjamin Franklin Gates |
3 | 1997 | Con Air | Cameron Poe |
4 | 2005 | Lord of War | Yuri Orlov |
5 | 2000 | Gone in 60 Seconds | Memphis Raines |
6 | 2010 | The Sorcerer’s Apprentice | Balthazar |
7 | 2000 | The Family Man | Jack Campbell |
8 | 2016 | USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage | Captain McVay |
9 | 2007 | Next | Cris Johnson |
10 | 2018 | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | Peter Parker / Spider-Man Noir |
11 | 2016 | Snowden | Hank Forrester |
12 | 2008 | Bangkok Dangerous | Joe |
13 | 2007 | Ghost Rider | Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider |
14 | 2003 | Matchstick Men | Roy Waller |
15 | 2006 | The Wicker Man | Edward Malus |
16 | 2005 | The Weather Man | David Spritz |
17 | 2016 | The Trust | Stone |
18 | 2011 | Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance | Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider |
19 | 2006 | World Trade Center | John McLoughlin |
20 | 2015 | Pay the Ghost | Mike Lawford |
21 | 2001 | Christmas Carol: The Movie | Jacob Marley |
22 | 2009 | Knowing | John Koestler |