Jonathan Majors has only starred in 13 feature films and a handful of television roles. He hasn't really been in the mainstream for acting but for a few years. Nevertheless, with every outing, he proves that he's a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.
The up and coming actor is in the midst of what might be one of the most successful runs in recent memory. Beginning with his surprise appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television show Loki, the actor has been in six major projects in about a year and a half.
If there was any doubt as to whether or not the sheer volume would cause Jonathan Majors' performances to suffer, that should be put to rest. He's been working incredibly hard, but all his performances are incredible.
The actor hasn't been around long, but he's already made a huge imprint on cinema. His future is painfully bright and he reminds people every single time he's on screen: this is someone to watch.
Jonathan Majors' performances: Marvel hit a home run
Majors was a relative unknown to mainstream audiences when he appeared in the Loki finale. He stepped into the role and delivered an exceptional performance. Alongside one of the most popular Marvel characters in Loki, He Who Remains stood out.
His dialogue, mannerisms and facial expressions captured audiences and didn't let them go. Most fans of the show and the franchise were upset that Marvel didn't reveal Majors to them until the final episode.
Fortunately, the actor is about to be the MCU's next big bad. He's replacing Thanos and he might end up appearing more often than the Mad Titan did. He then appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and is set to appear in Loki, Season 2 and be the major villain in Avengers: Kang Dynasty in 2025.
Critics and audiences alike aren't sure on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Most critics disliked the movie and while a lot of the audience enjoyed it, no one was particularly thrilled with it.
One thing everyone can agree on was that Majors' performance was incredible. For critics, that's largely the only positive to take away from the movie. The plot was muddled, the dialogue was rough and the editing and pacing were frustrating at times.
Still, Majors shone throughout and gave audiences a reason to see what was otherwise a disappointing entry in the largest franchise of all time.
He was menacing and commanded attention every time he was on screen. The writing and dialogue was questionable, but Majors made everything work. Every line he delivered was perfectly, which can't be said of veteran actors Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer or Michael Douglas.
Jonathan Majors is a powerhouse performer
By the time he appeared again as Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he had been in several other projects. He appeared in the Netflix Original The Harder They Fall, which was critically loved.
There, Majors played an outlaw in the old West who wanted to track down and take revenge on an older outlaw for killing his father. It was a different project for Majors, but a powerhouse performance nonetheless.
The film was filled with iconic actors, such as:
- Idris Elba
- Zazie Beets
- Lakeith Stanfield
- Damon Wayans
- Danielle Deadwyler
- Regina King
- Delroy Lindo
Yet, it was Majors and his incredible performance that rose above the rest.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco: A forgotten gem of a performance
Long before he was in the MCU or playing the outlaw Nat Love, Majors breakout role arguably came in The Last Black Man in San Francisco. This was not a movie a ton of people saw when it came out as it settled into a more niche audience.
That's a shame, because it could be the best Jonathan Majors' acting performance of his young career. In it, he plays a devoted friend trying to balance the line between his friend's hopes and dreams and the reality of their situation.
Looking back at the 2019 film, it's easy to see why everyone wants to get their hands on the actor now. It was obvious then that he was a force to be reckoned with on the screen. He displayed all the emotions and the struggle his character was experiencing with pristine accuracy.
To some people, that story and the characters in it aren't entirely relatable. There aren't too many people who have experienced losing their childhood home to gentrification, but Majors and company made the story feel like anyone could step into it.
Jonathan Majors' most recent outing might be his best
If the MCU wasn't enough, Jonathan Majors recently stepped into the iconic Rocky franchise and provided it with easily its best antagonist. The Rocky and Creed enemies are usually one-dimensional and fairly static.
Not Majors' Damian Anderson. Creed III works for a lot of reasons, but Majors' pitch-perfect performance is a big reason why. There's a palpable and understandable rage behind Anderson, but there's also a patient cleverness to his character.
One could argue that it's his best performance to date. It's also most the interesting. It's the most layered character he's played and the most understandable, all while being a villain.
Throughout his career, he's already played a lot of different characters. Each one of them has been so different, yet they're all incredible performances. Since he's just 33, audiences everywhere should expect a long and fruitful career full of awards.