Eight years after Boots Riley’s bold debut film Sorry to Bother You, and two years after the underrated series I’m a Virgo, we’ve got the first look at the eccentric filmmaker’s new movie, I Love Boosters. And it’s an image that is exactly what you would expect from Riley: vivid, weird, and eye-popping.
The first look at I Love Boosters features stars Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and Keke Palmer. The striking mustard yellow tone, the odd hairstyles and nametags, the stunned goofy expressions on their faces, it all tells you to expect another wild ride from Boots.
The story follows a crew of female shoplifters — led by Corvette (Palmer) and her crew, the Velvet Gang — who survive by “boosting” luxury clothing from department stores. They decide to target the CEO of a fashion brand for stealing and profiting from Corvette’s ideas, sparking a rebellious movement that spins out of their control.
No surprise with the plotline, as Boots has always been a political filmmaker who combines social commentary with absurdist storytelling. I always recommend folks check out his hip-hop work as part of The Coup, all of which serves as a prelude to the filmmaker he is now.
Also in the cast are Demi Moore, Will Poulter, LaKeith Stanfield, Poppy Liu, and Eiza Gonzalez.
NEON has set a May 22nd 2026 release date. That seems a bit far out for Sundance, where Sorry to Bother You made its impactful debut. Perhaps a SXSW bow for I Love Boosters, instead?
