Michael B Jordan has long since established his acting prowess. With Sinners now a success, his latest film with longtime collaborator and director Ryan Coogler, Jordan is again at the center of cultural arguments.
Jordan’s career has been going on for over two decades. Michael B Jordan continues to climb Hollywood’s ranks through his dynamic performances, commanding screen presence, and love for portraying characters with vulnerability, empathy, and strength.
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From his early days on Hardball and The Wire to his status as a leading man in films like Sinners, Michael B Jordan continues to build and solidify his legacy in Hollywood. In honor of Michael B Jordan’s impressive career and recent success with Sinners, here is a list of his best films.
10. Chronicle
Chronicle was an early start for Jordan’s big-screen career. Jordan plays Steve, a popular high school student who gains telekinetic powers after discovering a strange underground crystal. In found-footage style, Chronicle explores unlimited power’s thrilling but often dangerous consequences. While the film is centered on Dane DeHaan’s character, Jordan adds heart and balance to the group and previews the emotional resonance and screen presence that he would eventually achieve
Watch Chronicle on Hulu, Max, or Prime Video.
9. That Awkward Moment
Jordan delivers a romantic comedic twist with this modern romantic comedy about three friends who vow to stay single, but get into tangled relationships immediately. Playing Mikey, a recently divorced young physician, Jordan is charming and vulnerable. While the film rides on raunchy humor and bromance cliches, Jordan’s down-to-earth performance gives a jolt of authenticity that adds depth to the group dynamic and serves his range beyond dramatic fare well. This film proves we need more rom-coms with Michael B Jordan as the leading man.
Watch That Awkward Moment on Prime Video.
8. Blackout
This underrated indie film takes place during a citywide power outage, and the darkness engulfing the city is metaphorical for inward conflict with loss and grief without light. Jordan depicts a man fighting against loss, paranoia, and disjointed flashbacks as the rest of the world around him is disintegrating. Slower-burning mind game Blackout illustrates Michael B Jordan’s ability to overpower the screen by being subtle and restrained, showcasing that his ability can shine every bit as high in introspective performances as it does at blockbuster fare.
Watch Blackout by renting it through VOD.
7. Without Remorse
In this action thriller, Jordan stars as Navy SEAL John Kelly in a dark, revenge-fueled plot based on the Tom Clancy novel. When his pregnant wife is murdered, Kelly embarks on a globe-trotting mission of vengeance that uncovers a massive conspiracy of government corruption. The plot is packed with espionage and action thriller cliches, but Jordan’s performance definitely proved he has what it takes to be an action movie star.
Watch Without Remorse on Prime Video.
6. Just Mercy
Just Mercy stars Michael B Jordan alongside Jamie Foxx in a film that explores systemic racism in the American judicial system. Jordan plays as lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who fights to free Walter McMillian, played by Foxx. Jordan’s impressive performance grounds the courtroom drama with courage and a story committed to touching on America’s broken justice system. He does not depict Stevenson as a hero but as a decent man committed to justice and fighting to save the life of an unjustly accused man.
Watch Just Mercy on Prime Video.
5. Creed III
Making his directorial debut, Jordan returns as Adonis Creed in a shonen-inspired story that’s as much about identity and trauma as it is about boxing. When a childhood friend-rival returns, Adonis is forced to confront his past inside and outside the ring. Jordan shows himself as a filmmaker with a forceful visual presence, particularly in the choreographed fight sequences of the film. His acting is also emotionally rich, with the weight of legacy and the need for personal redemption.
Watch Creed III on Max and Prime Video.
4. Fruitvale Station
Jordan gives a breakthrough performance in this powerful dramatization of the last day of Oscar Grant in Fruitvale Station. Jordan plays a young Black man who was shot by police in Oakland. Another film directed by Ryan Coogler, Jordan’s performance in Fruitvale Station adds incredible empathy and commitment to bringing humanity to the character. This film showcased Jordan as a leading man and marked his powerful partnerships with Coogler.
Watch Fruitvale Station on Hulu and Prime Video.
3. Creed
Michael B Jordan brings new life to the Rocky franchise in the first Creed film. In the film, Jordan plays the estranged son of the late Apollo Creed and a rookie boxer looking to make a name for himself. Jordan’s performance as Adonis is raw, emotional, and intensely human, balancing physicality and emotional vulnerability. The film’s emotional core is his on-screen chemistry with Sylvester Stallone as the veteran Rocky Balboa. Michael B Jordan’s performance helps make this film an electrifying sports drama that redefines legacy and self-worth.
Watch Creed on Prime Video.
2. Black Panther
As Erik Killmonger, Jordan provides one of the most fulfilling acting performances within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. An extremist with a heart-wrenching past, Killmonger’s ideology and suffering make him more than a villain; he represents generational trauma and a part of the Black American experience. Jordan commands every frame with charm, wit, and emotional gravity, forcing T’Challa and the audience to grapple with harsh realities and truths. His performance sparked cultural discussions and created a new benchmark for what an antagonist in a superhero film can accomplish.
Watch Black Panther on Disney+.
1. Sinners
Sinners is Jordan’s finest and most mature performance to date. Something profoundly transformative happens in this densely layered character story written and directed by Ryan Coogler. Both character analysis and cultural declaration, Sinners grants Jordan free rein to probe the full extent of his acting skill as he plays opposite himself as twins Smoke and Stack.
Jordan flawlessly portrays both brothers’ polar opposite personalities and mannerisms, as shown by how he walks, talks, and speaks in each role. Jordan’s performances as Stack and Smoke also give the audience a feeling of compassion. Jordan’s work in Sinners is the kind of movie that doesn’t just illustrate his growth as an actor; it redefines it.
Watch Sinners in theaters.
Whether slaying vampires and Klansmen or boxing in the ring, Michael B Jordan continues to bring heart and soul to his roles. His best work showcases Jordan’s dedication to his craft, and his performances leave an unforgettable mark on Hollywood and audiences alike.
