Nicolas Cage is enjoying a career renaissance, with awards buzz building for his upcoming Madden film. It's the perfect moment to revisit one of his most polarizing—and strangely fascinating—movies from his blockbuster era. Knowing, released in 2009, is heading to Tubi this October, giving audiences a free chance to judge the film that split critics and delighted the late Roger Ebert.
Directed by Alex Proyas, Knowing arrived at a pivotal time in Cage's career. It came hot on the heels of National Treasure: Book of Secrets and just before The Sorcerer's Apprentice, a big-budget misfire that temporarily derailed his leading-man status. But Knowing itself was a commercial success, pulling in over $185 million worldwide on a $50 million budget—plus another $25 million from DVD sales. That's a solid return, even before streaming revenue.
The plot is pure high-concept chaos: Cage plays a MIT professor who discovers a time capsule containing a cryptic scroll that lists dates of major disasters—past and future. With Rose Byrne and Ben Mendelsohn along for the ride, the film blends apocalyptic thriller with supernatural mystery. It's a wild premise, and Cage plays it with surprising restraint, letting the absurdity of the story speak for itself.
Critics were sharply divided. Knowing holds a 35% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus calling it "weighted down by its absurd plot and over-seriousness." But Roger Ebert, the legendary critic, was an outspoken defender. He called it "one of the best" sci-fi films he'd ever seen, a rare endorsement that has kept the movie alive in cult conversations. Ebert had long championed Proyas, especially his neo-noir Dark City, so his praise carried weight.
For those who missed it in theaters or want to revisit the debate, Knowing becomes free to stream on Tubi starting in October. It's a chance to see why Ebert was so taken with it—or to join the chorus of naysayers. Either way, it's a fascinating piece of Cage's filmography, sitting between his National Treasure fame and his later indie resurgence with Pig and Longlegs.
If you're in the mood for more Cage, his Con Air and National Treasure are getting 4K releases soon. And for more sci-fi that divides audiences, check out this cult classic that deserves a second look. Or if you're craving more Ebert-approved cinema, these classics should never be remade.
So mark your calendars. This October, let Knowing challenge your expectations—and maybe you'll see what Ebert saw.
