Watch These Michael B. Jordan Movies to Celebrate His Best Actor Win

The 98th Academy Awards were full of surprises and lots of “firsts.” Michael B. Jordan created history by earning his first-ever Oscar after his first-ever nomination for Sinners (2025).​

His acting career began more than two decades ago with a role in the soap opera All My Children (2003). He has come a long way for the well-deserved role in Ryan Coogler’s highly stylized, action-packed horror film, Sinners.​

To celebrate his Best Actor win, we’ve curated a list of five standout Michael B. Jordan movies that showcase his growth over the years and highlight the depth, range, and power of his performances.​

5 must-watch Michael B. Jordan movies to commemorate his big win​

Creed III (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89 percent

IMDb: 6.7​

In his directorial debut, Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed, a character who is thriving in his career. His childhood friend, Damian (played by Jonathan Majors), came back after serving some time in prison.​

He is the former boxing prodigy and is once again ready to dive into the ring to prove he’s still the best. The face-off between two friends is not a mere fight; Creed might have to put his everything on the line to win the battle against Damian.

Watch the trailer here: 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84 percent

IMDb: 6.6​

Michael B. Jordan reprises his role as Erik Killmonger in a surprise cameo in Wakanda Forever. His role is important even for a short timespan, as he serves as a dark mirror for Shuri’s (played by Letitia Wright) character development.​

He appears as a catalyst in her decision-making between vengeance and mercy while navigating profound grief. As the film is based on mourning King T’Challa’s death, Shuri creates a synthetic heart herb to become the new Black Panther, and also as a shield against Namor (Tenoch Huerta).

Why Michael B. Jordan’s character fuels Shuri’s desire for revenge is due to his own motivations from the first film. He benefits from Shuri’s inner rage and trauma and pushes her toward a ruthless path.​

Watch the clip here: 

A Journal for Jordan (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 39 percent

IMDb: 6

Directed by Denzel Washington, this romantic drama is based on a true story where Michael B. Jordan plays 1st Sgt. Charles Monroe King while deployed in Iraq. He writes a journal of life advice and love for his infant son and his fiancée, Dana Canedy (played by Cante Adams).

In reality, Monroe King was in a long-distance relationship with Canedy, and while he was serving in Iraq, she gave birth to their son, Jordan. Though King had only met Jordan once and was killed in a roadside bombing in October 2006, he had a journal filled with life lessons and details for his son.

According to People, Michael B. Jordan loved prepping for his role through intense training and drills with sergeants, platoons, and commander soldiers. He said,​

“You know me, I physically love going through a transformation.” [Source]​

Despite failing to get critical acclaim as the critics found it overly sentimental and slow with an extremely “dragged out” storyline, you can still judge for yourself by watching the trailer here: 

Without Remorse (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 45 percent

IMDb: 5.8​

Senior Chief John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) is a Navy SEAL who avenges his pregnant wife’s murder. Kelly soon realized that he could be in deep trouble as he started unfolding the intricacies of the murder, chasing Russian operatives, and a secret mission in Aleppo.

Again, his role demanded intense physicality and emotional restraint as his evident charisma and empathy showed how far he has come over the past two decades. As he is seen in a serious army role, his commanding, action-hero presence asks for a blend of raw and brutal combat skills.

The film gained mixed reviews, but his performance stood out due to character depth and human sincerity within what might otherwise have been a straightforward, ruthless, revenge-driven storyline.

Get a glimpse with the trailer below: 

Just Mercy (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 85 percent

IMDb: 7.6​

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Just Mercy was a timely, relevant film as it addressed the ongoing, systematic issues of racial injustice, wrongful conviction, and the flaws within the American criminal justice system. This powerful, true-story narrative became the driving force behind the film’s massive success, earning it an impressive critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.​

Based on the 2014 memoir by Bryan Stevenson, the Harvard-educated lawyer Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) endeavors to overturn the wrongful conviction of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a Black man sentenced to death for a 1968 murder in Alabama.​

Michael B. Jordan brought authenticity to his role as a lawyer in saving McMillian despite having a strong alibi and no evidence against him. Local law enforcement targeted Jordan’s Stevenson with aggressive intimidation tactics while he was trying to flip Ralph Myers, a white witness who lied about McMillian’s involvement, under threat.  

Preview the film with the trailer below: