Although it may seem like straight-to-video movies signaled a low point in the career of Nicolas Cage, upon closer inspection they included some of the actor’s best roles in recent years. While Cage began his career in the 1980s and by the 1990s became an Oscar-winning actor and one of the biggest action stars in the world, in the years since, he’s also taken up many lower-budget, lesser-known, straight-to-video movies. However, this shift toward more lowkey productions did not come at the expense of good performances, as Cage continued to give his all to every role he played.
Every Nicolas Cage movie has something unique to offer, as he’s a performer who never phones it in and always tries to find a unique way to portray his characters. Although some of his direct-to-video action movies were full of genre tropes and cliches, they were usually still fun-filled spectacles that kept viewers enthralled throughout. Some of Cage’s VOD movies even constituted his very best roles, as he pushed her persona even further and shocked audiences with the intensity of his parts in satirical black comedies and disturbing psychedelic horrors.
10 Arsenal (2017)
Nicolas Cage as Eddie King
The direct-to-video action thriller Arsenal featured Nicolas Cage as the mustache-clad, wig-wearing sleazeball mobster, Eddie King, who demanded $350,000 to free the kidnapped brother of the movie’s hero, JP Lindel (Adrian Grenier.) While Arsenal was slated by critics who called it one of Cage’s worst instances of overacting, those looking for an enjoyable, albeit generic, action movie with an over-the-top performance should look no further. Although it’s that Arsenal, which was also released under the title Southern Fury, was packed with tropes and cliches, it was also a lot of fun.
Cage brought his typical manic energy to Arsenal, and although he only had a supporting role, he truly stole every scene that he was in. With John Cusack also appearing in the supporting role as the detective Sal, Arsenal featured just enough star power to spark the interests of viewers who may not otherwise check out Cage’s lesser-known VOD work. Arsenal won’t break down any cinematic boundaries, but as a mindless action movie spectacle, it more than delivered.
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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.
Director Steven C. Miller Release Date January 6, 2017 Studio(s) Lionsgate Distributor(s) Lionsgate Writers Jason Mosberg Cast Nicolas Cage , Tyler Jon Olson , Heather Johansen , John Cusack , Abbie Gayle , Lydia Hull , Adrian Grenier , William Mark McCullough , Johnathon Schaech , Christopher Coppola , Carrie Jo Hubrich Runtime 97minutes Expand
9 USS Indianapolis: Men Of Courage (2016)
Nicolas Cage as Captain Charles B. McVay III
Nicolas Cage brought his unique energy into the true story of a sunken ship during the closing stage of the Second World War in USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. As one of the best naval war movies, this story depicted the greatest loss of life from a single ship in U.S. naval history, with more than 800 fatalities and just over 300 survivors (via CBS.) Although the special effects left a lot to be desired, USS Indianapolis was a highly ambitious project considering the limited budgets of straight-to-video movies.
The true story of USS Indianapolis was a harrowing moment in WWII history, and Cage did an excellent job of imbuing Captain Charles McVay with a real sense of humanity. While the film may have leaned too heavily into disaster movie tropes, it was still a compelling look at a lesser-known moment in U.S. naval history. If the fictional elements and unnecessary romantic subplots were removed and USS Indianapolis was more streamlined, then it could have been a truly great film.
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USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage is a historical drama film directed by Mario Van Peebles, starring Nicolas Cage as Captain Charles McVay. The film recounts the harrowing true story of the USS Indianapolis crew after their ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during World War II. Stranded in shark-infested waters, the survivors face the daunting struggle for survival while awaiting rescue.
Director Mario Van Peebles Release Date October 14, 2016 Writers Cam Cannon , Richard Rionda Del Castro Cast Nicolas Cage , Tom Sizemore , Thomas Jane , Matt Lanter , James Remar , Brian Presley , Yutaka Takeuchi , Johnny Wactor Runtime 128 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
8 Army Of One (2016)
Nicolas Cage as Gary Brooks Faulkner
If Army of One had not been based on a true story, viewers would likely have criticized it as being totally unbelievable. With Nicolas Cage in the lead role as Gary Brooks Faulker, Army of One told the story of a man who believed he was on a God-sent mission to capture Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. With Russell Brand as God and Cage as a troubled unemployed handyman, this outrageous story became a compelling catalog of belief, faith, and finding one’s life purpose.
Although Nicolas Cage has primarily made a name for himself in action movies and unusual psychological films, Army of One highlighted his skill as a comedic performer. With a willingness to fully commit to his roles, Cage helped humanize Faulkner and allowed audiences to get into the mind of a man determined to single-handedly take on the Al-Qaeda founder. Faulkner was a truly difficult role for an actor to pull off, and although Army of One had its issues, Cage was both fascinating and funny throughout.
