With the release of Sinners at the start of summer 2025, audiences were treated to a double dose of Michael B. Jordan. His star turn as twin brothers in Ryan Coogler’s epic vampire movie oozed charisma, firmly establishing him as one of the coolest and most accomplished actors working today.
The truth, though, is that we’ve known about his star quality for a long time now. Whether you’re just getting to know him or you’ve been following his career for years, there’s never a bad time to dive into the best Michael B. Jordan movies and see what he’s been up to. Below, you’ll find ten of his best so far, ranked in ascending order, as well as where to watch them.
10. Fantastic Four (2015)
Is it messy? Absolutely. Is it for the best that this version of Marvel’s ‘First Family’ was never seen again? Probably. But deep down, are we ready to admit that Fantastic Four is secretly a little bit fun? Yes. Yes, we are. First of all, I don’t want to live in a world that doesn’t have the ‘Say that again’ meme. Secondly, it’s very hard to completely hate on a film with a cast that includes Toby Kebbell and Miles Teller alongside Jordan.
There’s actually a lot to appreciate about the direction Josh Trank’s vision for these characters was heading in. It had plenty of energy, some cool visuals, and it’s definitely nowhere near the worst superhero movie with Marvel’s name attached. With a runtime of 100 minutes, it’s not like you’re wasting your time either. Hell, even just talking about this movie right now has got me craving a rewatch – I wonder if I’ll still be a staunch defender of Fantastic Four after that.
9. That Awkward Moment (2014)
Here’s something we haven’t seen often from Michael B. Jordan: a romantic comedy. Given he’s one of the most charismatic actors on the planet, you’d think studios would be throwing these projects at him. Judging by his work in That Awkward Moment, he would knock every single one of them out of the park! Still, this rare light spot in his otherwise fairly heavy filmography is a real treat and an underrated gem in the genre overall.
He stars alongside Miles Teller and Zac Efron here, and the leading men of That Awkward Moment help to lift what could have been a fairly average flick into a very entertaining and easy watch. It’s filled with lots of genuinely funny moments, and also offers some – but not too much – commentary on the idea of toxic masculinity, too. You’ll have to pay to rent this movie on Apple TV+, but if you’re looking for a light watch for date night, it’s honestly worth a couple of quid.
8. Creed II (2018)
It’s really hard to separate all three Creed movies. When forced to pick, however, I have to admit Creed II is marginally weaker (it goes down to a split decision, but there has to be a loser in every fight). This sequel has a solid storyline at its core, but it just doesn’t quite have the spark of Coogler’s first instalment and lacks the creativity from Jordan in Creed III. Still, Steven Caple Jr. gets some of Stallone’s best work here, and Jordan really starts to make the franchise his own by this point.
Love it or hate it, the decision to bring back Ivan Drago and have Adonis fight his son is a really interesting move, helping bring closure for both families and bringing the franchise to a wonderful full-circle moment. It may be marginally the weakest of the trilogy, but Creed II is still one of the best sports movies of the last decade. It leaves Prime Video at the end of September 2025, but you could always give Film Box+ a trial run and watch it there instead.
7. Chronicle (2012)
You may think Black Panther was Michael B. Jordan’s first dalliance with the superhero genre, but he actually gained special abilities long before that in 2012’s Chronicle. The Josh Trank movie has grown as a cult favourite over the years, garnering praise for its gritty approach to the superhero craze and the creative technical elements behind the indie flick. Rightly so, too. This is a film with enough visual flair and smart use of CGI to make its world immersive without overkill.
Despite the supernatural elements at play, this dark, thought-provoking sci-fi film is surprisingly human and grounded, exploring the mental and moral complications that would arise from gaining superpowers. Honestly, if it weren’t for the rise of the MCU around the same time, I think Chronicle would have absolutely blown audiences away. Next time you boot up Disney+, try this 83-minute movie rather than rewatching The Avengers for the umpteenth time.
6. Creed (2015)
The idea of resurrecting the Rocky franchise at all was a risky one, never mind the fact that, with Creed, the focus went away from Sylvester Stallone’s iconic title character and introduced us to a brand new hero to root for. But it damn sure worked, as the combination of Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler produced magic once more in 2015.
Stallone becomes the reluctant mentor here, helping Adonis Creed step out of the shadow of his father, Apollo, and earn champion status in his own right. Creed is a rousing, riveting study of the power of perseverance and mental fortitude, and is worth a watch whether you care for boxing or not. I have no interest in combat sports at all, but I still think these movies are incredible.
While I believe Creed III is the most exciting film in the trilogy (more on that one later), I’ll always be in awe of the way Coogler was able to put his own stamp on such a prominent IP, putting a modern twist on the world of Rocky.
