☰
Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

California Schemin'

Play trailer California Schemin' 2025 1h 47m Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 5 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Two Scottish lads from Dundee conned the music industry by pretending to be an established Californian rap duo, bagging a record deal and appearing on MTV until their scam unraveled.

Critics Reviews

View More (5)
Richard Lawson Guardian California Schemin’ is awfully predictable in its plotting, tracing the line of rise and fall and redemption so endemic to the music biopic genre. The distinct oddness of the story at least holds our attention. Rated: 3/5 Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Matthew Creith TheWrap What starts as a comedy film based on a true story evolves into a tragic drama of broken brotherhood, convoluted business dealings, and tarnished reputations. Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Peter Gray The AU Review Proving itself an entertaining venture as it details the hardships of the music industry and how not even the strongest friendships are immune to its allure. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 8, 2025 Full Review J. Don Birnam Next Best Picture Unfortunately, James McAvoy never decides what kind of story he wants to make, and the turbulent film that results ends up being difficult to swallow. Rated: 4/10 Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Abe Friedtanzer Awards Buzz Peppered with dramatic moments and confrontations, this is first and foremost a comedy, one that features two fantastic leads. McAvoy makes a seriously fun directorial debut with this film. Rated: 8/10 Sep 7, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

View All

James McAvoy

Director

Seamus McLean Ross

Actor

Samuel Bottomley

Actor

Lucy Halliday

Actor

Rebekah Murrell

Actor

James McAvoy

Actor
View All

California Schemin'

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Two Scottish lads from Dundee conned the music industry by pretending to be an established Californian rap duo, bagging a record deal and appearing on MTV until their scam unraveled.
Director
James McAvoy
Producer
Danny Page, Paul Aniello, Simon Kay, Michael Mendelsohn
Screenwriter
Archie Thomson, Elaine Gracie
Production Co
Patriot Pictures, Homefront Productions
Genre
Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 47m