Keke Palmer Leads Absurdist Capitalism Critique in 'I Love Boosters'

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In Boots Riley's surreal, hyperpop film 'I Love Boosters', Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie and Taylour Paige star as a group of thieves who steal designer goods and resell them, sparking a movement among retail and factory workers against fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore). The film features an absurdist, stylized take on modern society with memorable supporting performances from Poppy Liu, Eiza González, Will Poulter, and LaKeith Stanfield.

Why it matters

Riley's latest film continues his absurdist, socially conscious approach to critiquing capitalism, this time through the lens of the fashion industry's exploitation of workers. The film's surreal, stylized elements and strong ensemble cast bring Riley's vision to life in a way that resonates with the real-world implications of unchecked corporate greed.

The details

In 'I Love Boosters', Corvette (Keke Palmer), Sade (Naomi Ackie) and Mariah (Taylour Paige) squat in an abandoned chicken restaurant while stealing and reselling designer goods around the Bay Area. When fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore) calls out the 'low class urban bitches' and steals one of Corvette's designs, the trio plots to boost Christie's entire inventory, sparking a movement among retail and factory workers. The film features memorable supporting turns from Poppy Liu as a Chinese factory worker seeking revenge, Eiza González as a punk retail worker planning to unionize, Will Poulter as her flamboyant store manager, and LaKeith Stanfield as a pretentious model with a sinister past.

• I Love Boosters premiered as the headliner at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
• The film is set to be distributed by Neon and is scheduled for theatrical release on May 22, 2026.

What’s next

The film is set to be distributed by Neon and is scheduled for theatrical release on May 22, 2026.