Poppy Liu Takes on a Bold Role in I Love Boosters

Poppy Liu has taken on one of the most politically daring roles of her career in I Love Boosters, the new crime-comedy from director Boots Riley.

In the film, Liu plays Jianhu, a factory worker whose story sits at the heart of the movie’s exploration of labor rights, class struggle, and resistance against corporate greed. The plot centers on a group of fashion-obsessed shoplifters—”boosters”—who take on a powerful fashion mogul after she steals their designs.

Liu said she was drawn to the film because of its unflinching political stance and willingness to interrogate capitalism and workers’ rights. While she doesn’t consider herself an activist in the traditional sense, she found herself connected to Jianhu’s arc—from factory worker to someone actively fighting for justice and better conditions.

“What made it feel real was that it grew from actual struggles people face,” Liu explained. Rather than treating activism as something abstract, the film grounds its message in the concrete economic realities of everyday life.

The film also turns heads for its striking visuals and fashion-forward approach. Liu praised the costume design team for creating a world that seamlessly blends high fashion, satire, and science fiction. The bold costume work has become one of the movie’s most talked-about elements.

The ensemble cast includes Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore.

Liu also emphasized how I Love Boosters pushes back against conventional thinking around theft and economic inequality. The film encourages viewers to look past individual actions and examine the systems that perpetuate exploitation and wealth hoarding—a theme that aligns with Riley’s long-standing focus on class politics.

Working on the project felt meaningful to Liu, especially in an industry increasingly dominated by sequels and franchises. “This is an original story with humor, fashion, and real social commentary,” she said. “There’s nothing else quite like it right now.”

Distributed by NEON, I Love Boosters has already made waves for combining a quirky fashion heist with sharp critiques of capitalism and labor, further establishing Riley as a filmmaker unafraid to make provocative, ambitious cinema.