Nicolas Cage Wants to Retire From Film, Move to TV

Watching Breaking Bad has inspired Nicolas Cage to retire from acting in films for good. The Face/Off star teased in a recent interview with Uproxx that he is seriously considering retiring from the big screen. The Oscar winner has appeared in well over one hundred movies. However, Cage has signed on for a few more projects that he has to fulfill in the next year or so. In 2023 alone, he starred in five films, in addition to an AI cameo in The Flash.

Cage's first film was in 1983's Valley Girl, and he tells the publication that after 45 years of acting in films, "I feel I’ve pretty much said what I’ve had to say with cinema. And I’d like to leave on a high note and say, ‘Adios.'" This doesn't mean that Cage is leaving the world of acting altogether. After a handful of more movies before he can "get there," he says he will "hopefully" switch formats and go into another way of expressing his acting. He would've liked to have left on a "high note" with A24's Dream Scenario which was released in theaters last month, but he's contractually obligated to finish out a few more roles. “I am going to be very severe and very astringent on the selection process moving forward," Cage declares. "But for me to do another movie, I do want to explore other formats.”

Interestingly enough, it turns out Cage doesn’t watch television. That is until his son introduced him to the format and recommended he watch Breaking Bad a year ago. He was mesmerized by Bryan Cranston's Walter White "stare at a briefcase for an hour." He called the show "magnificent" and said that he is “very interested in immersion streaming with episodic television.“ Celebrating his 60th birthday next month, Cage hopes he will be lucky enough to have more years than his father, who passed away at 75, did. What he holds dear to him in the next fifteen years is his children. "And if I can find an episodic show to do that stays in one place where I don’t have to keep leaving, we can all be together," Cage adds.

If you're like half of the population of Americans, watching television before bed is a part of your nighttime routine. Sleep experts at Bestmattress-brand conducted a survey in which they found that 60% of Americans watch TV before bed. Of that, over 50% of the participants watch TV 5-7 days per week before hitting the hay. The research shows that 50.9% of Americans start watching TV between 9 pm and 11 pm. 42% stop watching TV between 11 pm and 1 am.

A spokesperson from the mattress brand commented: “It's common for us to want to enjoy our favorite TV shows before bed, however too much artificial light, especially right before we think we might try to fall asleep, can increase our alertness and impair our ability to fall asleep naturally."

They advised, "So, if you are wanting to watch TV before bed it is recommended to switch it off 30 minutes before you are about to sleep so as to allow your mind to prepare for a good night's sleep.”

There is a wide range of shows that Americans fall asleep to, but below are the top 10 shows that respondents favor:

Sports are easy to watch and are (generally) relaxing for viewers and can be put on in the background while falling asleep, making it a good choice for sports enthusiasts. Baseball's slower pace (as compared to football, basketball and hockey) makes it easier to fall asleep to.

Modern Family is a show about three related modern-day families from California who try to deal with their kids, quirky spouses and jobs in their own unique ways, often falling into hilarious situations. The show garnered huge popularity over the years, with the expertly written and delivered sitcom balancing comedy with morals and messages, that curate a light-hearted show that remains engaging throughout. This show is one that can be watched again and again, which makes it a good choice for a relaxing and enjoyable bedtime show.

Basketball provides viewers with easy-to-watch entertainment that can be paused and recorded, or watched as highlights, so even if you fall asleep you won't miss any moments.

The Big Bang Theory is a comedy about brilliant physicists, Leonard and Sheldon and their friends, who are the kind of "beautiful minds" that understand how the universe works. But none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. This show ended in 2019 after 12 seasons as a fan favorite. The witty comedy intertwined with heartfelt touching moments provided an enjoyable viewing experience that can be watched again and again.

Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been a staple of American night-time TV since its inception in the '70s. The premise of SNL is actors, comedians and artists get together to perform short, hilarious skits on current, intelligent and at times, ridiculous topics. SNL is the longest-running sketch comedy show in America and therefore may act as a comfort show with an element of re-watchability that makes it easy for many to fall asleep too.

The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom following working-class father Homer Simpson and his dysfunctional family, as they deal with comical situations and the ups and downs of life in the town of Springfield. With over 700 episodes, The Simpsons is one of the most popular and longest-running animated shows.

As the most popular sport in America, it is understandable that many Americans enjoy falling asleep to games, highlights, replays and other football-related shows. Sports provide comfortable watching that requires little interaction and engagement, which makes for a relaxing viewer experience that could help some fall asleep at night.

Bobs Burgers follows restaurateur, Bob Belcher, who deals with various situations while running his dream restaurant with the help of his uptight wife and their three underachieving kids. This adult animated sitcom is popular due to the cast's easy, affectionate back-and-forth and meshing comedic sensibilities of the cast. This easy-watching and relatable type of family dynamic makes it a good night-time choice to drift off to.

Seth MacFarlane's animated sitcom follows CIA agent Stan Smith, who is painfully dedicated to homeland security. His home life includes his ditzy housewife Francine, liberal daughter Hayley and socially awkward teenage son Steve. Also living in the family's home are Klaus, a goldfish with the brain of an East German Olympic ski jumper, and Roger, an escaped alien from Area 51, who Stan houses in defiance of his employer due to owing Roger a "life debt."

Family Guy, an animated sitcom also created by Seth MacFarlane, hits the #1 spot as the most popular show. The series has won 9 Emmys and is in its 21st season. The show follows no linear storyline and so can be watched in any order without the viewer feeling lost. The show follows the adventures of the Griffin family with endearingly ignorant Peter, housewife Lois and their three kids. Meg, the eldest child, is a social outcast, teenage Chris is awkward and clueless when it comes to the opposite sex and Stewie is their genius baby who is bent on killing his mother and destroying the world. To top it off, they have a talking dog, Brian, who keeps Stewie in check while sipping martinis and sorting through his own life issues. The light-hearted comedy is what makes it a perfect choice to fall asleep to.