Michael B. Jordan on Sinners Breaking Records With 16 Oscar Noms: Hard to Put Into Words

Michael B. Jordan admits he’s struggling to find the words right now. The 38-year-old is already considered a veteran of this industry, having broken out on beloved ’00s TV shows like The Wire and Friday Night Lights and gone on to topline franchise blockbusters like Creed. So today marks a true milestone, earning his first career Oscar nomination for his deft, layered dual performance in Sinners.

“I’ve been in this industry for a long time. I’ve admired and seen the Academy and the other actors in the movies and filmmakers that I’ve looked up to and been inspired by my whole life,” Jordan tells The Hollywood Reporter. “To be in those conversations and in that company is a solidifying feeling.”

But that’s only where the celebration can start today. Jordan’s is one of 16 nominations for Sinners — the most any movie has received in Oscars history. The filmmaker Ryan Coogler, with whom Jordan has been regularly collaborating for over a decade, is personally nominated for his directing, writing and producing (for best picture). It’s a staggering showing, which Jordan tells The Hollywood Reporter is a true affirmation. Over the phone at various points, he laughs in disbelief, cheers loudly and stops himself a few times, as the emotion catches up to him.

How has the morning been?

I did not get up at 5:30. Man, I slept. I’m in the edit right now [on The Thomas Crown Affair], so I kind of wanted to just kind of wake up to whatever I was going to wake up to — and that was a lot of love and affection. To be acknowledged in this way, it is truly an honor. It is crazy.

How do you hear the fact that this is the most nominated movie of all time?

Honestly still digesting it all. It’s really a testament to the film as a whole and all the pieces involved and the people that went to go see this movie and watched this film. It meant something to them and they felt something — to see how it resonated throughout the year with people, man. For all of these pieces to be singled out and acknowledged and honored with the nomination. it’s something that’s really hard to put into words right now.

Who was your first phone call? Ryan?

My mom was my first call. It was great. A lot of tears and the reason why I’m even in this industry and why I’m acting at all — why that was even an idea. To talk to the woman who started it all first meant the world.

I’m sure Ryan is doing his phone calls right now, so we missed each other. (Laughs.) We called each other back and forth, so I’m going to connect with him pretty soon too.

This is your first personal nomination, and that’s true for your costars as well: Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo.

(Cheering) Woo! Yeah, so happy for Delroy, man. So happy for Wunmi. I’m so incredibly happy for Coog and everybody else, but Delroy, Wunmi — I couldn’t be happier for them.

This is a year where you’re in great company — I wonder how you look at the slate of nominees and, particularly at this moment for the industry, what strikes you about the group?

It’s actually a really, really great year as far as people bouncing back to theaters post-pandemic. I think these numbers and the turnout for these movies has been telling that the artists, when given the opportunity and the chance and the space and the support, can deliver on cinematic experiences that bring people back to the cinema. Just to be a part of that movement to help add to that contribution feels great.

How do you take stock of Sinners’ trajectory, getting to this point?

Listen, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy and Warner Brothers and [David] Zaslav supported Coog’s vision and took a swing with us in a big way. Having that pay off? The journey of it has been a fierce and swift one. You focus on building that house and people will come.

Any celebration plans today?

Ah man, I’m going right to the edit. (Laughs.) I’m on my way right now. I’m getting ready. I’ll take some time tonight to just really reflect. I mean, I don’t even know. There will be signs though. There will be signs of celebration.