Michael B. Jordan has built one of Hollywood’s most versatile film careers, moving from early supporting appearances to acclaimed leading roles, blockbuster franchises and award-winning performances. He first appeared on screen as a child before earning wider attention through projects such as Hardball and Chronicle. His breakthrough came with Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station in 2013, where his portrayal of Oscar Grant established him as a major dramatic performer. Jordan later became internationally recognized as Adonis Creed in the Creed franchise and Erik Killmonger in Marvel’s Black Panther. Beyond acting, he has expanded into producing and directing, making his feature directorial debut with Creed III. His latest released film, Swapped in 2026, also highlights his work as a voice performer in animated cinema.
1999 — Black and White
Michael B. Jordan made an early film appearance in the 1999 drama Black and White, directed by James Toback. He was credited as Teen #2 in the ensemble film, which explored relationships between affluent Manhattan teenagers and the hip-hop community surrounding them. The cast included Robert Downey Jr., Brooke Shields, Mike Tyson, Ben Stiller and Elijah Wood. Jordan’s brief appearance predates his better-known professional film roles and represents one of his earliest screen credits.
2001 — Hardball
Hardball, released in 2001, gave Jordan one of his first significant movie roles as Jamal, the oldest member of an inner-city youth baseball team. Directed by Brian Robbins, the sports drama stars Keanu Reeves as a troubled man who coaches the children as part of a deal intended to help him settle his debts. Jordan’s performance came during his early teenage years and placed him alongside a prominent Hollywood cast. The film is an important early entry in Michael B. Jordan movies by year because it marked his first principal movie role.
2007 — Blackout
The 2007 drama Blackout was directed by Jerry LaMothe and centered on residents of a Brooklyn neighborhood dealing with the 2003 Northeast blackout. Jordan played C.J., appearing alongside Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Saldaña, Melvin Van Peebles and LaTanya Richardson Jackson. The film premiered at the Zurich Film Festival before receiving further festival exposure and later television and DVD distribution. Its ensemble-driven story gave Jordan an early opportunity to work within a serious urban drama.
2009 — Pastor Brown
Jordan appeared in the 2009 Christian drama Pastor Brown as Tariq Brown. Directed by Rockmond Dunbar, the film stars Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Nicole Ari Parker, Michael Beach and Keith David, with a story focused on a troubled woman returning to her family and church. Jordan plays a supporting role within the family-centered drama. Although the movie is less widely known than his later work, it is part of his early feature-film career.
2012 — Red Tails
In Red Tails, Jordan portrayed Flight Officer Maurice “Bumps” Wilson, one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Directed by Anthony Hemingway and produced by George Lucas, the World War II action drama follows the pioneering African-American fighter pilots who served during the war. Jordan appeared alongside actors including Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and David Oyelowo. The film gave him an opportunity to work in a large-scale historical production before his major breakthrough the following year.
2012 — Chronicle
Chronicle was another major 2012 release for Jordan, who played Steve Montgomery in Josh Trank’s science-fiction superhero thriller. The found-footage-style film follows three teenagers who develop extraordinary abilities after discovering a mysterious underground object. Jordan’s Steve is one of the central friends whose life changes dramatically after gaining the powers. The film helped demonstrate his ability to handle contemporary genre material before he moved into more acclaimed dramatic roles.
2012 — Hotel Noir
Jordan also appeared in the independent mystery film Hotel Noir in 2012. Written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, the film is a stylized neo-noir mystery featuring an ensemble cast and a story involving a private detective, dangerous criminals and a glamorous hotel. Jordan’s appearance came during a particularly busy period in his early movie career. While much smaller than his later productions, the film is relevant when tracing his complete feature-film credits.
2013 — Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station became the defining breakthrough of Jordan’s early film career. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the biographical drama stars Jordan as Oscar Grant, a young man whose final day is portrayed before his fatal shooting at Oakland’s Fruitvale BART station. His performance received widespread critical acclaim and established the first major screen partnership between Jordan and Coogler. The role remains one of the most important performances in Michael B. Jordan movies by year and helped launch him toward major Hollywood projects.
2013 — Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Jordan provided the voice of Victor Stone, better known as Cyborg, in the 2013 animated superhero film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Directed by Jay Oliva, the film adapts the DC Comics “Flashpoint” storyline and follows an alternate reality created after Barry Allen changes the past. Jordan’s involvement was a voice performance rather than a live-action feature role. It nevertheless marked an early connection with major superhero cinema before his later work for Marvel.
2014 — That Awkward Moment
In the romantic comedy That Awkward Moment, Jordan played Mikey, one of three friends navigating relationships and commitment in New York. Tom Gormican directed the film, which also starred Zac Efron and Miles Teller. The movie allowed Jordan to move into a lighter contemporary genre after the intensity of Fruitvale Station. His performance showed another side of his range before his transition into larger action and franchise productions.
2015 — Fantastic Four
Jordan played Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch, in the 2015 superhero reboot Fantastic Four. Directed by Josh Trank, the science-fiction action film followed a group of scientists who develop extraordinary abilities after an experiment goes wrong. Jordan’s casting was notable because he became one of the first major Black actors to portray the traditionally white comic-book character in a live-action adaptation. Although the film received a poor critical response, Jordan’s involvement remains a notable part of his superhero filmography.
2015 — Creed
Creed marked Jordan’s second collaboration with Ryan Coogler and became one of the defining movies of his career. He starred as Adonis “Donnie” Johnson, the son of legendary boxer Apollo Creed, opposite Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. The sports drama combines boxing action with a character-driven story about identity, family and legacy. Jordan’s acclaimed performance transformed Adonis into a major modern sports-film character and established the foundation for a successful franchise.
