Originally appeared on E! Online
Michael B. Jordan knew he struck gold with Sinners.
Indeed, the actor—who pulled double duty starring as twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s 2025 horror film—shared that he had a moment where he realized that working on the film was a rare and special experience.
“I think it’s one of those things where you all get on set and everybody is collectively doing the work together and everybody’s vibing off one another,” he told Daryn Carp during an exclusive interview with E! News at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards alongside castmates Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton, Francine Maisler, Wunmi Mosaku and Omar Benson Miller on Jan. 4. “And it’s a family environment.”
For Michael—whose film took home awards for Best Casting & Ensemble, Best Original Screenplay and Best Score—his hope is that the magic lives on with audiences.
“You kind of know you have something that’s honest,” he explained. “And then hopefully that keeps up traction after the movie is long and done and over with.”
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He added, “But we’re just really grateful and happy that everybody still loves the work that we’ve done.”
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Indeed, leading the film as not one, but two leading men, brought another element worth celebrating.
“I love them both equally,” the 38-year-old told E! News. “They’re both characters that are going to live with me for the rest of my life and I’m so happy that I got the honor to play both Smoke and Stack.”
And for Delroy, he took note of the film’s potential impact even before filming.
“I recognized something special from the time that I read the script,” the 73-year-old said. “I did not know that it would be responded to like this, but I knew that it was something very particular and special from the very first read.”
For more from the cast of Sinners and more stars who dazzled the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, keep reading…
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Teyana Taylor
in Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Jessica Biel
Ariana Grande
in custom Alberta Ferretti, Christian Louboutin and Swarovski jewelry.
Paul Mescal
in custom Gucci and Cartier.
Jacob Elordi
in Bottega Veneta, Oliver Peoples and Cartier.
Michael B. Jordan
in custom Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin.
Leighton Meester & Adam Brody
in Carolina Herrera and Chopard jewelry (Meester); Valentino and Jager Le Coultre wath (Brody).
Alexander Skarsgard
Adam Scott & Naomi Scott
Marcello Hernandez
Mckenna Grace
in vintage Vera Wang and Chopard diamonds.
Krys Marshall
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in custom Louis Vuitton and Brilliant Earth jewelry.
Nicole Brydon Bloom
Sara Wells & Noah Wyle
Adam Sandler & Jackie Sandler
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Leo Woodall
Ryan Coogler & Zinzi Coogler
Katherine LaNasa & Grant Show
in custom Louis Vuitton (LaNasa).
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Sarah Shahi
Ginnifer Goodwin & Josh Dallas
in Giorgio Armani and a Tyler Ellis bag(Goodwin).
Ike Barinholtz
Jimmy Kimmel & Molly McNearney
in Alex Perry, Tyler Ellis purse and Manolo Blahnik shoes (McNearney).
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