From NEON, I Love Boosters held its world premiere on Mar. 12, 2026, during the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX. Presented by the Louisville Film Office. The film headlined the opening day of the festival ahead of its theatrical release on May 22, 2026
Writer-director Boots Riley’s highly anticipated, stylish sophomore film stars Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, with Don Cheadle and Demi Moore.
Riley produced the film with Palmer and her mother, Sharon, serving as executive producers.
The film centers on The Velvet Gang, the titular ‘boosters,’ a term referring to professional shoplifters who sell designer clothing at a discount. Corvette (Palmer), the head hustler whose routine of stealing the latest threads of Oakland unravels when she discovers fashion maven Christie Smith (Moore) has stolen one of her designs. Now hanging by a thread, the gang teams up for their biggest heist yet. The less you know about this film, the better, as Riley’s pedigree of Sorry to Bother You and I’m A Virgo proves that he is the master of surrealist satire. Once again tells a socially powerful story in his absurd manner, only he can do.
This film is a genre-defying piece of art carefully stitched together frame by frame. A modern fantasy that evokes the legend of Robin Hood. It proudly wears its brain on its sleeve in its smart socialist message, critiquing the fashion industry and its exploitation of designers and workers. The gang finds out they get more than they bargained for, as this heist soon unfolds into a massive conspiracy that could revolutionize fashion and the state of the world to a terrifying degree.
Keke Palmer in I LOVE BOOSTERS. Photo courtesy of NEON.
‘Boosters’ bursts at the seams with its colorful and meticulously curated visuals, complemented by frequent Riley collaborator, Tune-Yards’ hectic and whimsical score.
The costumes have a life of their own, with each character draped in their own personality and avant-garde disguises that help the gang stealthily integrate and infiltrate the world of high fashion. Thanks to Shirley Kurata’s unique vision, she takes a notch up from her prior work with the Daniels on Everything Everywhere All At Once (which I didn’t think was possible).
Production design by Christopher Glass brings us back to the colorful streets of Oakland, the core setting in Riley’s work. Multimedia elements further elevate the tone, ranging from the eccentric to the unsettling, showcasing a colorful and chaotic version of the city and immersing us in Corvette’s inner psyche.
Riley takes on the great feat of directing standout performances from each actor, grounded in his wacky world.
(Left to Right) Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, and LaKeith Stanfield on stage at the premiere of I LOVE BOOSTERS at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX on Mar. 12, 2026. Photo by The Knockturnal/Zipporah Pruitt.
It is a joy to watch lead star Palmer finally in a vehicle that greatly accelerates her comedic chops in a literal unhinged fashion as the sharp-tongued and quick-witted Corvette, who isn’t above sentiment. As the mastermind of the Velvet Gang’s schemes, Riley has Palmer take a more hands-on approach, which creates lots of physical comedy in the film. However, she can reel in the ridiculousness for the film’s dramatic moments. Hilarious and charming, you’ll root for her as a hungry, struggling, yet passionate artist whose ambition and untapped potential set off the action to bring hope and tear down injustices prevalent in the story.
Paige and Ackie, as Mariah and Sade, are fellow members of the Velvet Gang and loyal friends of Corvette. Mariah is savvy when it comes to planning the gang’s ‘boosts’ with her unorthodox methods, practicing the Triple F’s, “Fashion. Forward. Filanthropy.” Paige exudes charisma; her easygoing nature makes her always eager to carry out the gang’s schemes.
Sade is Corvette’s right-hand woman, who is dearly devoted but lately feels deeply disrespected. However, she never wastes a second to keep it real with her about her poor decisions. Eventually growing tired of boosting, she seeks to pivot and go legit. However, her judgment isn’t the best as she tends to fall for other schemes in a desperate attempt to break away from their usual grind. Ackie and Palmer captured a tough-love bond between friends that felt natural and added depth to the film.
Liu’s presence smoothly initiates the genre shift. Her character Jianhu also holds a personal vendetta against fashion maven Smith, whose fierceness adds another layer of complexity. She defies time and space with the gang, transforming their mission from a petty heist to a global phenomenon that sparks change across communities. Due to her comedic pedigree, she fits in perfectly as the honorary fourth member of the Velvet Gang with impeccable comedic timing to keep up with Palmer, Ackie, and Paige.
(Left to Right) Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu, and Taylour Paige as The Velvet Gang in I LOVE BOOSTERS. Photo courtesy of NEON.
Alan Z is Liu’s brother in the film, Li Pan. In an impactful role, he makes the most of his short screen time impeccably as one of the unsung allies of the Velvet Gang.
González stands out as Violetta, a frustrated retail worker. Always with a vape on hand, her appearance is more than meets the eye, being a proud socialist advocating for workers’ rights. Her deep-seated knowledge about the fashion industry and tech expertise make her an unlikely ally to the gang in their mutual quest to overthrow Smith’s empire. González demonstrated her versatility as an alternative stoner geek, delivering the film’s heavy dialogue with a captivating and humorously profound monologue in a notable scene.
Stanfield, in his second feature with Riley following Sorry Bother to You, plays a bizarre discount-store model who floats in and out of the story as a weird prophet-like character resembling Prince. Most of his screen time is shared with Palmer, featuring the weirdest banter on-screen. Stanfield has an eerie energy that heightens the tension every time he is in frame.
Poulter has a small yet memorable role that ups the camp factor as an over-the-top, no-nonsense manager, almost totalitarian of an ever-changing, colorful design store that carries Smith’s clothing line.
Cheadle, in an unrecognizable role, plays a sassy and shady motivational speaker shamelessly pushing a pyramid scheme in the film, casually but perfectly placed in the assorted madness of the movie.
The cutthroat, capitalistic villain, Christie Smith, played flawlessly by Moore. Following her Oscar-nominated role in The Substance, this was the best role to transition, cementing Moore’s new era as the queen of camp. Smith is an excellent foil to Palmer’s Corvette. Moore and Palmer bring the much-needed cartoonish chaos, as you can feel the sparks of disgust between the two fly off the screen. Both women have an eye for fashion and are headstrong in their pursuits on opposing sides, resulting in a cat-and-mouse game as they constantly aim to be a step ahead of each other. Many of the film’s antics are credited to their enthralling feud.
‘Boosters’ galvanized my opinion that Riley is in a class of his own as an auteur bringing weirdness, color, and humor to the silver screen like no other. Additionally, he challenges the landscape of cinema by portraying Blackness in an industry devoid of color and risk, both for originality and diversity. I was completely taken aback by the sights, sounds, and transitions in this subversive, socially relevant tale. As a filmmaker, he uses his activism to show solidarity and collective power to break down the powers that try to disenfranchise us.
This is a film you do not want to miss as Riley will inspire you with both his message and style.
Dress your best, but come as you are.
5 out of 5.
I Love Boosters opens May 22, in theatres everywhere. View the trailer below.
