Nicolas Cage has candidly opened up during an interview about why he made so many lackluster movies.

The 59-year-old Hollywood star has starred in over 100 movies in his career. He is a two-time Academy Award winner, first succeeding in the Best Actor category for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas and again in 2003 for his roles as Charlie and Donald Kaufman in Adaptation.

The star also had some leading roles as an action star, with hits including Con Air, The Rock, and Face Off as well as the 1994 rom-com, It Could Happen to You.

While the actor has an impressive long-lasting career, there have been some indisputably bad movies in his recent filmography.

For some film fanatics, it seemed as if Cage would take any movie, no matter the role, back story, or director. For example, he starred in Bangkok Dangerous, 211, and Outcast - all movies that you have probably never heard of, let alone seen.

But there is a reason why the Renfield star will pick up any script. During his interview with 60 Minutes, he revealed that it was due to his financial problems.

Cage was once one of the industry's highest-paid actors, at one point worth over $150 million. He adopted a lavish lifestyle by spending large amounts on castles in Europe, a fleet of Rolls Royces, and a collection of exotic items such as a dinosaur skull.

However, he was soon in hot water with the IRS over unpaid taxes, and the financial crash of 2007/2008 wiped out most of his investments.

Speaking about the time of his life, Cage said: "I was over-invested in real estate. It wasn’t because I spent $80 on an octopus. The real estate market crashed, and I couldn’t get out in time. I paid them all back but it was about $6 million."

When the interviewer asked if it was a "dark time" in his life, the actor agreed and noted that he successfully avoided having to file for bankruptcy.

"No doubt work was always my guardian angel. It may not have been blue chip, but it was still work," he explained. "Even if the movie ultimately is crummy, they know I’m not phoning it in, that I care every time."

"But there are those folks who think the only good acting I can do [is] the acting I chose to do by design, which was more operatic and larger-than-life, the so-called 'Cage Rage'. You’re not going to get that all the time," he added.

The Ghost Rider actor added that there are still particular acting roles he wants to go for.

Cage's apparent need to take on work to help his financial situation featured in the 2022 action comedy movie, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

The story follows the actor - who plays a heightened, fictionalized version of himself - accepting an offer of $1 million from his agent Richard Fink that involves going to Majorca to meet eccentric billionaire Javi Gutierrez (played by Pedro Pascal) and to be the guest of honor at his birthday.

The movie has an impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Nicolas Cage, the eclectic and often enigmatic Hollywood star, recently shed light on the driving force behind his diverse and sometimes questionable filmography.

The 59-year-old actor, renowned for his roles in critically acclaimed films like Leaving Las Vegas - for which he won an Academy Award - has also been known for his participation in a variety of less-celebrated movies.

In a candid interview with 60 Minutes, Cage revealed the financial motivations behind his choices in recent years.

Cage's acting career is nothing short of remarkable - spanning over 100 movies.

With a journey that includes action-packed blockbusters such as Con Air, The Rock, and Face/Off, Cage also s established himself as a versatile and enduring figure in the film industry with roles in movies like he charming 1994 rom-com It Could Happen to You.

However, some of his more recent roles in lesser-known films like Bangkok Dangerous, 211, and Outcast have raised questions about his selection criteria. (Let's be honest, have any of you seen any of those movies?) Watch Cage explain why he made so many bad movies:

The answer, as Cage disclosed, lies in his past financial struggles. Despite once being one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors with a net worth exceeding $150 million, Cage faced considerable financial turmoil.

His penchant for extravagant spending, including purchases of European castles, Rolls Royces, and unusual items like a dinosaur skull, eventually led to significant issues with the IRS over unpaid taxes. The economic crash of 2007/2008 further exacerbated these problems, decimating many of his investments.

Reflecting on this challenging period, Cage shared: "I was over-invested in real estate. It wasn’t because I spent $80 on an octopus. The real estate market crashed, and I couldn’t get out in time. I paid them all back but it was about $6 million." He acknowledged this time as a "dark time" in his life but proudly stated that he avoided bankruptcy, crediting his continuous work in film for his financial recovery.

"No doubt work was always my guardian angel. It may not have been blue chip, but it was still work," Cage remarked. He also emphasized his commitment to each and every role, stating: "Even if the movie ultimately is crummy, they know I’m not phoning it in, that I care every time."

Addressing the 'Cage Rage' phenomenon - which celebrates his more over-the-top performances - Cage noted that fans shouldn't expect that style in every film. "There are those folks who think the only good acting I can do [is] the acting I chose to do by design, which was more operatic and larger-than-life, the so-called 'Cage Rage'. You’re not going to get that all the time," he added.

Cage's financial situation was humorously mirrored in the 2022 action comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, where he plays a fictionalized version of himself.

In the movie, he accepts a $1 million offer to attend a billionaire's birthday party in Majorca, reflecting his real-life need to take on work. The film was well-received, boasting an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, further proving Cage's enduring appeal and talent - and proof that he certainly has many incredible roles left in the tank.

Featured image credit: Robin L Marshall / Stringer / Getty

Nicolas Cage has defended his decision to star in so many VOD movies, saying that he needed money to care for his mother.

The Ghost Rider star, 58, opened up about his recent job choices in an interview with GQ. As well as explaining what he was spending his money on, the actor hit back at criticism that he was treating films as paycheck projects and insisted he put his heart into every role.

In the 90s and 00s, Cage was one of the biggest movie stars in the world, appearing in hit movies like Face Off, The Family Man, and National Treasure. However, in recent years he's appeared to be much less selective about his work, appearing in dozens of films that bypassed cinema release and generally slipped under the radar.

