It’s a joy to watch a genuinely gifted performer rise from their earliest days to global stardom. Michael B. Jordan’s first film role was only 22 years ago, and in that relatively short time, he’s become one of the biggest names in entertainment. With that rapid evolution, plenty of great performances can get lost in the shuffle, leaving fans to look back to find them.
Michael B. Jordan’s two biggest blockbuster moments are his outstanding performance in the title roleof theCreedtrilogyand his groundbreaking villainous turn as Killmonger in the MCU. He’s been duly praised for both of those screen-stealing contributions to beloved films, but he’s been consistently delivering great work in projects of all sizes.
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Guy Montag -Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury’s classic 1953 novelhas been adapted to most mediums, including a well-received 1966 film by François Truffaut, but the newest take on the story came out in 2018. The original story is simultaneously one of the most frequently banned books ever written and a regular feature on middle school required reading lists. The 2018 iteration starred Michael B. Jordan in the lead role while also holding an executive producer credit. Guy Montag, the professional book burner who gradually joins the resistance, isn’t the most complex character, but he is one of the most influential figures in fictional history. Thisadaptation of the storywasn’t celebrated, and it deviated from the source material in a few key areas, but Jordan’s performance was solid.
Steve -Chronicle
Though it’s been somewhat swept under the rug by years of superhero fatigue and the strange paths of its creators, this 2012 found footage film was a solid entry in the genre. The film that gaveJosh Trank his mostly squandered careerwas also the first project to give Jordan superpowers. The film follows a trio of high school students who gain telekinetic powers from an alien crash site. The protagonists are relatively arch characters, one troubled loner, one good-natured everyman, and one ambitious popular social butterfly. Jordan takes the prom king role, delivering the easy charisma one needs to bring it across. Perhaps more impressively, he manages to be the life of the high school scene without being a stereotype or a jerk. Jordan is an integral piece of the film, and he seems to have a great time with the role.
Oscar Grant III -Fruitvale Station
No one role made Michael B. Jordan a star, but this film was a huge leap forward for his career. Ryan Coogler’s directorial debut depicts the final day in the life of Oscar Grant III, immediately before his death at the hands of Bay Area Rapid Transit cop Johannes Mehserle. The footage, captured on a cell phone by a random passerby, went viral and led to protests in the area.Fruitvaleis perhaps the rawest cinematic incarnation of this kind of story. Jordan offers some humanity to a figure most only saw in his darkest moments. Coogler depicts Grant’s final day with a layer of banal optimism, dealing with a variety of everyday struggles and hopeful that things will get better. It’s one of the strongestperformances of Jordan’s career, and it’s all the more unique for its simplicity.
Terence - “Life Hutch”
The penultimate episode of the second volumeofLove, Death & Robotsshort films is an appropriately simple horror concept. A military space pilot finds himself alone after a disastrous crash-landing. The planet he hits is rocky and uninhabited. He struggles his way into a self-contained shelter, only to find it guarded by a malfunctioning quadrupedal robot. Jordan stars in the central role, and though he has very little dialogue, he’s an excellent protagonist. The story comes from a 1956 work by Harlan Ellison, who loves to play with AI that’s turned against its masters. “Life Hutch” doesn’t dig very deep into its themes. It’s a simple locked-room horror story that forces Jordan to endure suffering in an extremely tense situation. A lot oftheLove, Death & Robotsshorts are engaging, but thanks to Jordan’s performance, “Life Hutch” is one of the most gripping.
Bryan Stevenson -Just Mercy
Ever since Gregory Peck brought Atticus Finch to life in Robert Mulligan’s seminal 1962 adaptation of Harper Lee’sTo Kill a Mockingbird, the go-to soaring role for a leading man hasbeen a heroic lawyerfighting for justice. Jordan takes his turn in that time-honored tradition in the role of real-life attorney and activist Bryan Stevenson. The film follows Stevenson as he works to free a man from death row. It’s an immensely powerful performance in a deeply moving film. Michael B. Jordan could be said to be operating on a “one for them, one for me” schedule, but he treats every role like it’s for everyone.
