Actor Michael B. Jordan joins a prestigious group of black actors that includes Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington, and Will Smith to win the coveted “Best Actor in a Leading Role Award” for Sinners.
Jordan’s win joined four others for the horror film on Sunday evening (Mar. 15), including director Ryan Coogler, who secured an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Sinners stars Jordan as twin brothers, Smoke and Staks, trying to survive the opening night of their nightclub when a trio of vampires arrives in search of a young musician, Sammy, who’s also the twins’ cousin — played by Miles Caton — with the ability to summon the past, present, and future of music. Actors Delroy Lindo, Haliee Steinfeld, and Wunni Mosaku co-star.
The New Jersey native was up against great actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet, in the coveted category. Jordan would acknowledge the legendary Black actors who had previously won the Best Actor award during his acceptance speech.
“I stand here because of the people that came before me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker and Will Smith,” he said in his speech. “To be amongst those giants, amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys. Thank you everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it.”
Sinners entered the evening with a record-breaking 16 nominations. Michael B. Jordan would thank the fans for supporting the film.
He continued: ““Everybody at home who supported Sinners, who went to go see the movie one, two, three, four, five times, thank you, because you guys made this movie what it is. I love you.”
Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor For Sinners At Oscars 2026
Ryan Coogler would thank Jordan and the cast while paying respect to his hometown of Oakland, California during his acceptance speech.
“I grew up in Oakland, California, and we can talk a lot,” said Coogler. “I wanna thank the Academy for thinking of our movie that came out almost a year ago. This is an incredible honor. I wanna thank my fellow nominees. I wanna thank y’all for the gifts that y’all movies were and for y’all’s friendship over the past years and months… Thank everybody that was involved in this movie.”
Sinners is among several film collaborations between the actor and director Ryan Coogler. The duo’s run began with 2013’s Fruitvale Station. Other films they worked on together include Marvel’s Black Panther and Creed. Jordan would continue the Creed franchise after Coogler directed the original, but remained on the sequels as an executive producer.
Michael B. Jordan is set to begin filming the Miami Vice reboot this summer. Sinners is available now on HBO Max.
