Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Surreal anti-capitalist satire; strong language, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
I Love Boosters
What's the Story?
Writer/director Boots Riley's I LOVE BOOSTERS follows the "Velvet Gang," a group of friends in Oakland, California, led by aspiring designer Corvette (Keke Palmer) and her pals Sade (Naomi Ackie) and Mariah (Taylour Paige), who orchestrate large-scale thefts from local stores and boutiques, including those owned by math-genius-turned-fashion-designer Christie Smith (Demi Moore). After learning that her stores are being targeted, Smith goes on television and refers to the boosters with a thinly veiled racial insult. The remark inspires the Velvet Gang to infiltrate Smith's business by taking jobs at her stores as part of a larger plan to clean them out. They eventually team up with Jianhu (Poppy Liu), one of Smith's Chinese factory employees, who wants revenge of her own and hopes to force Smith to improve the miserable working conditions at the factory.
Is It Any Good?
This difficult-to-categorize movie is another amusingly surreal anti-capitalist fantasia from Oakland's favorite son. Palmer is fabulous in I Love Boosters as Corvette, an aspiring designer who boosts to make a living while redistributing clothes throughout her community, and Moore is formidable as an influential (and not-so-secretly villainous) designer whom Corvette initially admires. Ackie and Paige also stand out as the other members of the Velvet Gang, while Liu is a scene-stealer as a factory worker who's determined to improve the fate of her laboring family and friends.
LaKeith Stanfield, who starred in Riley's Sorry to Bother You, plays a model with supernatural abilities that are funny but a bit over-the-top for a story that's already operating on 10 different levels. Fans of Riley's work won't be surprised by the colorful production design, lower-budget charm, or outsized political messages. Those unfamiliar with his style should be prepared for a rollercoaster ride of dark comedy, leftist ideas, absurdist themes, and delightfully out-of-left-field plot developments. Riley's work isn't for everyone (think Spike Lee meets the Daniels), but he's undeniably an inventive, original, and thought-provoking filmmaker.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way that I Love Boosters depicts the moral ambiguity of shoplifting. Can "boosting" be seen through a Robin Hood-esque lens? Why, or why not?
Discuss the movie's supernatural and sci-fi elements. What do you think Riley is trying to say here? Do you agree?
Do you think the movie glamorizes theft? Riley has reportedly challenged audiences to think about heist movies with predominantly White casts. Why do you think those movies are criticized less?
Riley's films tend to have similar themes, messages, and stylistic elements. For those familiar with the filmmaker's work, what do you consider to be his signature style?
How do characters/the story demonstrate the importance of perseverance, communication, and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 22, 2026
- Cast : Keke Palmer , Naomi Ackie , Demi Moore , LaKeith Stanfield
- Director : Boots Riley
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Neon
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Activism , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong sexual content, nudity, language throughout and brief drug use
- Last updated : May 27, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate