In a period where Nicolas Cage has signed on for two new films in 2025, one of which, The Carpenter's Son, has sparked significant controversy, the film that has drawn the most attention is actually Gunslingers. This western film, which received only 5% from critics and 18% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, managed to attract viewers' interest despite its poor ratings and being overlooked by critics, climbing to second place on HBO Max's global charts this week.

Gunslingers is Cage's third western film since 2022. Compared to his earlier, more serious films like Butcher's Crossing (2022) and The Old Way (2023), this film offers a rather exaggerated and entertaining approach. Directed by Brian Skiba, the film is set in a small Kentucky town where everyone is a criminal. When America's most wanted man returns to town, his tough past quickly catches up with him. The mobs that receive the bounty are armed, and the wild struggle he engages in turns the town into ruins.

Cage portrays a comically exaggerated old outlaw character in his role, bringing a loud and over-the-top demeanor. This character, who also works as a photographer in the town, can be seen as someone who believes in the word of God. The cast is completed by successful actors like Stephen Dorff, Heather Graham from Boogie Nights, and Mohamed Karim, along with Scarlet Rose Stallone and Tzi Ma.

Despite its weak critical ratings, Gunslingers has managed to secure second place on HBO Max's global charts, just behind Gerard Butler's Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Cage's name continues to be a draw, and this film showcases his most comedic and over-the-top performance. The direction of Brian Skiba, who also worked with Stephen Dorff in the thriller Clear Cut, stands out.

Cage continues to keep his agenda filled with projects throughout this year. One of the main ones is Madden, directed by David O. Russell, where Cage will play the legendary NFL coach while Bale will portray former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. In May, Cage will also start his first television series, Spider-Noir, where he will play a character known from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse but set in a different world.

In Spider-Noir, Cage will play a down-on-his-luck private detective named Ben Reilly. The character must balance living as New York's only superhero in the 1930s while dealing with a deep tragedy that haunts him. Inspired by the noir style, the series features classic Spider-Man villains and is written by Oren Uziel. It will premiere on MGM+'s linear network on May 25, followed by all episodes being available on Prime Video starting May 27.