Nicolas Cageis one of the most impressive and prolific figures in Hollywood history. So, when a man has made as many movies as Cage (i.e. alotof movies), there’s bound to be a comic book adaptation or two. Or, in Cage’s case, eight. And, given his mainstream resurgence withRenfield(which gained attention but not dollars), it stands to reason the actor could star in even more down the line.
His comic book adaptations released thus far weren’t all made with equal care (even if Cage, true to form, consistently gives his all) and they certainly didn’t receive universally positive marks from critics and audience members, but even the low points have their fans. These are the comics adaptations starring Nicolas Cage. Should they all be watched? Probably not, unless one is a Cage completist, but some of these films manage to rank among the best of the actor’s entire filmography.
8Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Based on a little-known 2017 comic book of the same name, the genre blendingJiu Jitsuis an easy “win” for worst Nicolas Cage comic book movie. That said, at least it features performances from Frank Grillo, Rick Yune, and Tony Jaa.
The plot is pretty much in line with Cage’s direct-to-video and direct-to-streaming era. Specifically, it follows a group of ancient warriors charged with the task of staving off an alien invasion. In other words, it’s the type of film that needed a substantial budget, and it didn’t have one.
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7Ghost Rider (2007)
Cage went onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbertand rattled offhis five favorite filmsof which he’s been a part. NeitherGhost Riderfilm was one of them. It’s actually pretty easy to see what Mark Steven Johnson wasgoing for with the firstGhost Rider. After all, he’d just done attempted to do the same withDaredevil. That said, when the strategy is to mimic the best traits of more effective films e.g.X-MenandSpider-Man, a case of diminished returns is the best case scenario.
The worst case scenario is the utterly soullessGhost Rider, which has exactly one cool shot (the Rider descending a massive building on his flaming motorcycle) and nothing else. Even Cage seems bored out of his mind, blatantly recognizing the 2007 film as the lazy cash grab it is, not his big leading man superhero project (which, really, it was).Ghost Rider’s problems are innumerable, but the most surprising problem is Cage himself. Not because his performance is of poor quality, but because he’s miscast as Johnny Blaze, at least in terms of what the first film was going for. In the second? Not so much a miscast.
6Astro Boy (2009)
Given how poorly 2009’sAstro Boydid in theaters, it’s not all that surprising theonce-floated live action movienever came to fruition. The film failed to even recoup its modest $65 million budget (not high for an animated film featuring names like Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, Samuel L. ackson, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy, Charlize Theron, and Cage).
In fact, the film even led to the shutdown of Imagi Animation Studios. But that’s not to say the film is even of objectively poor quality; It isn’t, it just falls more in line with being predictable and forgettable. But the moments between Cage’s creator/father Dr. Tenma and his creation/son Astro (Highmore) are tender and come across as organic. At the very least,Astro Boymakes a good companion piece on double feature night with something likeMonsters vs. Aliens,G-Force(also starring Cage), or 2014’s sublimeBig Hero 6.
5Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
IsGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeancea good film? Absolutely not, it’s just about as broken as the first one. But, at least it has an R rating, which is anabsolute necessity for the character. It also lets Cage be Cage, as if the filmmakers (Gamer’s Neveldine and Taylor) knew that he was an asset, whereas Johnson did not.
Even still, Cage seems to know he’s in a bad movie, as when he’s not screaming directly into the camera he’s sullenly moaning in the direction of some sand or a rock. Even still, there are things that work about the film. For one, Idris Elba is in it in fits and starts. Two, Johnny Whitworth and Ciarán Hinds make infinitely better villains than the original film’s slumming-it-and-knowing-it Peter Fonda or Wes Bentley ofYellowstonefame. But, mostly, it’s just good that the film goes for an R rating instead of the truncated mess that was the original film.Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeancewas the way to do things the first time out of the gate, particularly in terms of modest budgeting and embrace of the absurd. Had the franchise started out withSpirit of Vengeance, it stands to reason there’d be four or five similarly-budgetedGhost Ridermovies for audiences to binge. They may even star Cage, but with or without him, it stands to further reason the fourth and fifth installments would be going directly to Redbox kiosks.
4Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018)
Before Nicolas Cage wasstarring as a fictional version of himselfinThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, he was poking a bit of fun at one of his past’s greatest missed opportunities inTeen Titans Go! To the Movies. Specifically, the aforementioned Kevin Smith-penned, Tim Burton-directedSuperman Lives.
That said, inTeen Titans Go! To the Movieshe’s not exactly fighting a giant mechanicalWild Wild West-style spider (as was intended for that canceled film’s climax), or even clashing with Jimmy Kimmel’s Batman. It’s more of a cameo where he spouts paternal advice to the young Titans. Save for one it’s the smallest role Cage has had in a superhero film, but that’s not to say he doesn’t make an impression.
3The Flash (2023)
The Flashis going to go down in cinema history as noteworthy, but certainly not in the way anyone involved had intended. Not only is the film one of the decade’s biggest flops or one of thebiggest superhero movie flops, it’s one of the biggest box office bombs, period.
As a film, though, it’s more average than disastrous. Almost as if it’s out of its own time (which, given the delays, it very much is). Even the fact thatMichael Keaton came back as Batmanfeels more like a “Who cares?” than a “Finally!” When the overarching franchise is already dead, even fans of it are bound to shrug when an installment comes outafterit’s already been announced the whole IP is starting basically from scratch. Even had the problematic Ezra Miller not fronted the film, it would have come across as unnecessary, and it seems no amount of fan wish fulfillment can save a project released too late. So, in the end,The Flashhas to settle for being the diametric opposite ofSpider-Man: No Way Home.
2Kick-Ass (2010)
If it weren’t for one other, Matthew Vaughn’s (Kingsman: The Secret Serviceand its two weak follow-ups)Kick-Asswould be Cage’s best film based on a pre-existing superhero IP, hands down. Everything about the film runs like clockwork, and it’s allowed to do so not just via Vaughn’s airtight direction but also from the tone, the intelligent script, and the perfectly-cast group of stars.
On the latter front, the biggest of the film’s gets was undoubtedly Chloë Grace Mortez, whose foul-mouthed butt-kicker Hit-Girl became a cult favorite overnight (for those not already familiar with the source material). Then there’s Aaron Taylor-Johnson, playing a far different (and far less competent) “super” hero than hisKraven the Hunter. And Christopher Mintz-Plasse, shedding his McLovin skin to play a character far more cruel but equally put-upon: Red Mist. Yet, the most interesting dynamic of the film isn’t the friendship turned sour dynamic between Kick-Ass and Red Mist, but rather the outlandish father-daughter dynamic of Hit-Girl and the suitably named Big Daddy. And, as could be expected of Cage in a role where he’s training his 12-year-old daughter to shoot guns, fire off bazookas, and slit throats, the actor has an absolute field day.
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1Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
It’s no small feat for 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseto have been called quite possibly the best installment of its franchise released up to that point (the same of which could be said about 2023’sSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse). Among its many achievements is the best use of Cage in years.
Cage portrays one of the many variants to Miles Morales and Peter Parkers Spider-Men, called Spider-Man Noir (who isgetting a live-action Amazon series). Outside of Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Woman, John Mulaney’s Spider-Ham, and, of course, Shameik Moore’s Miles Morales, Cage’s Spider-Man Noir is the best Spidey of the film. It’s hard for thatnotto be the case when it’s so glaringly obvious that Cage is having the absolute time of his life in the role.