This - alongside reports that he owed the IRS $6.3 million in taxes - led to people suggesting that Cage was taking on any old project because he was strapped for cash.

Chatting to GQ, the actor explained that he was taking on more obscure roles to avoid filing for bankruptcy - but added that part of the reason he was so broke was that he was looking after his ill mother, Joy Vogelsang.

"I’ve got all these creditors and the IRS and I’m spending $20,000 a month trying to keep my mother out of a mental institution, and I can’t," he told GQ, adding: "It was just all happening at once."

Cage went on to defend his career choices, insisting that - while he was taking on a lot of random jobs - this didn't mean that he was giving any less than 100% to every single role.

"When I was doing four movies a year, back to back to back, I still had to find something in them to be able to give it my all," he said.

"Some of them were terrific, like Mandy, but some of them didn’t work. But I never phoned it in. So if there was a misconception, it was that – that I was just doing it and not caring. I was caring."

Cage's mother passed away last year at the age of 85.

As reported by The Sun, the actor's film director brother, Christopher, wrote on Facebook: "She had a very hard life with mental health issues.

"In all of that painful emotional chaos she still managed to teach me something super important."

Speaking to Playboy back in 1996, Nicolas spoke candidly about his mom's health, saying: "She was plagued with mental illness for most of my childhood. She was institutionalized for years and went through shock treatments.

"She would go into these states that lasted for years. She went through these episodes of poetry – I don’t know what else to call it.

"She would say the most amazing things, beautiful but scary. I’m sure they had an impact on me.

"If I look at home movies of when I was two years old, I see that she was a very caring mother – the way she touched me."

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There's no doubt that Nicolas Cage is one of the most meme-worthy actors ever, and its no secret that the internet loves him. Film critic Roger Ebert once called him a good performer in good movies, and an indispensable actor in bad ones, due to his hammy performances and talent for insane rants.

But now Nicolas Cage is making a movie worthy of his memetic reputation, with a particularly meta premise, in which he plays a fictionalized version of himself.

According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is entitled The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. It features Cage playing a fictionalized version of himself who somehow gets mixed up in a plot involving the CIA and a drug cartel kingpin.

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According to THP: "[Cage] is desperate to get a role in a new Tarantino movie while also dealing with a strained relationship with his teenage daughter. He also occasionally talks to an egotistical 1990s version of himself who rides him for making too many crappy movies and for not being a star anymore."

It continues: "The Cage character is also under a mountain of debt and finds himself forced to make an appearance at the birthday party of a Mexican billionaire who happens to be a fan of Cage’s work ... Cage is informed by the CIA that the billionaire is actually a drug cartel kingpin who has kidnapped the daughter of a Mexican presidential nominee and is recruited by the U.S. government to get intelligence."

Watch the trailer for the classic Nick Cage movie 'Vampire's Kiss' here:

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It adds: "The situation spirals even more dramatically when the Mexican brings over Cage’s daughter and his ex-wife for a reconciliation, and when their lives are on the line, Cage takes on the role of a lifetime."

The script has been written by Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten (with Gormican set to direct) and will feature references to classic Cage movies such as Leaving Las Vegas, Face-Off, and Gone in 60 Seconds. Personally I can't wait to catch this movie when it comes out in theatres: I have a feeling it will be hilarious.

Nicolas Cage might be one of the best-known actors around, but the star has opened up to reveal he believes that he only has "three or four" movies left in him before he retires.

Nic Cage is an actor who really divides opinion. Some believe him to be one of the best to ever grace the big screen while others don't understand the appeal at all.

It's hard to argue that some of his performances are outstanding, and the one that stands out to me is his role in Kick-Ass.

Sadly, we may be about to say goodbye to Cage, because as the actor approaches his 60th birthday, he shared his thoughts on the future of his acting career with Vanity Fair.

"I may have three or four more movies left in me," declared Cage, who has appeared in over 100 feature films since his breakthrough role in 1983's Valley Girl.

He explained: "I do feel I've said what I've had to say with cinema. I think I took film performance as far as I could. I want to get much more severe and stringent in my selection process. I want to say goodbye on a high note."

Cage, who won an Oscar for Best Actor in 1996's Leaving Las Vegas, revealed that his father's passing at 75 has influenced his decision.

"What do I want to do with those 15 years, using my father as the model?", he pondered. "It occurred very clearly to me that I want to spend time with my family. I'm starting to cement my plan."

Despite contemplating retirement from movies, Cage expressed openness to exploring other avenues in the entertainment industry. He mentioned considering a television series, a medium he has never ventured into before.

Cage's decision echoes similar sentiments in the film industry, including director Quentin Tarantino's plan to retire after his tenth picture, The Movie Critic.

Cage's late-career resurgence was fueled, in part, by a financial setback in 2009 when he had to pay $14 million in back taxes to the IRS.

Reflecting on that period, Cage told The Hollywood Reporter: "I made the decision to work my way out of it. I only did movies where I thought I could bring something authentic to them. I turned a lot of c**p down."

The actor acknowledged his restlessness between projects and confessed that work keeps him on track.

"I'm a better man when I'm working," he explained. "Work has always been a place where my job is to get up in the morning, to work out, to do 5 to 8 miles on the elliptical, I lift weights, I look at the news, I feed all my animals, and then call my boys.

"[When I'm on set], I'm focused, I'm working with other actors. I have a very clean life when I'm filming, and that's important to me."

It'll be a sad day when Cage hangs up his hat.

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