Leonardo DiCaprio pulls Michael B. Jordan into warm hug after latter wins the Oscar for Best Actor

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael B. Jordan walked off the Dolby Theatre stage Sunday night as the new best actor Oscar winner for his dual role in Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners.'

Moments later, the man he had just defeated in the category wrapped him in a warm embrace. Leonardo DiCaprio, nominated for 'One Battle After Another,' met the victor in a scene captured on video and shared across social media.

Jordan, 39, earned his first nomination and first win at the 98th Academy Awards for portraying twins Smoke and Stack in the Warner Bros. vampire allegory.  

He bested a field that included Timothée Chalamet for 'Marty Supreme,' Ethan Hawke for 'Blue Moon,' Wagner Moura for 'The Secret Agent' and DiCaprio for Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another.'

The Oscar battle

Jordan's victory marked a notable shift after more than a decade had passed since DiCaprio claimed best actor for 'The Revenant' in 2016. "In a show of DiCaprio's graciousness and the camaraderie between the two movie stars, he and Jordan could be seen clasping each other's fists," the Daily Mail reported.

The heartwarming moment unfolded after Adrien Brody, last year's winner for 'The Brutalist,' handed Jordan the trophy. Jordan had hugged his mother en route to the stage. Backstage, the interaction extended beyond a quick pat on the back.

"At one stage, Michael rested his head on DiCaprio’s chest before DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another co-star Benicio del Toro joined the duo to hug Michael himself, shake his hand, and pose for photos," Us Weekly reported.

Del Toro, who was nominated in supporting actor for the Anderson film but was defeated by an absent Sean Penn, kissed Jordan's hand. The three men (Jordan, DiCaprio and Del Toro) briefly clustered together in the wings.  

Michael B. Jordan expresses gratitude over Oscar win

Jordan reflected on the nomination process in his acceptance speech.

"I wasn’t expecting that. I’m so honored and privileged to be nominated in categories with people and actors and humans that I love, and I love their work and what they contribute to our craft and just rise to has been unbelievable. So, thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen," he said.

"Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York, when we didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel," Jordan added.

The New York Times noted the rarity of the win. "A remarkable win for Jordan on his first Oscar nomination, which almost never happens with a handsome young A-lister in this category. Voters usually like to make a man wait longer for it, as Leonardo DiCaprio can attest. Bradley Cooper and Timothée Chalamet are still waiting."