Michael B. Jordan is set to receive one of Hollywood’s most respected honors next month, and a powerhouse slate of collaborators and industry peers will be there to salute him.
We previously reported Jordan will be celebrated as the 39th recipient of the American Cinematheque Award during a ceremony on Nov. 20 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The tribute recognizes artists who have made “significant contributions to the art of the moving picture,” and Jordan’s impressive rise — from critically acclaimed performances to stepping behind the camera — has placed him firmly in that legacy.
The evening will feature an beautiful lineup of presenters who have shared the screen, and creative trenches, with Jordan throughout his career. Ryan Coogler, Tessa Thompson, Octavia Spencer, and Daniel Kaluuya lead the presenters, with Ben Affleck, Mahershala Ali, Bradley Cooper, Delroy Lindo, Phylicia Rashad, and “Rocky”/“Creed” producer Irwin Winkler also taking the stage to honor him.
The reunion of Jordan and Coogler makes the moment especially poignant. Their film partnership remains one of the most successful and creatively defining actor-director collaborations of the last decade — spanning Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and this year’s global box-office force Sinners. The latter, which saw Jordan deliver dual roles as brothers Smoke and Stack, marked a career milestone for both collaborators and has grossed more than $360 million worldwide.
Thompson and Rashad — who helped anchor the Creed franchise emotionally — share part of Jordan’s evolution from franchise lead to director on Creed III. Spencer, who starred opposite him in Fruitvale Station, was a significant part of the project — in front and behind the scenes — that put the industry on notice that Jordan was not just a rising talent, but a force. Kaluuya, who appeared alongside Jordan in Black Panther, joins the tribute as well.
Affleck, Ali, and Cooper — the latter having received the American Cinematheque honor in 2018 — round out the star lineup of presenters, alongside screen legend Delroy Lindo, who recently starred with Jordan in Sinners.
The evening will also spotlight the musical talent behind Sinners. Miles Caton, Ludwig Göransson, and Raphael Saadiq will perform “I Lied to You,” the original song from the film that has been praised as one of the standout soundtrack moments of the year.
In addition to Jordan’s tribute, NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios chairman Donna Langley will present Charles H. Rivkin of the Motion Picture Association with the Power of Cinema Award. The honor recognizes individuals or organizations whose work has elevated the cultural impact of film.
Jordan joins a prestigious list of past recipients including Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Nicole Kidman, Al Pacino, Samuel L. Jackson, Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Helen Mirren, and last year’s honoree Jessica Chastain. The ceremony also funds the American Cinematheque’s year-round programming across its theater locations, including the Aero Theatre, the Los Feliz 3, and the historic Egyptian Theatre.
Jordan’s recognition arrives at a defining moment in his career — one marked by creative growth, boundary-pushing performances, and a trailblazing vision for stories centered on identity, resilience, and legacy. From his breakout turns on The Wire and Friday Night Lights to his film debut in Fruitvale Station, Jordan has consistently chosen work with emotional depth and cultural impact. His dual role in Sinners solidified his status as both a box-office draw and a creative architect capable of building worlds that resonate across audiences.
With longtime collaborators, industry giants, and rising voices gathering to honor him, the ceremony stands as a testament not just to Jordan’s accomplishments to date, but to the future he continues to shape for storytelling in Hollywood.
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