7 Running With The Devil (2019)
Nicolas Cage as The Cook
With the dynamic duo of Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishbourne at the helm, Running with the Devil was a crime thriller that never got enough love. With Cage as The Cook and Fishbourne as The Man, this story of two men on a mission to track the supply train of cocaine shipments and identify at what point they were being hijacked and overtaken. As a behind-the-scenes look at the illicit world of drug trafficking, Running with the Devil recaptured the energy of earlier Cage classics like Lord of War.
Watching Cage traverse worlds of greed, betrayal, and extreme danger in environments where loyalty is rare and life is cheap was always a treat.
With strong characters and an engaging story, Running with the Devil highlights the unethical ways that cocaine was sourced and the criminal behavior that takes place before it eventually finds its way to the West. Watching Cage traverse worlds of greed, betrayal, and extreme danger in environments where loyalty is rare and life is cheap was always a treat. Running with the Devil may not reach the heights of Cage’s best theatrical crime movies, but for a VOD release, it made for enjoyable viewing.
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Running with the Devil is a crime thriller directed by Jason Cabell, featuring Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne. The film follows a meticulous investigation into a cocaine trafficking operation after a devastating loss in product. Government agents and cartel enforcers converge on the case, exposing the intricate and dangerous world of drug trafficking.
Director Jason Cabell Release Date August 29, 2019 Studio(s) Patriot Pictures , Jaguar Bite , Saturn Films Writers Jason Cabell Cast Nicolas Cage , Leslie Bibb , Peter Facinelli , Cole Hauser , Laurence Fishburne Runtime 100 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
6 A Score To Settle (2019)
Nicolas Cage as Frank Carver
Nicolas Cage has been no stranger to revenge movies these days, as his role in A Score to Settle certainly proved. This thriller saw Cage playing a former gangster who took the fall for a crime he didn’t commit in return for $450,000 and the promise that his son Joey would be looked after. However, what was supposed to be six years in jail turned into a life sentence, and after 19 years incarcerated, he’s determined to make up for lost time and settle old scores.
With Cage at the helm, the bland and pulpy material of A Score to Settle was elevated to truly impressive levels, as his strong characterization of Frank Carver made for riveting viewing. With over-the-top violence and a sentimental father-son relationship at its core, A Score to Settle knew that for an action movie to work on an emotional level, there needs to be some vulnerability at its core. While there were some pacing issues throughout, when A Score to Settle was at its best, it was a truly compelling movie.
5 The Trust (2016)
Nicolas Cage as Lieutenant Jim Stone
Although The Trust won’t go down in history as an all-time heist movie classic, it was a surprisingly entertaining video-on-demand release that featured strong performances from Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood. As two police officers working in the Evidence Management unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, workplace ennui and money troubles led them to investigate a mystery bank vault that could solve their financial woes. With a surprisingly funny performance from Cage, the chemistry between him and Wood made this one of his better late-career action movies.
The Trust stood out among Cage’s VOD filmography as it had a compelling story, good pacing, and a stellar soundtrack that all complemented each other perfectly. Although the ending may be its weakest spot, The Trust was an enjoyable film packed with twists and turns throughout. While The Trust started off as a goofy subversion of neo-noir tropes, as it progressed, it became continually darker and even echoed aspects of Cage’s very best roles, such as in Werner Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans from 2009.
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Director Alex Brewer , Ben Brewer Release Date April 14, 2016 Cast Nicolas Cage , Elijah Wood , Sky Ferreira , Jerry Lewis , Kevin Weisman , Steven Williams Runtime 93 Minutes
4 The Frozen Ground (2013)
Nicolas Cage as Jack Halcombe
The Frozen Ground was a thriller based on the crimes of real-life Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen that featured Nicolas Cage as the state trooper Jack Halcombe. With a star-studded cast that also included John Cusack, Vanessa Hudgens, and 50 Cent, contemporary reviews criticized its predictable by-the-numbers procedural nature while praising Cage’s extraordinary performance. While The Frozen Ground did little to set itself apart from other serial killer-based thrillers, it was so well executed and featured such strong performances that it’s hard not to be swept up by its narrative.
Although Cage’s performance was a high point of The Frozen Ground, Cusack also deserved praise for his chilling portrayal of Hansen and the believable way he depicted this upstanding community member turned terrifying serial killer. With slow-building tensity and a somber atmosphere, The Frozen Ground was an impressively assured video-on-demand film that may surprise viewers with its effectiveness. While Cage was known for often going overboard in his characterizations, his subtle performance here showcased a different side to his skillset.
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The Frozen Ground is a crime thriller film based on the true story of the hunt for serial killer Robert Hansen. The film, directed by Scott Walker, stars Nicolas Cage as Jack Halcombe, an Alaskan State Trooper, and John Cusack as Hansen, who abducted and murdered numerous women in the 1970s and 1980s.
