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After Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor in a Leading Role for Sinners at the 2026 Oscars March 15, he and his former Friday Night Lights costar shared a touchdown moment.
Michael B. Jordan's Oscars Best Actor Speech Is Absolutely Perfect
It will always be Texas forever for Michael B. Jordan and Jesse Plemons.
After the Sinners star took home the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Oscars on March 15, he spotted his Friday Night Lights costar in the crowd.
As Michael stepped off the stage with presenter Adrien Brody at the Dolby Theater, he pointed to Jesse—sitting front row with wife Kirsten Dunst—before patting his chest over his heart multiple times. Meanwhile, the Bugonia actor was all smiles as he pointed back amid his applause. (See all the stars at the Oscars here.)
While Michael and Jesse had a sweet moment in Hollywood after his acceptance speech, their nearly decade-long friendship—which blossomed when the former joined the Friday Night Lights season four cast—has been the real winner.
But it wasn't the easiest experience for the Black Panther alum to play Dillon Panthers quarterback Vince Howard so far into the series.
"I was so anxious joining the show, because you guys were already established," Michael admitted during their December appearance on Variety's Actors on Actors. "Everybody had such a great relationship, and like the new kid going into a new school, you felt like the outsider. But at that first cast dinner where everybody introduced themselves and welcomed us into the team, all that washed away."
Despite the apprehension, Jesse—who starred as Landry Clarke since season one—knew that the series' success rested on two important qualities: clear eyes and full hearts. Then, you simply can't lose.
"We needed it," the OG cast member said of Michael's debut. "After season two, we needed some new blood. These last few days, knowing I was going to see you, I've just been thinking about all the good times."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
So, it was especially memorable for the Black Panther star to have an old friend looking on as he won his first Oscar.
"Thank you, everybody in this room, and everybody at home for supporting me over my career,” he said during his acceptance speech. "I feel it. I know you guys want me to do well, and I want to do that because you guys bet on me."
"Thank you for keeping betting on me," he continued. "I'm gonna keep stepping up. And I'm gonna keep being the best version of myself I can be. So I just wanna say thank you for everybody in this room that has something to do with my success."
While Michael prepares to display his Best Actor trophy, keep reading for all the winners at the 2026 Oscars.
Best Picture
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Actress in a Leading Role
WINNER: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet
Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value
Emma Stone - Bugonia
Actor in a Leading Role
Timothée Chalamet - Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon
WINNER: Michael B. Jordan - Sinners
Wagner Moura - The Secret Agent
Actress in a Supporting Role
Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value
WINNER: Amy Madigan - Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku- Sinners
Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another
Actor in a Supporting Role
Benecio Del Toro - One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi - Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo - Sinners
WINNER: Sean Penn - One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård - Sentimental Value
Director
Chloé Zhao - Hamnet
Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme
WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler - Sinners
Original Screenplay
Blue Moon
It Was Just An Accident
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
WINNER: Sinners
Costume Design
Avatar: Fire and Ash
WINNER: Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
Sinners
Original Song
"Dear Me" from Diane Warren: Relentless
WINNER: "Golden" from KPop Deamon Hunters
"I Lied to You" from Sinners
"Sweet Dreams of Joy" from Viva Verdii
"Train Dreams" from Train Dreams
International Feature Film
The Secret Agent
It Was Just an Accident
WINNER: Sentimental Value
Sirat
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Live Action Short Film
Butcher's Stain
A Friend of Dorothy
Jane Austen's Period Drama
WINNER (Tie): The Singers
WINNER (Tie): Two People Exchanging Saliva
Documentary Short Film
WINNER: All the Empty Rooms
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
Children No More: "Were and Are Gone"
The Devil Is Busy
Perfectly a Strangeness
Original Score
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
WINNER: Sinners
Visual Effects
WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Cinematography
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
WINNER: Sinners
Train Dreams
Film Editing
F1
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Production Design
WINNER: Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Adapted Screenplay
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
WINNER: One Battle After Another
Train Dreams
Documentary Feature Film
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through Rocks
WINNER: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
The Perfect Neighbor
Casting
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
WINNER: One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sinners
Animated Short Film
Butterfly
Forevergreen
WINNER: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters
Makeup & Hairstyling
WINNER: Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Animated Feature Film
Arco
Elio
WINNER: Kpop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Sound
WINNER: F1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirat
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