Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal’sThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentis quickly climbing Netflix’s charts following its premiere on the platform. Tom Gormican’s 2022 action-comedy sees a fictionalized and down-on-his-luck Cage embark on a paid appearance at billionaire super-fan Javi Gutierrez’s (Pascal) birthday party, only to find himself swept up in a CIA plot.The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentalso starsSharon Horgan, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Neil Patrick Harris, and Paco León.
After netting a score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes upon release,The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talenthad an incredible debut among audiences upon its Netflix premiere. Within the first week of being added to the streaming service’s catalog, Cage and Pascal’s action-comedy has risen up the daily charts. As of Sunday, January 19,the movie is the #6 title on the list of Top 10 Movies in the U.S. today. It comes behind new releaseBack in Action,Ad Vitam,Despicable Me 2,Despicable Me, andHotel Transylvania 2.
What This Means For The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent
It’s A Movie Worth Revisiting
Despite it having an unusual premise,The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentdoes more than simply rely on its star powerto hook audiences in. The chemistry between the fictionalized Cage and Pascal’s Javi is undoubtedly a highlight of the movie, shown through the pair’s shared passion for movie-making and their drug trip, which inspired plenty of memes online. Alongside their blossoming bond, however,the movie is a loving celebration of Cage’s careerand the art of cinema.
AsThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talenthas become a viral favorite, many people are now seeking it out on Netflix. When it first debuted in theaters, the movie earned a modest amount at the box office, grossing $29.1 million worldwide. This indicatesnot many people caught it in theaters. However, now that it is readily available at home, more people can check it out. With Pascal about to have a huge 2025 thanks toThe Last of Usseason 2andThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s likely many want to check out one of his strongest projects.
Our Take On The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent’s Netflix Performance
Both Cage And Pascal Are Two Of Hollywood’s Most Beloved Stars
Though two years have passed sinceThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentwas released,both Cage and Pascal are still two of the biggest starsworking in Hollywood currently. In 2024, Cage earned acclaim for his terrifying portrayal of the titular serial killer inLonglegs, and he will step into hisSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verserole, Spider-Man Noir, in a live-action adaptation of the character. Meanwhile, Pascal will make his Marvel debut as Reed Richards inFirst Stepsbefore bringing his bounty hunter Din Djarin to the big screenin 2026’sThe Mandalorian and Grogu.
The actors' combined star presence has led to sizable fan bases for both, and that only creates sustained buzz forThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. It’s a strong movie that deserves a wider audience, soit’s refreshing to see the title bringing in both new and existing fanson Netflix. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts on the streaming chart, but it has certainly made a splash so far.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cast
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent tells the story of a fictionalized version of actor Nicolas Cage when he unwittingly becomes entangled with a criminal cartel. On the brink of bankruptcy, Cage (played by himself) is made an offer he can’t refuse: $1 million to appear at the birthday party of a wealthy fan named Javi (Pedro Pascal). However, Cage’s trip puts him in the middle of a CIA investigation into Javi, and he finds himself caught between his new friend and a whole host of very dangerous people.