Director Scott Walker Release Date July 11, 2013 Studio(s) Picture Perfect Corporation , Grindstone Entertainment Group , EFO Films , Cheetah Vision , Court Five , Valentina Films , K5 International , Paradox Entertainment , Envision Entertainment , Lionsgate , Voltage Pictures , Knightsbridge Entertainment Writers Scott Walker Cast Nicolas Cage , Vanessa Hudgens , John Cusack , Radha Mitchell , Jodi Lyn O’Keefe Runtime 105 Minutes Budget 27220000.0 Main Genre Thriller Expand
3 Willy’s Wonderland (2021)
Nicolas Cage as the Janitor
Willy’s Wonderland wasn’t originally intended as a direct-to-video movie, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its worldwide theatrical release (via Forbes). Instead, Willy’s Wonderland, which told the story of a carnival janitor surviving against deathly waves of demonic animatronics, received a simultaneous limited theatrical and VOD release. This haphazard schedule meant the film sadly flew under the radar because it was truly one of Cage’s most interesting and over the top of all his VOD movies.
With Cage himself as a producer on the film, it’s clear he was having a ball fighting against these murderous creatures.
With a firm commitment to its plot around the carnival animatronics coming to life, Willy’s Wonderland featured a non-stop assault of mechanical foes as Cage fought his way through the continual onslaught. Although the concept lent itself to some tongue-in-cheek campy humor, Willy’s Wonderland played everything completely straight, giving the film an intense and eerie atmosphere. With Cage himself as a producer on the film, it’s clear he was having a ball fighting against these murderous creatures who were possessed by the souls of cannibalistic killers.
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Willy’s Wonderland is a 2021 horror film starring Nicolas Cage. Cage plays The Janitor, who is tasked with cleaning up Willy’s Wonderland. What seems like a relatively easy job becomes a nightmare when the animatronic animals become possessed and attack the Janitor. Kevin Lewis directed the film, which got mixed reviews upon release.
Director Kevin Lewis Release Date February 12, 2021 Writers Kevin Lewis Cast Nicolas Cage Runtime 97minutes Budget $5 million Expand
2 Mom And Dad (2017)
Nicolas Cage as Brent Ryan
Mom and Dad was a thrilling black comedy that showcased Nicolas Cage’s talent for embodying the darkest secrets buried beneath the surface of everyday life. As a depiction of a town overtaken by mass hysteria that led to parents trying to kill their own children, Cage played the weary father, Brent Ryan, while Selma Blair was the murderous mother. This dark story gave Cage a chance to truly let loose and showcase why he’s gained such a strong reputation for playing unhinged and deranged characters.
Mom and Dad harkened back to past exploitation horror movies, as its strong concept and over-the-top nature kept viewers on the edge of their seats. As a knowing and tongue-in-cheek exploration of the woes of responsibility and the desire to break free from child-rearing constraints, Mom and Dad hilariously unpacked parenthood through effective gore. Mom and Dad were both clever and shocking, and although it did have a limited theatrical run, it bombed at the box office and gained most of its viewers as a VOD release.
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Mom and Dad is a 2018 horror-comedy film directed by Brian Taylor. The story centers on a teenage girl and her younger brother who must survive 24 hours when a mass hysteria of unknown origin causes parents to violently turn against their own children. Starring Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair, the film explores themes of parental pressure and generational tensions.
Director Brian Taylor Release Date January 19, 2018 Writers Brian Taylor Cast Nicolas Cage , Lance Henriksen , Anne Winters , Selma Blair , Zackary Arthur Runtime 86 minutes Budget $7 million Expand
1 Mandy (2018)
Nicolas Cage as Red Miller
Nicolas Cage delivered one of the very best performances of his career in the psychedelic horror Mandy, a movie that received some brief advanced theatrical screeners before being released on VOD (via Slash Film.) With Cage was the lumberjack Red Miller, a man whose secluded life in the forest was destroyed after a hippie cult murdered his girlfriend, all hell broke loose as he embarked on a surreal mission of revenge and vengeance. Mandy pushed the boundaries of even Cage’s outrageous style and was some of the most unhinged acting in his varied career.
Mandy was a movie packed with intense emotion as Cage delivered a truly gutwrenching performance as a broken man with nothing left to lose. With eerie and surrealist elements, Mandy was not for the faint of heart and represented a true high point in Cage’s VOD career and proved that even after several decades in Hollywood he still had the power to shock and surprise viewers. Mandy was both terrifying and beautiful and signaled a high point in the latter part of Nicolas Cage’s wildly varied and acclaimed career.
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2018’s Mandy is a Horror and Action film starring Nicholas Cage. Written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, Cage plays a recovering alcoholic that lives a solitary life with his girlfriend who ends up kidnapped by a mysterious cult. The remainder of the film sees Cage embarking on a bloody quest for revenge.
Director Panos Cosmatos Release Date September 14, 2018 Writers Aaron Stewart-Ahn , Panos Cosmatos Cast Andrea Riseborough , Bill Duke , Linus Roache , Nicolas Cage , Richard Brake Runtime 121 Minutes Budget $6million Main Genre Horror Expand
Source: CBS, Forbes, Slash Film