I Love Boosters: Boots Riley’s Stylish Crime Comedy Targets Fashion, Power, and Payback

“A crew of professional shoplifters take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven.”

That’s the deceptively simple setup behind I Love Boosters, an upcoming crime comedy from visionary filmmaker Boots Riley. Set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026, the film promises a sharp, satirical takedown of wealth, exploitation, and modern consumer culture — all wrapped in a slick, chaotic heist narrative.

After premiering at SXSW on March 12, 2026, I Love Boosters is already being positioned as one of the most provocative and entertaining original films of the year.

What Is I Love Boosters About?

At its core, I Love Boosters follows a tight-knit crew of professional shoplifters who decide to take on a powerful and ruthless fashion industry figure. But this isn’t about random theft — it’s targeted, intentional, and deeply personal.

The crew’s mission blurs the line between crime and justice, reframing shoplifting as something closer to economic rebellion than simple lawbreaking. As the tagline suggests, this is “community service” — just with better outfits and far higher stakes.

True to Boots Riley’s style, the premise isn’t just about the heist. It’s about who gets exploited, who profits, and who gets blamed in a system built on image and inequality.

A Stacked Cast Led by Keke Palmer

The ensemble cast is one of the film’s biggest selling points, led by Keke Palmer as Corvette, a sharp, fearless member of the boosting crew.

She’s joined by:

• Naomi Ackie as Sade

• Taylour Paige as Mariah

• Demi Moore as fashion maven Christie Smith

The supporting lineup is equally loaded, featuring Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, Jason Ritter, Kerris Dorsey, and Kara Young.

This isn’t a cameo parade — it’s a carefully chosen cast built to bounce energy, ideology, and chaos off one another.

Boots Riley’s Signature Style Returns

Following Sorry to Bother You, Boots Riley has become known for blending absurd humor with razor-sharp social critique, and I Love Boosters looks to continue that tradition.

Riley both writes and directs, ensuring the film stays true to his voice:

• Unapologetically political

• Deeply satirical

• Stylish but confrontational

The film’s look is crafted by cinematographer Natasha Braier, suggesting a bold visual identity that mirrors the glossy excess of the fashion world — and the grime beneath it.

Production and Distribution

I Love Boosters is produced by Ryder Picture Company, Annapurna Pictures, Waypoint Entertainment, and Savage Rose Films — studios known for backing bold, filmmaker-driven projects.

Distribution is handled by Neon in the U.S. and Canada, with Focus Features and Universal Pictures managing international release. That combination signals strong confidence in the film’s crossover appeal between indie credibility and mainstream attention.

Release Details at a Glance

• Title: I Love Boosters

• Genre: Crime Comedy

• Director/Writer: Boots Riley

• Theatrical Release: May 22, 2026

• SXSW Premiere: March 12, 2026

• Runtime: 105 minutes

• Distributor: Neon (U.S. & Canada)

Why I Love Boosters Is One to Watch

This isn’t a traditional heist movie. There’s no clean morality, no noble criminals versus cartoon villains. Instead, I Love Boosters sits in the gray zone — where theft becomes commentary and comedy becomes confrontation.

With a fearless cast, a culturally loaded premise, and Boots Riley’s unmistakable voice behind the camera, the film looks primed to spark conversation well beyond opening weekend.

Whether audiences embrace it or argue about it, I Love Boosters doesn’t appear interested in playing it safe — and that alone makes it one of the most intriguing upcoming movies of 2026.

I Love Boosters opens in theaters May 22.