TL;DR: If you think Nicolas Cage is only for "Face/Off" memes or R-rated revenge thrillers, you’re missing out on some of the best family-friendly adventure and animation of the last twenty years. For a quick win this weekend, grab National Treasure for the big kids or The Croods for the littles.
We’ve all seen the memes. The wide-eyed stare, the "Not the bees!" scream, the absolute "Cage Rage" that has made Nicolas Cage the patron saint of internet weirdness. If your kids are on TikTok or YouTube, they’ve probably seen his face plastered over a "Sigma" edit or heard a distorted audio clip of him losing his mind.
But behind the eccentric persona and the questionable career choices (looking at you, Left Behind), there is a surprisingly robust catalog of movies that are perfect for family night. In fact, Cage is one of the few actors who can pivot from a gritty indie drama to playing a prehistoric dad or a noir-inspired Spider-Man without losing an ounce of his signature intensity.
When we talk about "intentional parenting" in the digital age, we often focus on blocking the bad stuff. But a huge part of the job is curating the good stuff. Introducing your kids to a "Nic Cage Multiverse" marathon isn't just about entertainment; it’s about showing them a performer who is unapologetically himself, even when he’s playing a guinea pig handler.
It’s not just the movies. Cage has become a digital icon. To a 10-year-old, he’s a "living meme." To a 16-year-old, he’s a cult figure who represents a kind of chaotic authenticity they don't see in polished Marvel stars.
He’s also voiced some of the most recognizable characters in modern animation. If your kid loves Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, they already know him as the black-and-white, Nazi-punching Spider-Man Noir. If they’ve watched Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, they’ve heard him finally fulfill his destiny as the voice of Superman.
Check out our guide on why meme culture drives what kids watch
National Treasure (Ages 8+)
This is the gold standard. If you haven't shown your kids Benjamin Franklin Gates stealing the Declaration of Independence, are you even parenting? It’s basically Indiana Jones but with American history and significantly fewer melting faces. It’s fast-paced, genuinely clever, and makes history feel like a high-stakes heist.
- The Vibe: High-adventure, puzzles, and "wait, is that actually true?" history facts.
- Parent Note: It’s PG, but there’s some "action violence" (guns, explosions). Nothing scarring, but maybe too loud for the 5-and-under crowd.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Ages 8+)
The sequel is just as fun, if not more ridiculous. This one involves the Lincoln assassination and a hidden city of gold. It’s pure popcorn cinema. It’s one of those rare sequels that doesn't feel like a cynical cash grab, even if the plot is thinner than a piece of parchment.
The Croods (Ages 5+)
Cage plays Grug, a prehistoric dad whose primary parenting philosophy is "never not be afraid." It’s a beautiful, colorful, and surprisingly emotional movie about a family dealing with a changing world. It hits hard for parents who are trying to balance protecting their kids with letting them grow.
- The Vibe: Slapstick humor, incredible creature design, and a lot of heart.
The Croods: A New Age (Ages 5+)
The sequel introduces the "Bettermans," a more "evolved" family, and it’s a hilarious satire of modern lifestyle trends. Cage is great here, leaning into the "overprotective dad" trope with perfection.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Ages 7+)
Cage is a supporting character here, but he steals every scene he’s in. Spider-Man Noir is a 1930s detective who struggles to understand a world with colors. It’s arguably one of the best movies of the last decade, period.
- Why it works: It’s a visual masterpiece that respects the audience's intelligence.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Ages 8+)
While Cage’s character has a smaller role here, the sequel is a must-watch if they liked the first one. Just be warned: it ends on a cliffhanger that will have your kids screaming at the TV.
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (Ages 6+)
This movie is way funnier than it has any right to be. It ruthlessly mocks the superhero genre. Cage voices Superman, which is a deep-cut meta-joke for parents who remember his failed Superman Lives project from the 90s.
Not every Nic Cage movie is a winner. Some are just... weird.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Ages 9+)
Based loosely on the Fantasia segment, this is a live-action Disney flick set in modern-day NYC. It’s fine. It’s not a masterpiece, and the CGI is starting to show its age, but for a kid who likes magic and science, it’s a solid Tuesday night choice.
G-Force (Ages 6+)
This is a movie about secret agent guinea pigs. Cage voices a star-nosed mole named Speckles. It’s pretty "brain rot" adjacent, honestly. If your kids are under 7, they might find it hilarious. If they’re older, they’ll probably ask why you’re making them watch this.
- The Verdict: Only if you’ve run out of literally everything else.
Astro Boy (Ages 7+)
Cage voices Dr. Tenma in this adaptation of the classic manga/anime. It’s a bit heavy—the plot involves a father building a robot to replace his dead son—so maybe skip this if you’re looking for a lighthearted romp.
The biggest risk with a Nic Cage marathon isn't "bad words" (most of these are PG or mild PG-13). The risk is intensity.
Cage doesn't do "halfway." When he’s scared, he’s terrified. When he’s excited, he’s manic. For sensitive younger children, his performance style can actually be a bit much. In The Croods, his character’s fear of the dark and the "outside" can feel very real to a toddler.
Safety Considerations:
- Action Violence: In movies like National Treasure, there are guns and people chasing each other. It’s "Disney violence," but it’s there.
- The Meme Rabbit Hole: If your kids start Googling Nicolas Cage after the movie, they will find clips from Mandy or The Wicker Man. Those are not for kids. They are ultra-violent, surreal, and nightmare-inducing.
Ask our chatbot for a list of Nic Cage movies to avoid with kids
Believe it or not, Nic Cage’s career is a great talking point for kids about career paths and resilience.
Cage has had massive highs (an Oscar!) and massive lows (straight-to-video debt-repayment movies). He’s been a joke and a legend at the same time. Talking to your teens about how he navigated his "meme-ification" can be a really interesting conversation about digital identity and not taking yourself too seriously.
Also, National Treasure is a fantastic bridge to talk about what’s real in history versus what’s "Hollywood real." It’s a great excuse to look up the actual Declaration of Independence or the history of the Free Masons.
Nicolas Cage is a national treasure (pun intended), and his family-friendly filmography is a great way to inject some high-energy fun into your home.
- Start with National Treasure for a family adventure night.
- Move to The Croods if you need something animated and heartfelt.
- Use Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to bridge the gap between "kid movies" and "cool movies" for your tweens.
And if they ask why he’s always acting like that? Just tell them he’s a "thespian of the highest order" who happens to really, really like stealing historical documents.