Boots Riley is back with I Love Boosters, a candy-colored crime comedy that hits theaters now via Neon. Starring Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige, LaKeith Stanfield, and Demi Moore, the film follows a crew of expert shoplifters led by Palmer's Corvette as they take on a ruthless fashion mogul played by Moore. But in a recent interview, Riley revealed that his unconventional storytelling philosophy owes a surprising debt to Will Smith.
Riley, the visionary behind Sorry to Bother You, sat down with Collider to discuss his new project and his creative process. He explained that he doesn't follow traditional formulas—whether in music or film—and instead trusts his gut. That approach, he says, is inspired by a scene from The Pursuit of Happyness, where Smith's character, Chris Gardner, shows up to a job interview without a shirt. When asked what he'd say if he were the interviewer, Gardner replies, 'I'd say, "Better be some damn good pants."'
“For me, it's like that,” Riley said. “I can do whatever I want as long as I have this other thing.” That “other thing” is the emotional and visceral impact of his work, which he prioritizes over rigid structure. It's a philosophy that has made Riley one of modern cinema's most original voices, blending political commentary, absurd humor, and heartfelt storytelling into something entirely his own.
In I Love Boosters, that approach is on full display. The film follows Corvette and her stylish team as they strike back at Christie Smith, who stole Corvette's designs. What they call “Triple F”—fashion-forward philanthropy—becomes a heist with a conscience. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, Don Cheadle, and Will Poulter.
Riley didn't hold back on other topics, either. He took aim at AI hype, calling it “fake shit” and pointing to reports that Google's AI demos were actually shot with actors. He also criticized the environmental impact of data centers, which he says are built on the promise of AI but often used for other purposes. “These big buildings in the middle of… We've got one in Oakland, and it's just this big goliath,” he said. “They're drinking all the natural water of our planet, with no thought about what's going to happen in 10 years.”
For Riley, the key to great storytelling is engagement, not structure. He compared his process to making music, where he doesn't stick to standard bar counts. “This one feels like it needs to be 24 bars. This one feels like it needs to be 21,” he said. “It's kind of The Pursuit of Happyness philosophy.”
Fans of bold, rule-breaking cinema won't want to miss I Love Boosters. And for more on directors who defy convention, check out our list of These Directors' Magnum Opus Is Unmistakable.
