Sorry to Bother You

Sorry to Bother You is a 2018 American science fiction black comedy film written and directed by musician Boots Riley in his directorial debut. It stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, and Armie Hammer. The film follows a young African-American telemarketer who adopts a "white voice" to succeed at his job, after which he is swept into a corporate conspiracy and must choose between chasing profit or joining his activist friends who are attempting to unionize. Principal photography began in June 2017 in Oakland, California. Sorry to Bother You premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 20 and was theatrically released in the United States by Annapurna Pictures on July 6, 2018. Focus Features and Universal Pictures handled international distribution. The film received praise for its cast, story, and soundtrack, as well as Riley's writing and direction. It was a commercial success, grossing $18.3 million against a budget of $3.2 million.