Nicolas Cage’s career trajectory is one of the most fascinating in film history. After breaking out in a series of films directed by his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, Cage became one of the most ambitious dramatic actors of his generation, even winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his heartbreaking performance in Leaving Las Vegas. Cage spent many years starring in blockbuster action films like The Rock and Face/Off, but the quality of his output began to go downhill after a series of disastrous projects that were heavily ridiculed. Although he became most closely associated with over-the-top moments of overacting, Cage delivered a beautifully intimate performance in the 2021 drama Pig by director Michael Sarnoski.