In 2018, The Coup‘s lead vocalist Boots Riley turned his talents towards filmmaking with his breakout feature debut,  the strange, surreal, hilarious anti-capitalist satire SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. The film’s success (especially at the Rio – where it remains one of our biggest films ever) heightened his status an important contemporary storyteller and served as a new launching point for Riley thanks to his unique, disruptive artistic vision. In anticipation of his follow-up, I LOVE BOOSTERS, we thought the time was right to revisit his deb

In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) discovers a magical key to professional success, which propels him into a macabre universe of “powercalling” that leads to material glory. But the upswing in Cassius’ career raises serious red flags with his girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson), a performance artist and minimum-wage striver who’s secretly part of a Banksy-style activist collective. As his friends and co-workers organize in protest of corporate oppression, Cassius falls under the spell of his company’s cocaine-snorting CEO Steve Lift (Armie Hammer), who offers him a salary beyond his wildest dreams. Also starring Danny Glover, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Steven Yeun, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Forest Whitaker, Lily James.

“Fearlessly ambitious, scathingly funny, and thoroughly original, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU loudly heralds the arrival of a fresh filmmaking talent in writer-director Boots Riley.” (Rotten Tomatoes)

“It should throw the viewer for a loop, because it’s a reflection of the insane times we live in.” (Salon.com)

“SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, the feature debut of writer-director Boots Riley, and the no-contest wildest comedy of the season, will keep your mind busy for weeks.” (Globe and Mail)

Wednesday, May 20
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE

SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (Boots Riley, 2018 / 105 mins / 18A) In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe.

*Minors OK. Must be 19+ w/ID for bar service.
*Rio Theatre Groupons and passes OK for any single film only. Please redeem at the door.
*We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance at www.riotheatretickets.ca. If a screening or live event is not sold out, the remaining tickets will be available for in-person purchase at the Rio Theatre’s box office prior to showtime (subject to availability).
*Our box office is typically open 30 minutes before showtime. All seating is General Admission; please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to showtime to ensure great seats, and time for treats at concession.

*All Rio Theatre tickets are final sale. No refunds, exchanges or transfers.