Michael B. Jordan Reveals Who He Called First After Hearing About His Oscar Nomination

Michael B. Jordan has reached a major career peak by securing his first Academy Award nomination. The 38-year-old actor, who rose to fame through iconic roles in The Wire and Creed, was recognized for his complex performance in the supernatural thriller Sinners.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jordan described the experience as a validating moment after years of hard work. 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, he said. To be in those conversations and in that company is a solidifying feeling.

The film itself has made cinematic history. Sinners earned a total of 16 Oscar nominations, the highest number ever received by a single movie. The film’s creator, Ryan Coogler, also received multiple nods for his work as a director, writer, and producer.

Jordan was in the middle of a busy workday when he heard the news. He decided not to wake up early for the 5:30 a.m. announcement, instead waking up to a flood of congratulatory messages. 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, he explained.

Reflecting on the record-breaking nominations, Jordan credited the entire production team and the fans who supported the film. 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, he noted.

The first person Jordan called to celebrate was his mother. He shared that it was a tearful conversation, acknowledging her as the reason he pursued acting in the first place. He also mentioned that he and Ryan Coogler had been playing phone tag as they both tried to process the news.

Jordan’s busy schedule shows no signs of slowing down. He is currently editing his next major project, a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, which he is both directing and starring in.

Michael B. Jordan’s nomination is a well-deserved recognition for an actor who has consistently delivered powerful performances for two decades. It is rare to see a horror-infused film lead the Oscars with such a high number of nominations, which shows how much the industry is changing. What do you think about Sinners breaking the all-time nomination record? Share your thoughts in the comments.