Michael B. Jordan Was Fantastic in This Gripping Courtroom Drama 6 Years Before ‘Sinners’

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Published Mar 9, 2026, 12:39 PM EDT

Sinners is the talk of awards season, with a record 16 Oscar nominations just the latest accolade for Ryan Coogler’s enticing horror. The filmmaker’s regular collaborator, Michael B. Jordan, has won universal praise for his dual performances as "Smoke" and "Stack" Moore, brothers who open a speakeasy in 1932 Mississippi, only to encounter more than they bargained for on opening night.

Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx Fight for Justice in 'Just Mercy'

The film is a dramatization of the career of Bryan Stevenson (Jordan), a lawyer and social activist, who begins the film as a Harvard graduate looking to make a difference. Traveling to Montgomery, Alabama, he sets out to defend people who cannot afford legal representation, establishing the Equal Justice Initiative alongside fellow advocate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson).

He finds his most compelling client in Walter "Johnny D." McMillian (Jamie Foxx), an African American man convicted of the murder of an 18-year-old white girl three years prior. McMillian maintains his innocence, and Jordan begins to find inconsistencies in the testimony and evidence that condemned him. Seeking to overturn his client’s conviction, Stevenson faces institutional racism, physical threats, and career jeopardy in his pursuit of justice.

A Hard-Hitting Drama with a Real-Life Influence

Michael B. Jordan is Jamie Foxx's lawyer, both sitting in court in Just Mercy

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who would go on to direct the Marvel movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the Disney+ series Wonder Man, the film draws on a true story in order to explore injustice within the prison system. Based on Stevenson’s 2014 memoir of the same name, Just Mercy never falls foul of the traps that can scupper a legal drama. It investigates without bogging you down in legal jargon, and advocates for justice without resorting to melodrama.

Like its lead, the film sits with the victims of wrongful convictions, illustrating what life is like for those incarcerated for a crime they didn’t commit, and without the resources to clear their name. It also portrays the systemic racism within local government, showing how Black men could be convicted quickly and with little evidence, by authorities looking to close a case with little fuss. Whereas those in power are eager to slam the cell door shut, Cretton invites the audience to step inside and feel the hopelessness and anger of those affected.

At the center of the film is an excellent collaboration between Jordan and Foxx, playing contrasting characters who light up the screen whenever they meet. Stevenson is portrayed as a man who knows the workings of the legal system, and that keeping his head in the face of the worst corruption is key to getting what he wants. It’s a heroic lead, and contrasts perfectly with McMillian as a man who is all out of hope. Exhausted, angry, and cynical about life, Foxx’s raw energy is a reminder of what is at stake and why Stevenson must stay the course.

'Just Mercy' Made Michael B. Jordan The Perfect Lead

At the time of Just Mercy, Jordan was establishing himself as a blockbuster star. Roles in two Creed films and 2018’s Black Panther showed he had the presence to handle a large-scale action movie, but the role of Bryan Stevenson showed he had the power to hold your attention without the need for spectacle.

Jordan got his start in drama, appearing in the TV show The Wire, and in his breakthrough film appearance, Fruitvale Station. However, both roles required him to play a younger character, whereas Just Mercy required a special kind of maturity. As Stevenson, an idealistic lawyer determined to overcome intimidating odds, he grounds his performance in quiet determination. Small shifts in body language and the tone of his voice portray a man who refuses to give in to anger, no matter how justified. It’s fascinating to watch, and it allowed audiences to experience a subtler side to the actor’s repertoire.

The role also allowed him to share the screen with one of the greats in Foxx. To be able to hold his own with a veteran showed that, after two decades in the business, first as a child actor and now as an adult star, he was capable of delivering no matter what the role required.

Despite a strong reception from both critics and audiences, Just Mercy was notably left out of the 2020 Oscar nominations. Many saw it as a snub, both for the movie itself and the stars involved, to the point where Foxx himself addressed it. Jordan’s time in the Academy’s spotlight may be coming, as he is considered a strong contender among the nominees for the 2026 Best Actor award. If Sinners turns out to be his Oscar moment, it will be considered long overdue for fans of Just Mercy’s powerful message, proving that Jordan was set to be one of the best actors of his generation.Just Mercy is available to rent or buy on VOD services.