After more than a decade of shaping some of the most memorable performances in modern cinema, Michael B. Jordan has finally earned his first Golden Globe nomination. And for longtime collaborator Ryan Coogler, the recognition isn’t just deserved, it’s long overdue.
Jordan received a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his performance in Sinners, competing alongside Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein), Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine), Wager Moura (The Secret Agent), and Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere).
For many, Jordan’s nomination feels like a moment that should have happened years ago. But for Coogler, who’s directed Jordan in Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, and now Sinners, there’s something uniquely meaningful about seeing it happen with this film.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Coogler opened up about watching Jordan reach this milestone after years of putting everything into his craft.
“I’m really happy for him,” Coogler said. “Mike is so good in that he makes really challenging performances look like they come naturally. Because I’m often there for those performances, I see how much he puts himself through, how much he puts on his body, how much he puts on his emotion and the craft that’s there.”
Coogler has had a front-row seat to Jordan’s evolution as an actor, working with him across roles that demanded vulnerability, physical transformation, emotional nuance, and unforgettable cultural impact. That’s why the recognition strikes a deeper chord.
“It’s tough to have seen all his performances get overlooked in the past, because I have a constant point of view on what it is that he does,” Coogler shared. “He is one of our most special actors.”
Jordan’s work in Sinners required navigating layered emotional complexity, including managing two separate characters, something Coogler believes should be viewed as a master class in acting.
“He worked twice as hard. He had those two different characters to manage and did such a beautiful job,” Coogler said. “I’m thrilled to see him be recognized by the Globes.”
Jordan and Coogler have built one of the most meaningful creative partnerships of their generation. Together, they’ve shaped stories that resonated culturally and emotionally, from Oakland to Wakanda to the haunting world of Sinners.
This nomination isn’t just a trophy possibility; it’s validation. It speaks to craft, dedication, and the consistency of an actor who has evolved with every role, yet never lost the hunger to push further.
And for Coogler, watching Jordan hit this moment is more than celebratory; it’s affirming.
“I’m just really happy that he’s recognized now on this one,” he said. “He is one of our most special actors.”
Regardless of what happens on awards night, this recognition marks a turning point for Jordan and an acknowledgment of the work he’s poured into his career for over a decade.
Sinners wasn’t just a performance.
It was a breakthrough recognition.
And for Michael B. Jordan, it’s only the beginning.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.
