This article lists the winners and nominees for the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. The award recognized an actor who delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role within the given eligible period.
Denzel Washington received the first award for The Hurricane at the 1st Annual Black Reel Award. Since its inception, the award has been given out to 17 actors. Denzel Washington holds the record for most wins and nominations in this category with 5 wins and 15 nominations, respectively. Other multiple winners include Chiwetel Ejiofor & Chadwick Boseman. Washington also became the first person to earn multiple nominations in the same year for The Book of Eli & Unstoppable at the 11th Annual Black Reel Awards. Samuel L. Jackson & Don Cheadle are tied as the most nominated actors in this category without a win.
At the 21st Annual Black Reel Awards, Chadwick Boseman became the first posthumous acting winner in Black Reel Awards History for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. At age 18, Dev Patel became the youngest actor to win this award for Slumdog Millionaire and at age 72, Morgan Freeman became the oldest winner in this category for Invictus.
The award was discontinued at the 24th Black Reel Awards and merged with Outstanding Actress in favor of a single gender-neutral award, Outstanding Lead Performance.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
2000s Year Actor Film Ref 2000 Denzel Washington The Hurricane 2000 Black Reel Awards Taye Diggs The Best Man Laurence Fishburne The Matrix Eddie Murphy Bowfinger Sean Nelson The Wood 2001 Denzel Washington Remember the Titans 2001 Black Reel Awards Omar Epps Love and Basketball Morgan Freeman Nurse Betty Cuba Gooding Jr. Men of Honor Samuel L. Jackson Shaft 2002 Denzel Washington Training Day 2002 Black Reel Awards Vin Diesel The Fast and the Furious Tyrese Gibson Baby Boy Samuel L. Jackson The Caveman's Valentine Will Smith Ali 2003 Derek Luke Antwone Fisher 2003 Black Reel Awards Ice Cube Barbershop Samuel L. Jackson Changing Lanes Wesley Snipes Undisputed Denzel Washington John Q 2004 Chiwetel Ejiofor Dirty Pretty Things 2004 Black Reel Awards Cuba Gooding Jr. Radio LL Cool J Deliver Us from Eva Wentworth Miller The Human Stain Denzel Washington Out of Time 2005 Drama 2005 Black Reel Awards Jamie Foxx Ray Don Cheadle Hotel Rwanda Mario Van Peebles BAADASSSSS! Comedy / Musical Bernie Mac Mr. 3000 Jamie Foxx Breakin' All the Rules Ice Cube Barbershop 2: Back in Business 2006 Terrence Howard Hustle & Flow 2006 Black Reel Awards Don Cheadle Crash Idris Elba The Gospel Samuel L. Jackson Coach Carter Will Smith Hitch 2007 Forest Whitaker The Last King of Scotland 2007 Black Reel Awards Jamie Foxx Dreamgirls Derek Luke Catch a Fire Will Smith The Pursuit of Happyness Denzel Washington Inside Man 2008 Dev Patel Slumdog Millionaire 2008 Black Reel Awards Don Cheadle Traitor Mos Def Be Kind Rewind Chiwetel Ejiofor Redbelt Derek Luke Miracle at St. Anna
2010s Year Actor Film Ref 2010 Morgan Freeman Invictus 2010 Black Reel Awards Quinton Aaron The Blind Side Jamie Foxx The Soloist Souléymane Sy Savané Goodbye Solo Denzel Washington The Taking of Pelham 123 2011 Anthony Mackie Night Catches Us 2011 Black Reel Awards Don Cheadle Brooklyn's Finest Jaden Smith The Karate Kid Denzel Washington The Book of Eli Unstoppable 2012 John Boyega Attack the Block 2012 Black Reel Awards Laz Alonso Jumping the Broom Demián Bichir A Better Life Oliver Litundo The First Grader Evan Ross Mooz-lum 2013 Denzel Washington Flight Jamie Foxx Django Unchained Nate Parker Red Tails Chris Rock 2 Days in New York Omar Sy The Intouchables 2014 Chiwetel Ejiofor 12 Years a Slave Idris Elba Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Michael B. Jordan Fruitvale Station Isaiah Washington Blue Caprice Forest Whitaker The Butler 2015 David Oyelowo Selma 2015 Black Reel Awards Chadwick Boseman Get on Up Nate Parker Beyond the Lights Chris Rock Top Five Denzel Washington The Equalizer 2016 Michael B. Jordan Creed 2016 Black Reel Awards Abraham Attah Beasts of No Nation Chiwetel Ejiofor Z for Zachariah Samuel L. Jackson The Hateful Eight Will Smith Concussion 2017 Denzel Washington Fences 2017 Black Reel Awards Don Cheadle Miles Ahead Nate Parker The Birth of a Nation Parker Sawyers Southside with You Denzel Washington The Magnificent Seven 2018 Daniel Kaluuya Get Out Get Out Dominates the Black Reel Awards Black Reel Awards. 13 December 2017.Get Out “Sinks” the Competition at The Black Reel Awards Black Reel Awards. 23 February 2018. Chadwick Boseman Marshall Algee Smith Detroit Lakeith Stanfield Crown Heights Denzel Washington Roman J. Israel, Esq. 2019 Chadwick Boseman Black Panther Black Reel Awards. 13 December 2017. Black Reel Awards. 9 February 2019. John David Washington BlacKkKlansman Stephan James If Beale Street Could Talk Lakeith Stanfield Sorry to Bother You Michael B. Jordan Creed II
2020s Year Actor Film Ref 2020 Eddie Murphy Dolemite Is My Name Jimmie Fails The Last Black Man in San Francisco Daniel Kaluuya Queen & Slim Kelvin Harrison Jr. Waves Luce 2021 Chadwick Boseman (posthumous) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Kingsley Ben-Adir One Night in Miami... Delroy Lindo Da 5 Bloods Rob Morgan Bull Lakeith Stanfield Judas and the Black Messiah 2022 Will Smith King Richard Mahershala Ali Swan Song Winston Duke Nine Days Jonathan Majors The Harder They Fall Denzel Washington The Tragedy of Macbeth 2023 Jeremy Pope The Inspection John Boyega Breaking Sterling K. Brown Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Daniel Kaluuya Nope Jonathan Majors Devotion
Multiple nominations and wins Multiple wins 5 Wins Denzel Washington
2 Wins Chadwick Boseman Chiwetel Ejiofor
Multiple nominations
15 Nominations Denzel Washington
5 Nominations Don Cheadle Jamie Foxx Samuel L. Jackson Will Smith
4 Nominations Chadwick Boseman Chiwetel Ejiofor
3 Nominations Derek Luke Michael B. Jordan Daniel Kaluuya Nate Parker LaKeith Stanfield
2 Nominations John Boyega Chris Rock Cuba Gooding Jr. Kelvin Harrison Jr. Jonathan Majors Eddie Murphy Forest Whitaker Ice Cube Idris Elba Morgan Freeman
Age superlatives
Record Actor Film Age (in years) Oldest winner Morgan Freeman Invictus 72 Oldest nominee Morgan Freeman Invictus 72 Youngest winner Dev Patel Slumdog Millionaire 18 Youngest nominee Jaden Smith The Karate Kid 12
References