5. Just Mercy (2019)
While Jordan is great value in his blockbuster roles, he is usually at his most impressive when he’s given more serious, real-world themes to chew on, like in the 2019 film, Just Mercy. Playing human rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, Jordan excels with this more dramatic, heartfelt material, generating excellent chemistry opposite Jamie Foxx.
This is not even Jordan’s best work in the social justice drama subgenre, but it’s still a movie that’ll make you enraged, empowered, and most importantly, educated. It’s a tragedy that this kind of story exists and still needs to be told even to this day, but, just like Fruitvale Station, this is a film that demands attention no matter how uncomfortable it may make us feel.
I remember a friend of mine telling me time and time again to watch this movie a few years ago, and I’m so happy I listened to her. Just Mercy is, quite simply, essential viewing. Watch this if you’re a fan of films like Selma, If Beale Street Could Talk, and the documentary 13th.
4. Black Panther (2018)
An actor of Michael B. Jordan’s status was always going to pop up in the MCU at some point, and he bagged the ideal role in Black Panther as the forgotten heir to the Wakandan throne, Erik Killmonger. When he returns from his banishment, Killmonger tears his ancestral home apart, and his formidable tyranny is arguably the best part of the whole film. I’d say Killmonger is one of the top three villains in the entire MCU (Thanos and Loki might have him beat, but it’s close), and a lot of that is down to the work Jordan does.
It takes a lot to steal the show away from the late, great Chadwick Boseman, but Jordan manages it here with a rage-filled, cocksure performance. Black Panther isn’t just a brilliant superhero movie; it was a complete cultural moment, with Black people around the world finally feeling like they had a movie superhero to call their own (after Blade). The music, costumes, and production design won Oscars, and deservedly so. In particular, the score from Ludwig Goransson (my favourite modern composer) is off the charts.
As a side note, Jordan’s cameo in the sequel to this film is solid, but far too brief for us to really recognise Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on this list.
3. Sinners (2025)
When people say ‘They don’t make films like this anymore’, Sinners is exactly what they’re talking about. Coogler’s first foray into horror is a spectacular feat, and evokes memories of the big, bombastic genre pieces we used to get in the ‘90s. It’s gory, thrilling, and very, very sexy, and Jordan is at the heart of all of that.
Sinners may be a little bit chaotic, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Its first act is methodical and demands patience as we get to know the characters of this macabre play. The second act pivots to total carnage at breakneck speed, before a final act that’ll well and truly knock your socks off. What this film lacks in nuance at times (it’s vampires, there’s only so far subtlety can go before it has to step aside), it more than makes up for on the technical front, with some truly mind-blowing shots utilising the full scope of IMAX cameras, and that thumping score – put together by Goransson, again – providing the cherry on top of this deliciously dark cake.
If you didn’t see Sinners on a massive cinema screen, I really do feel sorry for you. But watching it at home is still an absolute treat. This is my film of 2025, and I can’t see anything changing that before the year is out.
2. Creed III (2023)
The whole Creed trilogy is brilliant, as I’ve already made abundantly clear with this list, but it’s the third movie in the series that ranks the highest for me. This is also Jordan’s directorial debut, too, and he absolutely knocks it out of the park: Creed III not only takes Adonis’ story in a fresh and exciting direction, with the introduction of his estranged friend, Damian, but it’s also a highly stylised, impeccably choreographed sports movie.
I love the way Jordan leans heavily on his anime inspirations – with the influences of Akira and Dragon Ball Z clear to see – and expertly utilises sound design and slow-motion to ensure you feel every single punch from this threequel. Watching this in a packed theatre with my brother (a massive anime fan) was a rip-roaring experience that I’ll never forget. I’d never seen a sports movie on this level, and probably never will again.
1. Fruitvale Station (2013)
One of Jordan’s earlier movies happens to be his very best, and it was his first link-up with Coogler, too. Fruitvale Station is a brutal sub-90-minute drama retelling the true story of the tragic death of Oscar Grant, a young man who was killed on New Year’s Day back in 2009 – a case of police brutality.
Jordan is immense in the lead role, giving us ample reasons to feel absolutely broken by his untimely death. He balances the lighter, more charming moments early in the film as he spends time with friends and family, before taking us down a dark and uncomfortable path for the absolutely harrowing conclusion. This is the kind of film you simply have to watch, even if you never want to again afterwards.
You can catch Fruitvale Station on MGM+, and to be honest, it’s worth a subscription for this film alone. I’ll watch it again someday, but I still don’t think I’m ready for that pain yet…
