Boots Riley’s surreal NEON film I Love Boosters follows a crew of professional shoplifters taking aim at a cutthroat fashion mogul—released exclusively in theaters on May 22, 2026, after its SXSW premiere in March 2026.
The first thing you feel about Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters is the push-pull—funhouse energy with a sharper target underneath. The new NEON film. which premiered at SXSW earlier this year. drops viewers into the world of a group of professional shoplifters known as the “boosters. ” who set their sights on an evil fashion mogul.
The story comes straight from the film’s NEON logline: a “crew of professional shoplifters [who] take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven.” The line keeps going with a wink of irony—“It’s like community service.”
For moviegoers, that tonal contrast is part of the promise. Riley’s approach has always leaned into the surreal, and with I Love Boosters, the setup is built to feel both absurd and pointed.
Keke Palmer leads the film, alongside Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, and Will Poulter. Don Cheadle and Demi Moore round out the cast, bringing even more star power to a story already designed to stand out.
Palmer previously explained why Riley’s name mattered to her. She said she was “attracted to the screenplay. just hearing his name.” In her words. she’d been a fan “for a really long time. ” pointing to Sorry to Bother You as “next level.” She described his work as “so whimsical. but also so much commentary. ” and said you “can watch it and keep pulling back the layers.” When she read I Love Boosters. she felt the same way—“He’s the kind of person I want to work with. and I can’t wait to see what he brings out of me.”.
Casting also carries its own behind-the-scenes tension. Actress Melissa Barrera was supposed to star in the film after being offered a role by Boots Riley personally. following Spyglass firing her from the Scream franchise. But scheduling conflicts changed the outcome, and Barrera explained the chain of events earlier this year.
Barrera told Variety that Boots Riley “sent me a message in August of 2024 and was like. ‘I got a part for you in my movie.’ And he offered me a part in I Love Boosters.” She said the message seemed to spark a sudden rush of other opportunities—“And for some reason. once Boots sent me that message. I suddenly had five messages with offers in my inbox. It’s like he flipped a switch. I call him ‘The Wizard.’ The energy shifted.”.
She added that she took another project instead—saying she did “The Copenhagen Test” because it was a longer job and she wanted to work and be back on set. plus it was “money that I hadn’t made in a while.” Still. she credited Riley for reaching out: “he’s literally the only person in the industry who reached out and said. ‘Let me help you out.’”.
The movie is already set for a big-screen debut. I Love Boosters will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026, with an official premiere at SXSW in March 2026.
And if you were hoping to catch it at home right away, the plan is simple: it’s theatrical only. NEON’s film will not be available to stream, and there’s no clear timeline for when it might show up later online.
For a movie built around a crew of boosters who see their crimes as “community service,” the release strategy feels like another part of the joke—no waiting on a platform. You’ll need to buy your ticket, find a seat, and see what Riley has cooked up this time.
I Love Boosters Boots Riley NEON Keke Palmer Naomi Ackie Taylour Paige Poppy Liu Eiza González LaKeith Stanfield Will Poulter Don Cheadle Demi Moore Melissa Barrera SXSW May 22 2026 movie release date