Nicolas Cagehas had one of the most varied careers in Hollywood, but it’s in the action movie genre that he’s had some of his most acclaimed and memorable roles. With three iconic releases in 1996 alone, includingThe Rock,Con Air, andFace/Off, Cage has made a name for himself as a non-stop worker who’s always willing to embrace even the most outlandish of movie premises. From blockbuster smashes to later lesser-known straight-to-video releases, Cage has become a touchstone in modern popular culture and has achieved cult status among action movie lovers.
While some ofCage’s best movieswere undisputed action classics, there were also some heartbreakingly low points in his long and bloated filmography. Whether he’s portraying a vengeful father, a man who has escaped from hell, or even a future-seeing action hero, Cage has consistently remained totally committed to his roles and brought his unique style and eccentricities to Hollywood’s film landscape. With releases that included truly terrible movies, so-bad-it’s-good films, or beloved classics,Cage’s action movie career has been an undeniable part of the actor’s strange and enigmatic legacy.
Arsenal
Cast
Directed by Steven C. Miller, Arsenal is a 2017 Action and Thriller movie. It was released as direct-to-video and stars Nicolas Cage, Adrian Grenier, John Cusack, and Johnathon Schaech. The plot follows two brothers, one that engages in some unsavory actions and the other that must protect him.
It boggles the mind why Nicolas Cage decided to reprise his role from the 1993 box office flop and critically reviled movieDeadfallfor yet another lackluster film that bordered on offensive in its dullness. InArsenal,Cage played the sleazy mobster Eddie King, a wig-wearing, mustache-clad, prosthetic-nosed caricature whose outrageous nature was a little too on the nose, even for lovers of Cage’s unique acting style.Arsenalwas a painfully mediocre action movie about gangsters and kidnappings that was best avoided altogether.
211
211 is a 2018 action film directed by York Alec Shackleton. It stars Nicolas Cage as Officer Mike Chandler, who, along with a young civilian passenger, finds himself caught in the midst of a violent bank heist. The plot revolves around their efforts to survive the chaos and restore order as heavily armed robbers execute their plan, leading to intense confrontations and a desperate fight for survival.
As just one in a long line of forgettable Nicolas Cage action movies,211followed a police officer and teenager stuck in a bank during a violent shootout and was loosely based on the real 1997 North Hollywood shootout. As a disjointed mix of action movie tropes strung together by an uninspired plot,211was truly the bottom of the barrel regarding Cage’s many direct-to-video releases. With very little going for it,211was a generic heist moviethat totally lacked the unique charm and originality of Cage’s greatest action offerings.
Rage
Rage is a crime thriller directed by Paco Cabezas, starring Nicolas Cage as Paul Maguire, a reformed criminal whose retirement is shattered when his daughter is kidnapped. Determined to find her, Paul revisits his violent past and confronts old enemies. Danny Glover, Rachel Nichols, and Peter Stormare co-star in this intense narrative exploring themes of revenge, redemption, and the consequences of a criminal life.
Disappointedly,Ragenever managed to quite meet the so-bad-its-good criteria of Nicolas Cage action moviesand instead stood as a lackluster kidnapping story. With Cage as a former reformed criminal whose kidnapped daughter forces him to gather his old crew and resume his old habits again, this was a movie done ten times better in thecountlessTakenrip-offsout there. While this kind of violence-filled story of pure vengeance has been a franchise starting in the past, here it was just a forgettable retread of action movie cliches.
Ragewas released under the titleTokarevin most of Europe and Australia.
Outcast
Outcast is an action-drama film set in China during the 12th century, directed by Nick Powell. The story follows two former Crusaders, played by Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen, who become entangled in a conflict to protect a prince and his sister from their evil sibling seeking the throne. The movie blends martial arts elements with themes of redemption and survival in a historical setting.
The American-Chinese-Candian co-productionOutcastpaired Nicolas Cage with Hayden Christensenfor a universally panned period action movie set during the Crusades.Outcastwas slated by critics, with Glenn Kenny ofRogerebert.comrightfully noting that it represented Cage moving out of his “entertainingly eccentric phase” and into his “genuinely befuddling and perhaps sad phase.” This was one best left for Cage-completionists only, as this tale of Chinese Emperors and mysterious warriors failed to connect with anybody and boasts an abysmal 4% critics score onRotten Tomatoes.
Grand Isle
Grand Isle is a thriller directed by Stephen S. Campanelli, starring Nicolas Cage and KaDee Strickland. Set on a storm-lashed island, the film follows a troubled young man who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after seeking refuge at the home of a mysterious couple. As the truth unravels, buried secrets and hidden motives come to light, creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere.
