- Primary Subject: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Key Update: Michael B. Jordan is now seen as the Best Actor frontrunner at the Oscars after winning in the 32nd Actor Awards.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: Michael B. Jordan is the new Oscar frontrunner following his Actor Award win, which aligns with the Academy’s voting bloc, and shifts momentum away from Chalamet.
Michael B. Jordan recently won an Actor Award for Best Actor for his dual performance in Sinners. With this victory, fans are now wondering whether he is the new Oscar frontrunner.
The Best Actor race has been competitive throughout the awards season. While pundits have seen Timothee Chalamet as the top contender for the category, it remains an open race, especially with the BAFTA Awards opting to award Robert Aramayo, who is not nominated at the Oscars, the trophy at their own ceremony.
Is Michael B. Jordan the New Frontrunner for Best Actor at the Oscars?
Michael B. Jordan emerged as a surprise winner in the Best Actor category at the recently concluded 32nd Actor Awards (formerly known as the SAG Awards) for his performance as twins Smoke and Stack More in Sinners.
Chalamet was considered the heavy favorite to win the category as he already won the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Awards for his performance in Marty Supreme.
However, the voters at the Actor Awards had a different contender in mind as Jordan emerged as the winner instead. Not only that, but the cast of Sinners also took home the trophy for the Best Ensemble award.
While Chalamet has two precursor trophies in his mantle this season so far, the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Awards almost do not have any voter overlap with the Oscars. Meanwhile, the Actor Award (which is voted on by members of the SAG-AFTRA guild) has voters who are also part of the Academy, which votes for the Oscars.
With this logic, Michael B. Jordan is now seen as the new frontrunner for the Best Actor race at the Oscars, and it would be interesting to see whether he is able to maintain the momentum all the way to March 15, the day of the ceremony.
However, some pundits are still cautioning that the Best Actor race remains unpredictable. While Jordan is the frontrunner, Chalamet could still end up prevailing since there is general appreciation for his performance. An upset win for Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) is also likely, since he could get a significant amount of international votes. Ethan Hawke or Leonardo DiCaprio could also still win, given their veteran status.
For now, let's wait and see how it will all unfold in the coming weeks.
Which Films Got Nominated at the 98th Oscars?
The Best Picture nominees for the 98th Oscars are the following: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams.
Sinners topped the list as it received a record-breaking number of 16 nominations, the most of any film in Oscar history. It was followed by One Battle After Another, which received 13 nominations.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 and will air live on ABC and Hulu. For a second time, it will be hosted by Conan O'Brien.
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