I'm a Virgo

Production

Boots Riley started writing the series in 2019. Executive producers include Riley, Jerome, Ellenberg, and Tze Chun. The supporting cast features Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Brett Gray, Allius Barnes, Kara Young, and Olivia Washington. On May 23, 2026, Riley revealed there would be no second season; two weeks before filming started, budget cuts forced him to drop 40% of the script, including a penultimate episode.

Most filming happened in New Orleans, Louisiana, with outdoor scenes shot on location in Oakland, California. The show relies on practical effects, using miniatures and puppets. Riley’s band The Coup handled the soundtrack, while Tune-Yards composed the score.

Reception

Critics were overwhelmingly impressed by I'm a Virgo. On Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 61 reviews are positive, averaging 8.10 out of 10. The site's consensus praises Boots Riley's "towering imagination" and Jharrel Jerome's performance, calling the show an "uproarious satire" with a big heart. Metacritic calculates a score of 86 out of 100 from 26 reviews, which qualifies as "universal acclaim."

Ben Travers of Indiewire gave it a B+, describing it as a "visually imaginative parable with a moving message." Chase Hutchinson of Collider awarded an A, calling it "big on ambition yet precisely focused." Erin Brady of /Film called it "one of the streaming era's most interesting and offbeat projects," highlighting Riley's unique visual style and the cast's dynamic performances. The series also earned a nomination at the 22nd Visual Effects Society Awards for Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal or Animated Project.

Did You Know?

• The show's protagonist, Cootie, is 13 feet tall at age 19.
• Cootie is raised by his aunt Lafrancine and uncle Martisse in Oakland, California.
• A group of teenage political activists inadvertently learn of Cootie's existence.