6 Reasons ‘National Treasure’ Is My All-American (Not) Guilty Pleasure
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I don’t believe in the concept of guilty pleasures (just watch and read what you want!). But if I did, the 2004 history action film National Treasure would top my list. In honor of America Month, here are 6 reasons why it still endures, if only in my heart.
1. There’s a ton of real history.
I cannot emphasize enough how giddy this movie made me seeing it as a high schooler who was really into history. Nicolas Cage as an obsessive weirdo who spouts trivia about Benjamin Franklin’s bifocals and other American arcana that under any other circumstance outside of Jeopardy! was completely worthless but instead helps him outsmart law enforcement, woo a beautiful and brainy archivist, and earn generational wealth? Truly inspirational.
2. Nicolas Cage steals the Declaration of Independence.
Just letting that sit there for a second. It’s a premise so ridiculous, so Nic Cage that you have no choice but to tag along and see how it ends.
3. Sean Bean doesn’t die!
Spoiler alert. As this movie came out during a time in his career when he was dying a lot on screen, it’s refreshing to see him simply get arrested for kidnapping and attempted murder instead of shot in the neck with a spear gun.
4. It’s a big win for conspiracy theorists.
Armed with secret knowledge about supposed hidden treasure passed down from the Knights Templar and Freemasons, Cage’s Benjamin Franklin Gates is considered a nutjob by the FBI, National Archives, and even his own father—until he isn’t. May we all live to see our deepest-held if questionable beliefs vindicated by the government.
5. Pedigree, baby.
This feature film was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (every ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s action movie you love), directed by Jon Turteltaub (While You Were Sleeping and Cool m-fing Runnings), stars (definitely not a paycheck job for) Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight, and Christopher Plummer, and grossed $347 million in global box office. We used to make things in this country.
6. It’s certified fresh filmmaking
National Treasure is the kind of family-friendly adventure caper and four-quadrant success that’s hard to get made anymore unless it has a superhero in it. But don’t listen to me (or its 47% Rotten Tomatoes score)—listen to esteemed film scholar David Bordwell, who wrote not one but two essays praising it. “Here’s a movie,” he wrote, “with no pop music, no cusswords, no naked ladies, no drugs, no screwing, and scarcely any violence. The man who gave us Bad Boys and CSI has realized that there’s a market niche for the PG-rated action film.” And while I would watch a version of National Treasure with all of those things listed, I pledge my everlasting allegiance to this big, beautiful, bonkers film.