2018 — Black Panther
Jordan returned to the superhero genre in Black Panther, playing Erik Killmonger, the film’s complex antagonist. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the Marvel blockbuster stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa and explores the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Killmonger’s personal history and political motivations give the film’s conflict an unusually emotional dimension for a superhero villain. The enormous commercial and cultural success of Black Panther made Jordan’s performance one of his most internationally recognized roles.
2018 — Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451 was a television film rather than a standard theatrical feature, so it is best identified separately in Jordan’s filmography. He starred as Guy Montag in Ramin Bahrani’s adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel, appearing opposite Michael Shannon and Sofia Boutella. Jordan also served as an executive producer on the project. His performance earned recognition during awards season, including a Primetime Emmy nomination for the television movie.
2018 — Kin
Jordan made a brief cameo as the Male Cleaner in the science-fiction action film Kin. Directed by Jonathan and Josh Baker, the movie follows two brothers whose lives change after they discover a mysterious futuristic weapon. Jordan also served as an executive producer, making his contribution extend beyond his short on-screen appearance. Because his role is a cameo rather than a conventional leading or supporting performance, it should be distinguished from his main feature-film roles.
2018 — Creed II
Jordan returned as Adonis Johnson in Creed II, the sequel to the 2015 boxing drama. Directed by Steven Caple Jr., the film follows Adonis as he prepares to fight Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago, while confronting the legacy of the fight that killed Apollo Creed. Sylvester Stallone again appeared as Rocky Balboa, while Dolph Lundgren returned as Ivan Drago. Jordan also served as an executive producer, strengthening his involvement in the franchise behind the camera.
2019 — Just Mercy
In Just Mercy, Jordan portrayed real-life attorney Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the legal drama is based on Stevenson’s memoir and focuses on his work defending people facing wrongful convictions and unjust sentences. The film also stars Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson and Rob Morgan. Jordan’s performance placed him at the center of a serious courtroom and social-justice drama and earned strong critical recognition.
2021 — Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse
Jordan starred as John Kelly in Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, an action thriller based on Tom Clancy’s novel. Directed by Stefano Sollima, the film follows former Navy SEAL John Kelly as he pursues those responsible for the murder of his pregnant wife while becoming involved in a larger international conspiracy. The movie was originally planned for a 2020 release but was ultimately released in 2021 after pandemic-related changes. Jordan also produced the film and carried the action-focused lead role.
2021 — Space Jam: A New Legacy
Jordan made a brief cameo in Space Jam: A New Legacy, appearing as himself in the animated/live-action sports comedy. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the film stars LeBron James alongside the Looney Tunes characters in a digital basketball adventure. Jordan’s appearance is a cameo rather than a conventional acting role. It is nevertheless a released feature-film appearance and therefore belongs in a complete account of his movie work.
2021 — A Journal for Jordan
In Denzel Washington’s romantic drama A Journal for Jordan, Jordan played First Sergeant Charles Monroe King. The film is based on the memoir by Dana Canedy and follows a soldier who writes a journal of advice and memories for his infant son while serving overseas. Jordan also produced the movie, which co-stars Chanté Adams, Robert Wisdom and Tamara Tunie. The role gave him another opportunity to portray a real person in an emotionally grounded drama.
2022 — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Jordan returned briefly as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Ryan Coogler directed the Marvel sequel, which centers on Wakanda following the death of T’Challa and introduces new conflicts involving Namor and the underwater kingdom of Talokan. Jordan’s appearance is a limited role connected to the film’s emotional and spiritual storyline rather than a traditional full-length return. It remains significant because Killmonger had become one of the most memorable characters from the original Black Panther.
2023 — Creed III
Creed III expanded Jordan’s responsibilities by making him the film’s star and director. He reprised Adonis Creed while making his feature directorial debut, guiding the story of Adonis confronting his childhood friend Damian Anderson, played by Jonathan Majors. The sports drama continues the character’s journey as a champion while examining friendship, ambition and unresolved trauma. The film was a major milestone in Michael B. Jordan movies by year because it established him as a filmmaker as well as a leading actor.
2025 — Sinners
Jordan reunited with Ryan Coogler for Sinners, a period horror film in which he plays twin brothers, Smoke and Stack. Set against the backdrop of the American South, the movie combines supernatural horror with drama, music and historical themes. Jordan’s dual performance became one of the most acclaimed achievements of his career and demonstrated his ability to differentiate two central characters within the same film. The role ultimately earned him major awards recognition, including the Academy Award for Best Actor.
2026 — Swapped
Swapped, released in 2026, is an animated family adventure directed by Nathan Greno. Jordan provides the voice of Ollie, a small woodland creature who becomes caught in a body-swapping adventure with Ivy, a majestic bird voiced by Juno Temple. The film blends comedy, fantasy, adventure and family themes and was released on Netflix with a limited theatrical release. It represents another distinctive entry in Jordan’s filmography, extending his movie work into leading voice acting.
Conclusion
Michael B. Jordan’s film career has developed from brief childhood appearances into a wide-ranging body of work spanning drama, sports films, superhero blockbusters, action thrillers, animation and horror. His collaborations with Ryan Coogler, particularly Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther and Sinners, have been central to his rise as a major Hollywood performer. At the same time, projects such as Just Mercy, Without Remorse and A Journal for Jordan have demonstrated his ability to move beyond franchise cinema. With acting, producing and directing now forming parts of his career, Michael B. Jordan movies by year show a performer whose filmography continues to evolve across multiple genres.
