Shoplifting isn't the problem. Bay Area film 'I Love Boosters' exposes the real thief. Boots Riley's latest film is a sci-fi anticapitalist romp

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | May 21, 2026 | By Dan Gentile

[artichokegrower]

Oakland director and hometown hero Boots Riley’s new film, “I Love Boosters,” pays homage to a complicated folk hero: the booster, a neighborhood figure who sells shoplifted goods at a steep discount. The topic feels particularly poignant in the Bay Area, where high-profile smash-and-grabs make headlines and drugstores put toothpaste behind lock and key.

[artichokegrower]

So the plot of this movie is that shoplifting isn’t bad that capitalism and free enterprise is bad. I suggest that some folk go to a movie theatre with a videotape camera record this film and put it out for free on YouTube. Also if you see the San Francisco Chronicle on news rack steal it.

[dfwgator]

I've heard that name before, and finally I remembered. He was behind this album cover that happened right before 9/11.

[Frank Drebin]

Which is ironic since the “booster” is selling the “discounted” goods for a profit. Now where have I heard about that type of economic system before...

[V_TWIN]

Glorifying theft......and they wanna bitch and yell racism when retail stores pull out of “urban” areas....I don’t want to hear it.

Let ‘em do without.

[V_TWIN]

That’s warped liberal brain for you.....many are the same people that have no idea where the other end of that cable charging their stupid EV is connected to.

Seeing the big picture and connecting dots ain’t exactly their strong suit.

[EnderWiggin1970]

A socialist movement that relies on plundering their neighbor in order to resell their goods eventually sees their neighbor give up and either move away or shut down their business. Then they are left penniless and starving. Any Cuban could explain that much to these geniuses.

[econjack]

...and SF sinks deeper into the abyss.

[dfwgator]

That’s warped liberal brain for you.

---

They aren’t liberal. They hate that word now, they are full-blown Communists.

[KarlInOhio]

What happens if everyone decides to steal from the “booster” instead of paying?

[HartleyMBaldwin]

What happens if everyone decides to steal from the “booster” instead of paying?

The booster either has to protect the goods he's selling or go out of business. Funny how that works.

[MrRelevant]

Is the scheme still not supply and demand?

[rey]

These people know right from wrong because much of this is organized crime and were they to steal from them they would suffer greatly.

Funny how they never question street justice.

[No name given]

How true.

[MeanWestTexan]

Someone should break into Boots Riley’s house and sell his worldly possessions at a steep discount.

[Nateman]

I’ve seen the ads for this. It is hard to contain my pure disgust when I do.

[left that other site]

He thinks this is so original.

I remember Abbie Hoffman selling a book called:

STEAL THIS BOOK