Taking a whimsical approach to a very real topic is not new for filmmaker Boots Riley, but his new feature takes his already heightened reality to a whole new level. Premiering at SXSW 2026, I Love Boosters follows a group of shoplifters (Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Taylour Paige, later joined by Poppy Liu) as they steal from high-end designers to resell at discounted prices.
Instead of the workplace hellscape depicted in his previous hit, Sorry to Bother You (2018), this film focuses more heavily on the fashion industry and the exploitation it entails. In a world dominated by Shein and fast fashion worldwide, this specific angle enthralled me, as the topic of sustainability in fashion has become so prominent in recent years. In true Boots Riley fashion, he uses this topic to tie into the broader themes of class disparity and workers’ rights while maintaining a distinct cinematic voice and style. Riley is no stranger to engaging political commentary, but he is firing on all cylinders here in a way that many will surely love.
I Love Boosters is an energetic, exhilarating heist film. The makeup, costuming, production design, and score all serve to further elevate Riley’s wacky script, which is just as funny as it is poignant. The cast enhances the storytelling, with the chemistry among the four actresses being undeniable despite some minor development flaws. There are a lot of stories to wrap up in two hours; thus, some stories aren’t as neatly closed, but I was nevertheless delighted to see prolific actresses like Paige and Ackie share the screen together. The supporting cast includes Demi Moore as designer Christie Smith, as well as Lakeith Stanfield and Eiza Gonzalez. The supporting cast shines just as much as the main players, with Stanfield getting a laugh out of me each time he appeared and Gonzalez having one of the best stoner monologues in modern film. Moore is a compelling ontologically evil villain, depicting nearly every billionaire “creative” that is famous today.
What strikes me as so moving about I Love Boosters is the way it addresses class disparity within the fashion industry. Riley’s focus on a specific sector of capitalism, one that dominates many aspects of everyday life, calls into question just how deep the class divide in both the country and the world really is. This is most evident in Palmer’s character, who yearns to be a designer herself but feels as though it is out of reach. This divide is reinforced with Liu’s character. The link between the boosters’ goals and the problems with the fast fashion industry mesh together in a way that links people together rather than dividing them. Riley makes it clear that class disparity infects every aspect of our lives; when we come together to fight for the rights we deserve, we are far stronger than we are apart.
I Love Boosters is the perfect film to kick off SXSW 2026 and an even more important one in a time when unionizing and fighting for workers’ rights is more important than ever. The use of stylish visuals and downright insane narrative swings solidifies Riley as one of the defining voices in modern absurdist film and an incredibly important voice to keep an eye on as his filmmaking career will only grow from here.
Review Courtesy of Nadia Arain
Feature Image Credit to NEON via THR