After premiering at SXSW 2026, director Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, lands a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
I Love Boosters is a unique science fiction thriller that doubles as a dark comedy. The film follows The Velvet Gang, a team of skilled shoplifters, as they scheme against a powerful fashion tycoon. The satirical story exposes the fashion industry while covering a wide range of issues, such as social and economic inequalities, as well as corporate greed and corruption.
After debuting at SXSW, I Love Boosters, written and directed by Riley, has opened to unanimous praise, currently boasting a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Early reviews commended the film’s sense of humor, talented ensemble cast, and Riley’s storytelling abilities, making it one of the festival’s early hits.
Early festival screenings can skew toward overwhelmingly positive reviews, given the smaller number of people present. However, a perfect score, even when judged by fewer viewers, is still a major achievement and could draw more people to theaters when I Love Boosters releases on May 22, 2026.
For Riley, the reception to the film echoes the positive response to his first feature, Sorry to Bother You, which became a hit following its release in 2018. It earned widespread critical acclaim for its political commentary. That film introduced audiences to Riley’s distinctive voice as a creator, and the early reaction to I Love Boosters suggests critics are once again responding well to his brand of satirical content.
The movie also continues a run of well-received projects for Palmer. In recent years, she has appeared in several successful films, such as Jordan Peele’s Nope. Her performances in past projects have helped cement her place in the entertainment industry as a versatile actor capable of taking on roles in several genres.
Meanwhile, Moore has experienced a major resurgence within the past few years. Her performance in the body-horror film The Substance debuted with its own perfect Rotten Tomatoes score following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The film went on to become one of the most talked-about genre releases of its year. It even received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress and Best Picture, a rare accomplishment for a horror movie. The Substance took home the Oscar in 2025 for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
I Love Boosters will premiere in theaters on May 22, 2026.
Release Date
May 22, 2026
Director
Boots Riley
Writers
Boots Riley