Grand Islesaw Nicolas Cage play a hard-drinking Vietnam veteranhaunted by his past in a depressing story that saw a young man trying to prove his innocence against accusations of murdering Cage’s wife. With a slowly unfolding narrative of sad and sinister characters,Grand Islecontained glimpses of Cage’s unique talents as his dark characterization kept things interesting. Although there was enough intrigue in this neo-noir tale to make this one worth recommending to casual Cage fans, unfortunately, the weak script and structural issues ofGrand Islestop it from achieving greatness.
Primal
Primal is an action thriller directed by Nick Powell, starring Nicolas Cage as Frank Walsh, a big-game hunter who smuggles exotic animals on a cargo ship. The journey spirals into chaos when a dangerous political assassin, also on board, escapes and unleashes the captured creatures. Co-starring Famke Janssen and Kevin Durand, the film combines suspense with dynamic action sequences set aboard the confined maritime vessel.
Primalhad the exact kind of over-the-top concept that makes a great Nicolas Cage action movie, although for how fun it was, it fell short of this honor and was more ofa guilty pleasure in Cage’s filmography. With Cage as Frank Walsh, a big game hunter who caught a 400-pound white jaguar, all hell broke loose when the big cat was shipped on the same vehicle as a skilled assassin who sets the animal free. Like the beast,Primalwas wild and unhinged but lacked the B-movie energy and urgency found in Cage’s best action offerings.
Vengeance: A Love Story
Vengeance: A Love Story is a crime thriller directed by Johnny Martin and starring Nicolas Cage. Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, the film centers on a detective who seeks justice for a single mother brutally assaulted in front of her daughter. Set in a small town, the narrative explores themes of revenge and justice as the detective battles legal and personal obstacles to make the perpetrators pay for their crimes.
Vengeance: A Love Story,adapted from a novel by Joyce Carol Oates, tells the story of a policeman investigating the rape of a single mother who was forced to take the law into his own hands after the attackers were acquitted. WhileVengeancehad a disappointingly formulaic revenge movie structure,the incredible performance of Talitha Batemanas the daughter elevated this film into something more than the sum of its parts. Sadly, Cage never seemed to connect with his role fully and struggled with the film’s slower pace, which, from a performance perspective, made it one of his weaker works.
Bangkok Dangerous
Bangkok Dangerous is a 2008 action film directed by the Pang Brothers and stars Nicolas Cage as Joe, a hitman on an assignment in Bangkok. Joe’s life takes an unexpected turn when he forms emotional bonds with a local woman and a street punk, challenging his solitary existence and professional detachment. The film explores themes of isolation, redemption, and the moral complexities of a life of crime.
Bangkok Dangerouswas a remake of the Pang brothers' own 1999 Thai film that cast Nicolas Cage as a professional contract killer who was forced to violate his personal code for the good of those he loves. While it may not have a profoundly complex storyline, for those looking for solid action-movie fun and a long-haired Cage shooting his way through Bangkok, it more than delivered.Cage also acted as a producer on this American remakethat walked the fun line between entertainment and pure ridiculousness.
Dog Eat Dog
Dog Eat Dog is a crime drama directed by Paul Schrader, featuring Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe. The film revolves around three ex-convicts hired by a mob boss for a kidnapping job that spirals out of control. Set against a gritty backdrop, Dog Eat Dog explores themes of criminality and moral ambiguity, offering a raw portrayal of characters entrapped by a life of crime.
Dog Eat Dogwas worth watching just to see two of the most interesting actors in Hollywood, Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe, sharing the screen together.From the acclaimed director Paul Schrader,Dog Eat Dogdoesn’t quite live up to his best work, such as the screenplays forTaxi DriverandRaging Bull, yet its thrilling story of three ex-cons holding a kidnapped baby for ransom remained engaging and witty throughout. With plenty of talented people involved,Dog Eat Doghad great chemistry, a farcical story, and a strong sense of humor.
Stolen
Stolen follows the story of a family grappling with the disappearance of their young child. The series, anchored by nuanced performances and a gripping narrative, delves into the psychological and emotional turmoil experienced by the family while navigating the complexities of the legal system and the media spotlight.
It’s a tale as old as time;a former thief has 12 hours to track down $10 million dollars and save his daughterfrom imminent danger inStolen. Although itbombed at the box officewhen it was first released, looking back onStolen, it was a high-octane thriller that kept intensity going throughout in a classic race-against-the-clock style story. There’s nothing much deeper than that inStolen, but everything came together incredibly well, and, in typical Cage fashion, he gave his all to a script that a lesser actor would have phoned in.
