Sorry to Bother You

In an alternate present day Oakland, Cassius Green, a Black telemarketer, discovers an uncanny way to boost his sales that feels almost magical. He climbs the corporate ladder by using a strange speaking mode that opens doors others miss, but each win drags him into a surreal, unsettling version of the modern workplace. As he ascends in status and pay, the line between ambition and complicity blurs, and he confronts a macabre underworld where labor, race and class collide. The film pairs razor sharp humor with a fever dream atmosphere, turning ordinary office calls into a portal to bigger questions about power, responsibility, and the price of success. The result is a provocative satire that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Directed by Boots Riley, the film springs from his own screenplay rather than a book or remake. This 2018 indie satire premiered at major festivals worldwide and pairs a tight budget with audacious ideas about race, labor, and consumer culture.

Box office: The film earned about 18.2 million worldwide against a 3.2 million budget, making it a modest but successful indie hit that resonated with audiences seeking sharper social satire and inventive genre mixing, appealing to critics and audiences everywhere.

The film sparked lively conversations about power, race and class in contemporary work life. Its surreal riffs and audacious scenarios fed debates on how corporate systems shape identity, while clever dialogue and visual punch lines found a place in pop culture discussions and classrooms. Its bold visuals deepen the satire.

Critics praised its fearless tone, inventive conceptualization, and social critique, though some found the shift toward darkness challenging. The film tackles authenticity, black labor, racial capitalism, and the lure of easy advancement, pairing comic energy with a disturbing undercurrent that lingers after the credits. It invites ongoing debate about responsibility.