Michael B. Jordan has won the Best Actor award at the Academy Awards for his dual performance as twin brothers Stack and Smoke in the film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler.
Jordan’s victory came as a surprise to many observers, as Timothée Chalamet had been widely tipped to win for his role in Marty Supreme before the race tightened shortly before the ceremony.
In his acceptance speech, Jordan expressed deep gratitude, saying, “God is good,” while also thanking Coogler for his vision and support. He praised the filmmaker for trusting him with the project and creating the space for him to fully embody the characters.
“You’re an amazing person,” Jordan said while addressing Coogler. “I’m honored to call you a collaborator and a friend. You gave me the opportunity and space to be seen. Love you, bro.”
Sinners emerged as one of the night’s most celebrated films, earning a record 16 nominations and winning four awards. Coogler won Best Original Screenplay, while cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win the cinematography category at the Oscars. She also became the first person of African American or Filipino descent to receive the award.
The film, a vampire story set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta during the era of Jim Crow, explores themes of Black culture, resilience, and survival.
Sinners was written and directed by Coogler and produced by Coogler, his wife Zinzi Coogler, and longtime collaborator Sev Ohanian.
Jordan and Coogler previously worked together on the 2013 film Fruitvale Station, in which Jordan portrayed Oscar Grant, who was fatally shot by a transit police officer in 2009. The duo later reunited for the Black Panther films before collaborating again on Sinners.
With the win, Jordan becomes the sixth Black actor to receive the Best Actor Oscar, joining Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith.
So far, Halle Berry remains the only Black woman to have won the Best Actress award at the Oscars.
