Nicolas Cage is a man beyond definition and is an unfathomable force. Let’s review the top 10 best Nicolas Cage movie freak outs.
When is Nicolas Cage too much Nicolas Cage? Well, we’re about to find out with the release of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent – a film in which Nicolas Cage plays Nicolas Cage, and the moment we finally reach the point of Cage singularity.
It’s fair to say there’s no one like Nicolas Cage. A man beyond definition, beyond reason. He’s an unfathomable force. An immovable object. He is pure chaos. And The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent looks to harnesses this build-up of Cage-energy in what could be his finest moment.
Top 10 Nicolas Cage Freak-Outs
But before we reach this event horizon, let’s run through some of the momentous Nicolas Cage movies – and iconic freak-outs – that have led to this moment.
10. GHOST RIDER (2007)
Years after his ill-fated Superman collapsed, Cage finally got to play a superhero with Ghost Rider, a moment that should’ve seen the actor fully off the chain, however, the film woefully misfires, as Cage plays things disappointingly straight.
However, there is one moment that will forever be seared in Nick Cage freak-out folklore – the scene in which Johnny Blaze unleashes Ghost Rider for the first time, complete with flaming head, bulging eyes, and those patented Cage screams.
While it’d be hard to describe it as a better movie, the film’s sequel – Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance – at least embraces the absurdity and lets its star be the best he can possibly be.
9. KICK-ASS (2010)
While his screen time is relatively restricted, Cage’s performance as the unhinged anti-hero Big Daddy remains one of Kick-Ass’ most memorable aspects.
Cage freak-outs are relatively low on the ground here, however, when one does finally arrive, it’s an absolute doozy, as Big Daddy’s death scene turns from disturbing to absurd, and Cage’s weird, manic screaming as he burns alive causes some unintentional chuckles.
8. MOM AND DAD (2017)
This nasty little comedy-horror is one of those latter-day Nicolas Cage gems that needs more respect put on its name. It also happens to be one of the wildest Cage films of the past decade.
As mass hysteria inexplicably strikes parents around the world, causing them to violently turn on their children, dad (Cage) and mom (Selma Blair) are a murderous couple hell bent on filicide. As the bloody events unfold, there’s literally no facial expression or weird speech pattern off-limits in what is a true Cage freak-out for the ages.
7. COLOR OUT OF SPACE (2019)
While this H.P. Lovecraft adaptation is light on plot, it more than makes up for it in eye-catching visuals, icky body horror, and some classic late-era Cage batshittery.
As an unexplainable cosmic entity crash lands on Earth, bringing with it lunacy and technicolor insanity, the film is a true endurance test to see just how much unfiltered Nicolas Cage one can handle.
Color Out of Space is essentially one long Cage meltdown, so your tolerance levels will certainly be put to the test, but if Cage screaming about alpacas, violently tossing tomatoes, and utilizing weird accents are your thing, this is the freak-out for you.
6. MANDY (2018)
Truly one of the highlights of the Nick Cage renaissance, there are no actual words to describe what the hell Mandy is.
Between blasting through enough cocaine to take down an army, having bloody axe battles with demon biker gangs, and booze-fueled toilet meltdowns, Mandy sees the veteran actor operating at peak-crazy at a time when he’d be forgiven for coasting to retirement.
5. MATCHSTICK MEN (2003)
Directed by Ridley Scott, Matchstick Men is legitimately great and hinges on a superb performance from Cage as an obsessive-compulsive conman – a role which lets him lean fully into his naturally scattergun style.
And boy does Cage do that in one of his finest breakdowns. With ticks, erratic outbursts, and weird accents galore, the scene in which Cage’s Roy grows increasingly desperate to renew a prescription is truly a freak-out for the ages.
4. DEADFALL (1993)
Look, there’s no getting away from it. Deadfall is bad. Really bad. Like, 0% on Rotten Tomatoes bad.
Yet it’s also one of the most awe-inspiring performances of Cage’s career, and while the film may be an indecipherable mess, a ridiculous wig, non-stop unintelligible screaming, and frequently inventive deployment of the word “fuck”, make it all at least watchable, proving that a good Nicolas Cage freak-out can polish even the biggest turd.
3. VAMPIRE’S KISS (1989)
Honestly, there are so many bizarre moments in Vampire’s Kiss that would justify its entry onto this list on their own, yet it’s the alphabet scene that takes it to another level entirely.
If proof were ever needed that Nicolas Cage is a true freak-out artist, it’s in this scene. Crafting crazy out of nothing, he literally just recites the alphabet to a colleague, yet does so in such a resplendently unhinged manner that all you can do is sit back and bask in its glory.
2. THE WICKER MAN (2006)
The bees! Not the bees!
Of course, everyone knows about The Wicker Man’s legendary bee freak-out, but there’s so much more insanity here in an otherwise terrible remake of the ‘73 folk-horror classic.
The actor’s antics throughout – which include violently interrogating a little girl about a burnt doll and knocking folk out while dressed as a bear – are absolutely bonkers and, along with the bees, perfectly encapsulate Cage’s special brand of insanity.
1. FACE/OFF (1997)
Many of Nicolas Cage’s most madcap performances tend to appear in his worst films. Then you have Face/Off – a film more than robust enough to contain his uninhibited absurdities.
Peak 90s action excess, Face/Off takes a nonsense plot involving Cage swapping faces with John Travolta for…reasons…then chucks it in the air for both men to shoot at wildly.
Of course, Nicolas Cage ends up stealing the show, and chewing every inch of scenery as he does so, the pinnacle of which is a prison scene that sees him gurn, hoot, holler, and cry through a brawl as he operates at god-tier crazy.
