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Keke Palmer leads a star-studded heist comedy that premiered at SXSW just weeks ago. I Love Boosters hits theaters in just 5 days, and critics are calling it outrageously funny. Here’s everything you need to know before the May 22 release.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Release Date: May 22, 2026 in theaters nationwide
- Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92% Fresh from 39 critics
- Runtime: 113 minutes of stylish, chaotic fun
- Director: Boots Riley, creator of Sorry to Bother You
Star-Powered Ensemble Targets Fashion Icon Demi Moore
Keke Palmer plays Corvette, the leader of a crew of professional shoplifters. The group also includes Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, and Eiza González as the skilled boosters. Their target is Demi Moore, who plays Christie Smith, a ruthless fashion mogul. LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, and Don Cheadle round out the ensemble in this wildly ambitious heist film.
The story unfolds in a surreal, heightened version of San Francisco. Palmer and her crew justify their theft as a form of wealth redistribution when Moore’s high-fashion character steals their designs first. What follows is a chaotic, beautifully crafted adventure.
Keke Palmer stars in I Love Boosters heist comedy releasing May 22 in theaters
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From SXSW Opening Film to May Release
I Love Boosters made its world premiere as the opening film at SXSW on March 12, 2026, just over two months ago. Director Boots Riley received standing ovations. The film is also opening the Seattle International Film Festival on May 7, just 15 days before its wide theatrical release.
Financing came from Neon and Waypoint Entertainment, with production backing from Annapurna Pictures. The $20 million budget was carefully crafted to support Riley’s distinctive, anarchic vision across 113 minutes.
Critical Praise Commands 92% Tomatometer Rating
| Detail | Information |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 92% Fresh (39 reviews) |
| Metacritic Score | 73/100 from 13 critics |
| Runtime | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| Rating | R for language, drugs, content |
The Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads: “A raucous capitalist critique, I Love Boosters careens through carefully-controlled chaos of Boots Riley’s imagination to deliver comedy that’s both funny and thought-provoking.” Critics highlight the film’s visual ambition and anti-capitalist messaging.
“What’s most striking is Riley’s optimism; for a guy whose work can feel apocalyptic, he maintains an inspired belief in the power of community.”
— Joe Gross, Austin Chronicle
Director Boots Riley Brings Radical Vision to Mainstream
Boots Riley, best known for Sorry to Bother You (2018), crafted I Love Boosters as both writer and director. The film is based on a song called “I Love Boosters!” from Riley’s hip-hop collective The Coup. Cinematographer Natasha Braier captured the visual chaos across Atlanta production locations beginning November 2024.
Riley has revealed that, like his previous film, international distribution will be handled by Focus Features and Universal Pictures. The film’s approach to wealth redistribution and fashion industry critique marks another bold political statement from the director.
Why Audiences Should Care About This Heist Comedy Now
With just 5 days until release, I Love Boosters arrives as one of May 2026’s most talked-about indie releases. The combination of Keke Palmer’s charismatic lead performance, Demi Moore’s villainous turn, and Boots Riley’s fearless direction creates an unmissable theatrical experience. The $20 million budget was invested wisely in bold production design and stellar ensemble casting.
Whether you’re drawn by the 92% Rotten Tomatoes score, the star power, or Riley’s reputation for making cinema that challenges audiences, I Love Boosters promises to be one of the month’s most entertaining and thought-provoking films.
Sources
- Rotten Tomatoes – Official critical consensus and Tomatometer scores
- Wikipedia – Comprehensive film details, cast, and production information
- Deadline Hollywood – Release dates, production updates, and industry news
