I Love Boosters
A Film Written and Directed by Boots Riley
Dark Comedy / Satire / Heist | 113 Minutes | Premiere: March 12, 2026 (SXSW)
Logline & Synopsis
LOGLINE: A fiercely talented crew of professional shoplifters coordinates an elaborate, satirical heist to take down a ruthless fashion mogul who brazenly stole a brilliant clothing design from their leader.
Synopsis
From the visionary mind of Boots Riley comes I Love Boosters, a vibrant dark comedy examining the modern battleground of art, exploitation, and capital. The story centers on Corvette, a fiercely independent fashion designer living on the margins. When corporate fashion icon Christie Smith shamelessly plagiarizes Corvette's avant-garde collection and passes it off as her own luxury label, legal routes offer no remedy.
Refusing to be erased, Corvette recruits her tight-knit ring of 'boosters'—highly skilled shoplifters who turn corporate theft into an art form. Together, they plot an unprecedented multi-layered heist targeting Christie's flagship store and high-society runway show, aiming not just for financial payback, but complete creative reclamation.
Director's Statement
"I Love Boosters is a look at who gets to be called an artist and who gets called a thief in contemporary society. The corporate world systematically strips resources and culture from the working class, rebranding it as luxury and high art, while criminalizing the very people who created it. This film is about taking it back—not gently, but with style, noise, and meticulous planning. It's a heist film, yes, but it is fundamentally about the reclaiming of labor, identity, and creative voice."
— Boots Riley
Cast & Character Breakdowns
Keke Palmer
as CORVETTE
An uncompromising visionary who coordinates the crew with tactical precision.
Demi Moore
as CHRISTIE SMITH
The untouchable, hyper-elite fashion mogul whose empire is built on stolen genius.
Naomi Ackie
The operational anchor, keeping the team's wildest schemes grounded in reality.
Taylour Paige
The charismatic and smooth-talking logistics master of the shoplifting ring.
Poppy Liu
The eccentric tech and distraction specialist who commands the room.
Eiza González
A high-society insider caught directly between the corporate machine and the resistance.
LaKeith Stanfield
An enigmatic ally with deep underground networks.
Will Poulter
A high-strung, anxious corporate lieutenant working for Smith's empire.
Don Cheadle
A veteran player in the city's black-market economy offering strategic counsel.
Production & Cinematography Notes
Known for his surreal worldbuilding and uncompromising political messaging, director Boots Riley worked closely with production designers and cinematographers to craft a heightened, high-contrast palette. The film heavily utilizes customized anamorphic lenses to capture the claustrophobia of corporate boardrooms contrasted with the sweeping, vibrant chaos of urban underground operations.
The soundtrack incorporates a pulsing, genre-bending score that drives the momentum of the heists, featuring original collaborative tracks curated to match the radical energy of Corvette's crew.
Film Overview & Technical Specs
- Title: I Love Boosters
- Writer & Director: Boots Riley
- Runtime: 113 Minutes
- Genre: Dark Comedy / Satire / Heist
- SXSW Release Date: March 12, 2026
- Theatrical Release Date: May 22, 2026
- Distributor (Domestic): NEON
- Distributor (International): Focus Features / Universal