3 5
Age 87

HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

Age 62

#41

Current Rank

#33

#3

Peak Rank

#5

43

Years Ranked

44

6

Years in Top 10

11

28.2

Average Rank

22.0

42

Theatrical Releases

82

Beauty and the Beast $504.0 Million

Biggest Hit

National Treasure: Book of Secrets $220.0 Million

$3.9 Billion

Career Domestic
Box Office

$3.2 Billion

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Career Comparison Summary AI-generated historical comparison. Click to expand.

Note: Films released during the selected year influence the following year's rankings.

At this point in the rankings, Ian McKellen versus Nicolas Cage is best read as a compact career snapshot rather than an all-time verdict. The biggest-hit category sharpens the box office contrast, especially because Ian McKellen's leading film creates the stronger single-release benchmark.

The category score gives Nicolas Cage the broader edge, though the result remains a comparison of career outcomes rather than personal popularity. Taken together, the comparison suggests leans toward Nicolas Cage while still showing distinct strengths on each side.

CAREER RANKING HISTORY

Ian McKellen Nicolas Cage

FILMOGRAPHY COMPARISON

Ian McKellen

42 theatrical releases • $3.9 Billion Domestic

Year Movie Domestic Box Office Domestic BO
2026 The Christophers $1.8 Million
2024 The Critic $449,020
2019 Cats $27.2 Million
2019 The Good Liar $17.2 Million
2019 All Is True $1.2 Million

Nicolas Cage

82 theatrical releases • $3.2 Billion Domestic

Year Movie Domestic Box Office Domestic BO
2025 The Carpenter's Son $141,193
2025 The Surfer $1.3 Million
2024 Longlegs $74.3 Million
2024 Arcadian $828,919
2023 The Retirement Plan $1.6 Million