There are many things in this world that shouldn’t be true. One of the more frivolous examples of this is that Nicolas Cage only has two acting Oscar nominations to his name. The man responsible for so many iconic performances over the course of five decades now has only been nominated for “Leaving Las Vegas” (1995) and “Adaptation” (2002), the former of which also gave him an Oscar victory. With the highly anticipated Maika Monroe/Cage horror film “Longlegs” hitting theaters, it’s time to look back on the Cage performances that never received their Oscar due. What performances could have been nominated and should’ve been?
In hindsight, it’s shocking that Cage couldn’t ride his work in the delightful comedy “Moonstruck” to an Oscar nomination. After all, that 1980s classic was an Academy darling, scoring six nominations in categories, ranging from Best Picture to Best Director to three acting categories. Being the second-billed lead of the film, one would think the rising tide of love for that feature would’ve included Cage. However, save for a Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) nomination at the Golden Globes, Cage didn’t score any major award show nominations for “Moonstruck,” let alone an Oscar nomination. This is particularly surprising in hindsight given the film’s widespread critical acclaim and commercial success at the time of its release. For “Moonstruck,” the Academy gravitated towards performers like Cher, Vincent Gardenia, and Olympia Dukakis, all of whom (at the time) had lengthier careers in film and theatre. Their recognition by the Academy, especially for actors like Gardenia and Cher who had been nominated for Oscars before, was a significant milestone in their careers. That left Cage out in the cold since he was still relatively new to headlining movies. 
In 1990, Cage led the David Lynch masterpiece “Wild at Heart,” which did get Diane Ladd a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. However, the majority of awards attention (beyond just the Oscars) for that film was centered on Ladd, Willem Dafoe, and Lynch. Cage was his usual boisterous and deeply committed self in “Wild at Heart.” However, that wasn’t enough to grab the attention of awards show voters.
After his Oscar win for “Leaving Las Vegas,” Cage largely shifted his attention to action-oriented blockbusters like “The Rock” and “Face/Off.” This makes the seven-year gap between his Oscar nominations incredibly understandable, except for one omission. The 1999 Martin Scorsese feature “Bringing Out the Dead” is one of the auteur’s greatest accomplishments. It’s also a movie that gets so much power from Cage’s lead performance. However, the initially divisive response to the movie kept it from getting any attention during the awards season, even from smaller ceremonies. In hindsight, this is just downright wrong, and thankfully the film is more highly regarded today. “Bringing Out the Dead” should have been an opportunity to once again appreciate Cage’s acting talents on a high-profile level instead of being a set-up for inexplicable snubbing, which has continued since his second nomination in 2002.
As the 2000s wore on, Cage’s money woes increased and he found himself inhabiting movies like “Next” and “Bangkok Dangerous” to pay the bills. At the end of the decade, he also found time to anchor Werner Herzog’s “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.” Cage actually scored some awards season love for his acclaimed work here, including Best Actor mentions at the National Society of Film and Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. That was actually the end of Cage’s awards season recognition for a very very long time. DTV projects consumed the actor for many years, and even genre films from major studios eluded the performer which understandably or not don’t often tend to receive recognition from awards season voters.
It would take an exceptional movie to relaunch Cage as a potential Oscar nominee. Such a film arrived with “Mandy” in 2018. Despite its unconventional plot featuring Cage snorting lines of coke before killing dudes, wailing in heartbreak in the bathroom while he’s pantsless and clutching a bottle of booze, and engaging in chainsaw duels, “Mandy” was not a typical awards season darling. However, this Panos Cosmatos feature scored universal acclaim in its theatrical run, with critics praising Cage’s gonzo performance as a big reason for this. This critical acclaim effectively helped revitalize his career as an indie darling, where many up-and-coming film directors have been able to rely on his star power to sell their films. All the while, Cage continues to stretch himself as an actor and take many admirable risks.
A tiny but fervent Oscar campaign began, but alas, “Mandy” was eventually deemed ineligible for any Oscar category by the Academy. In hindsight, it’s bizarre that Netflix TV movies get to compete for Oscars, yet a film with a prominent theatrical run like “Mandy” was banned from the ceremony. Regardless, the film gave Cage enough of a career rebound that he started appearing in high-profile dramas again. That included the outstanding 2021 directorial debut feature from Michael Sarnoski, “Pig,” which came the closest since “Adaptation,” scoring Cage another Oscar nomination.
“Pig” scored Cage a slew of Best Actor nods at precursor awards shows, including at the Critics Choice Awards, the Gotham Independent Film Awards, and many local film critic society ceremonies. Unfortunately, a tiny title like this would always struggle to stand out against the year’s more prominent Best Actor contenders. Cage had enough momentum even to attend award season events like a Hollywood Reporter roundtable discussion with major Best Actor contenders. However, he didn’t score what would’ve been a richly-deserved nomination.
His lead performance in last year’s “Dream Scenario” was also left out, though this omission was much less surprising. More comedic performances like Cage’s work there – which entails things like farting during foreplay – always struggle to get Oscar recognition. However, he once again still delivered excellent work in Kristoffer Borgli’s A24 film. Thankfully, Cage scored some recognition for “Dream Scenario,” including his first Golden Globes acting nomination in over 20 years.
It’s becoming apparent that Cage’s recent string of indie successes and critically lauded performances have gotten him out of the doghouse, and a third Oscar nomination may be on the horizon for the veteran actor. Consistently new buzzy arthouse dramas mean people have finally moved past the idea of Cage as “a meme” or “a terrible actor.” Instead, his unique qualities as a performer and the dedication he brings to his work, often going above and beyond, are typically at the forefront of discussions about a new film starring Nicolas Case. His artistry in films like “Pig” and his willingness to embark on hotly anticipated original indie titles like “Longlegs” are deeply commendable. While we don’t expect Cage to be in the Oscar conversation for “Longlegs,” it’s another unique piece of work from an actor fighting against a perception that has followed him for over twenty years and is finally on the cusp of ridding. His boldness and willingness to help out younger directors are the qualities that define a truly great artist, not the Oscar nominations. Even so, it sure would be swell if the Academy one day gives Cage another nomination to recognize him for the actor he’s always been, even if people had once forgotten.
Do you think Nicolas Cage deserves more Oscar nominations than what he’s received? If so, for which films? Please let us know in the comments section below or on Next Best Picture’s X account.
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