I LOVE BOOSTERS

(director/writer: Boots Riley; cinematographer: Natasha Braie; editors: Matthew Hannam, Terel Gibson; music: Merrill Garbus, Nate Brenner; cast: Keke Palmer (Corvette), Naomi Ackie (Sade), Taylour Paige (Mariah), Demi Moore (Christine Smith), Poppy Liu (Jianpu, Chinese factory worker), Eiza González (Violeta), LaKeith Stanfield (pretentious model), Don Cheadle (pyramid-scheming guru), Will Poulter (Wimpy Store Manager); Runtime: 105; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Aaron Ryder, Andrew Swett, Allison Rose Carter, Jon Read, Boots Riley; Neon; 2026)

“A weird but funny pic about a group of boosters.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Boosters are shoplifters who sell their stolen goods at discounted rates. Visionary filmmaker Boots Riley (“Sorry to Bother You”), a former rapper, makes a weird but funny pic about a group of boosters upsetting the establishment.

The Velvet Gang are three squatters in a vacant chicken ranch–Corvette (Keke Palmer), Sade (Naomi Ackie), and Mariah (Taylour Paige). Also joining the gang are the exploited Chinese factory worker Jianpu (Poppy Liu), and the ostracized worker wanting to unionize the factory, Violeta (Eiza Gonzalez). The gals steal pricey designer apparel and resell them for cheaper prices in the San Francisco area. Their actions anger the arrogant high-end fashion tycoon Christy Smith (Demi Moore), the gang’s main target.

The feud intensifies when Christie calls the aspiring fashion designer Corvette a “low-class urban bitch” and steals one of Corvette’s original designs. The gang in retaliation plots to steal all of Christie’s merchandise.

The fashion house is shown as an empire of exploiters, whose owner takes a hit from the underdog have-nots.

It played at the SXSW Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 4/14/2026  GRADE: B
dennisschwartzreviews.com