Oakland Director Boots Riley Scores 100% Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Riley's latest film "I Love Boosters" stuns SXSW crowds with its creative mix of comedy, action and sci-fi.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:20pm by Ben Kaplan

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Boots Riley, the multihyphenate Bay Area activist, rapper and filmmaker, has scored a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for his latest film "I Love Boosters". The movie, which premiered at SXSW and hits theaters on May 22, follows a group of modern-day Robin Hoods who steal from department stores and resell the clothing on the cheap. The film features a range of creative visual flourishes, including a skyscraper headquarters that leans at a steep angle, inspired by San Francisco's Millennium Towers.

Why it matters

Riley has established himself as one of America's most unpredictable and innovative filmmakers, with a track record of creating wildly creative projects that blend genres and tackle anti-capitalist themes. "I Love Boosters" continues this trend, cementing Riley's status as a unique voice in independent cinema and generating excitement among Bay Area film fans.

The details

"I Love Boosters" follows a group of modern-day Robin Hoods called the "Velvet Gang", led by Corvette (Keke Palmer), who target Metro Designer stores, a chain helmed by scientist-turned-fashion maven Christie Smith (Demi Moore). The gang infiltrates a Metro retail shop, getting jobs on the floor with the intention of stealing limited edition suits worth $100,000 each. The film takes unexpected turns from comedy to action to absurdist sci-fi, all while skewering the capitalist systems that Riley has railed against in his early days as an activist.

  • The film premiered at the SXSW Conference & Festivals on March 12, 2026.
  • "I Love Boosters" hits theaters on May 22, 2026.

The players

Boots Riley

A multihyphenate Bay Area activist, rapper and filmmaker, and the writer-director of "I Love Boosters".

Keke Palmer

The actress who plays Corvette, the leader of the "Velvet Gang" in "I Love Boosters".

Demi Moore

The actress who plays Christie Smith, the scientist-turned-fashion maven who runs the Metro Designer stores targeted by the "Velvet Gang".

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What they’re saying

“I thought I was really settling, like this is how you do half-assed s—t, right? Then we get to the set, and it's scary. Every shot was technically a stunt.”

— Boots Riley, Writer-Director (SFGATE)

What’s next

"I Love Boosters" will have its local premiere during the SFFILM festival on April 28, 2026, before hitting theaters nationwide on May 22, 2026.

The takeaway

Boots Riley has cemented his status as one of the most innovative and unpredictable filmmakers in America, with "I Love Boosters" continuing his tradition of creating wildly creative projects that blend genres and tackle anti-capitalist themes. The film's perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and upcoming Bay Area premiere have generated significant excitement among local film fans.