Michael B. Jordan Isn’t Getting His Flowers, Should We Be Surprised?

Awards season is heating up and Ryan Coogler’s vampire-horror “Sinners” has made history as the most Oscar nominated film of all time with 16 nominations. The film has received plenty of nods this year, but can’t seem to win the big awards. And with that, spawns a debate in the Oscar’s best actor category.

Michael B. Jordan has already had a fair share of critically-acclaimed films before, and he has arguably been robbed of past nominations until now. In a film where he plays not one, but two roles, it seemed like it might be his chance to win something big. But when we look at the best actor race now, Timothée Chalamet holds a commanding lead for “Marty Supreme.”

Some argue that Chalamet’s dominance this season is not as deserved as it might be, especially in a stacked best actor category. But all trends point towards Chalamet finally getting his Oscar this year. So if awards season won’t reward Jordan and “Sinners,” I might as well applaud them.

Jordan’s Cinema Presence

It’s shocking to say Jordan hasn’t earned a single Golden Globe, Actor Award or Oscar nomination until this year. His work in “Sinners” is exceptional, but it is not his only exceptional role. Jordan broke into the spotlight as Oscar Grant in “Fruitvale Station” in 2013. This was the first instance he worked with Coogler, who also directed “Sinners.”

It was only up from there for Jordan, as he landed the role of Adonis Creed in 2015’s “Creed.” The “Rocky” spin-off boosted his career even further as the film was a box office hit and critics praised his performance. The “Creed” series would also provide Jordan with his directorial debut in “Creed III,” which was heavily praised as well.

He continued into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in 2018 playing Erik Killmonger in “Black Panther.” It was a typical MCU box office hit, but also achieved immense critical acclaim. Through this role, Jordan was finally given a nod for supporting actor by Critics’ Choice.

Then came “Sinners,” and now Jordan is finally earning the nominations he should have had years before. Despite this, the unfortunate part is that he is not winning. I would argue he is just as deserving as Chalamet and the other nominees. In “Sinners,” he played identical twins, and I could clearly tell Stack and Smoke apart, so Jordan’s acting skills have to be given credit where credit’s due.

Black Cinema and Awards Season

Jordan’s and “Sinners'” lack of major wins so far are not too surprising looking at how Black-led films have been recognized in the past. My personal favorite examples of this are Spike Lee’s films “Do the Right Thing” and “BlacKkKlansman.”

Lee is arguably one of the best directors to never win an Oscar for best director. His 1989 film “Do the Right Thing” has aged gracefully over time and unapologetically commented on the issue of racial division. It was a beautifully stylized film that didn’t get nominated for best picture by the Academy. It only received two nominations, with a best supporting actor nomination going to Danny Aiello — a white actor in a predominately Black film.

“BlacKkKlansman” on the other hand, received six nominations from the Academy, and even won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. However, John David Washington was robbed of a best actor award — while Adam Driver was nominated — and the film lost to “Green Book” for best picture. Two films about race, the big difference is one ends nicely with a bow on top, the other in uncertainty. That uncertainty isn’t nice, but it is realistic and honest. That is what Lee did in “BlacKkKlansman” and was under-rewarded for.

“Creed” could also be roped into this conversation as the film was highly praised, yet received minimal major award nods. Jordan, along with Director Coogler, received nothing. Meanwhile, Sylvester Stallone received best supporting actor nods from the Golden Globes and the Academy — again, the white actor in a Black-led movie.

“Sinners” nominations are extremely promising given the history, and it would be huge to see a major win come out of it. The trend of under rewarding Black-led and Black-directed films can hopefully end too.

No Offense to Chalamet

I may obviously be rooting for Jordan and “Sinners” as a whole, but I still acknowledge other talents in the race. Chalamet is the favorite for best actor at the Oscars for a reason. He’s great in “Marty Supreme” and puts his all in every performance. But I could argue that his dominance is overcompensating for not rewarding him last year.

Adrian Brody winning for “The Brutalist” was questionable at best in 2025. Most people celebrated when Chalamet won best actor at the Actor’s Awards. His “A Complete Unknown” performance was similar to “Marty Supreme” and this year’s nominees are stronger.

A win for Chalamet would’ve arguably been more deserving. Pitted up against Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura, this year makes me question why his path to winning seems so clear considering his loss last year.

“One Battle After Another” has also taken the spotlight in the awards race over “Sinners.” It’s the front runner for best picture and I can’t be as upset about that. Did I enjoy “Sinners” more? Yes. Do I see the appeal of “One Battle After Another”? Also yes. The difference between them is “Sinners” feels like a true cinematic event. It is the seventh highest grossing film of 2025 as an original screenplay. People ran to the theaters again, which is rare in an era of streaming services.

I salute any film that revives theaters and “Sinners” did it exceptionally. The film’s Golden Globe win for cinematic and box office achievement was extremely deserved. Heading into the Academy Awards on March 15, “Sinners” does not have many major wins. I hope for that to change, but even if it doesn’t, “Sinners” longevity seems to be miles ahead of its opponents.