I Love Boosters SXSW Review

Movies can be a lot of things—some good, some bad—but not many are just a vibe. A movie like that can’t really be put into a box. The ride it takes you on during its runtime can make you feel all kinds of things. Anyone familiar with Boots Riley knows his last film, Sorry to Bother You, was exactly that kind of experience. After what feels like far too long—and a detour into television—Riley is finally back with a new film. Thankfully, the time away hasn’t dulled his shine. If anything, his latest movie, I Love Boosters, might just be the vibe of 2026.

The story follows three friends whose lives revolve around one mission: making life difficult for a fashion empire run by Christine Smith (Demi Moore). The group is led by Corvette (Keke Palmer), who seems to be taking things a little more personally than the others, along with Sade (Naomi Ackie) and Mariah (Taylor Paige). Together, they blaze through stores boosting anything they can get their hands on. Their plan has a bit of a Robin Hood vibe—steal luxury goods and resell them at discounted prices.

Their antics seem to be getting under Christine’s skin, but thanks to the size of her empire, they barely make a dent.

Meanwhile, in China, Jianhu (Poppy Liu) has grown tired of the brutal working conditions at one of Christine’s factories. Along with her brother, she discovers a machine that could take boosting to a whole new level. At first, it seems like Jianhu might be messing up Corvette and her crew’s operation, but it quickly becomes clear that they’re all after the same thing. Once they join forces—and a former employee played by Eiza González enters the mix—things start to get very bad for Christine.

Written and directed by Riley, I Love Boosters is a singular film that takes you through a full spectrum of thoughts and emotions. What Riley delivers here is a sharp critique of oligarchy and capitalism, but he never forgets to keep things fun along the way. Everything in the movie feels layered. It starts with a group of women boosting clothes to make money and eventually builds into a world where workers seem ready to bring the entire system to its knees.

And the ride to get there? It’s a helluva one.

I Love Boosters is what you’d call a massive cinematic swing—one that will likely leave audiences divided. Some people will love it, while others may walk away unsure of what they just experienced. When the movie ended, I wasn’t even sure if I liked it. I had to sit with it for a bit and process what I had just seen. But as I walked around afterward, the film’s vibe started to catch up with me.

For me, even though not everything worked, the journey was absolutely worth taking because Riley’s vision is so bold.

The cast—led by Palmer—is fully committed to the chaos Riley creates. They’re joined by Don Cheadle, Will Poulter, and the always great LaKeith Stanfield, who delivers one of the most memorable performances in a movie that already has a lot going on.

Together with Riley, they deliver a film that is completely uninterested in subtlety. And while not every piece worked for me, trust me when I say this is a movie you need to see—because it truly is a work of art.