California Schemin' poster

California Schemin'

Get rich or try lying.

6.0(9)20261h 47m2

After being ridiculed for their Scottish accents, two ambitious musicians reinvent themselves as American rappers and fool the British music industry into a lucrative record deal, only for their elaborate lie to unravel under the weight of instant fame.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
$726.4K
Language
English
  • rap music
  • hip-hop
  • biography
  • based on true story
  • hoax
  • 1990s

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

James McAvoy

Produced in

United Kingdom, United States of America

Where to watch

Availability for United Kingdom. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

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Gallery

Still from California Schemin'Still from California Schemin'Still from California Schemin'Still from California Schemin'Still from California Schemin'

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • Theatrical (limited)RNew York City & Los Angeles2 Oct 2026
    • TheatricalR9 Oct 2026
  • United KingdomGB

    • PremiereGlasgow Film Festival8 Mar 2026
    • Theatrical1510 Apr 2026
  • AustraliaAU

    • PremiereRussell Hobbs British Film Festival 30 Oct 2026
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereToronto International Film Festival6 Sept 2025
  • ChinaCN

    • PremiereHainan Island International Film Festival6 Dec 2025
  • EstoniaEE

    • PremiereTallinn Black Nights Film Festival8 Nov 2025
    • Theatrical23 Oct 2026
  • IrelandIE

    • Theatrical15A10 Apr 2026
  • ItalyIT

    • PremiereFestival del Cinema di Roma19 Oct 2025
  • LatviaLV

    • Theatrical16+30 Oct 2026
  • South KoreaKR

    • Premiere12Jecheon International Music & Film Festival5 Sept 2026
  • SwitzerlandCH

    • PremiereZurich Film Festival4 Oct 2025
  • TaiwanTW

    • PremiereTaipei Golden Horse Film Festival16 Nov 2025

Frequently asked questions

California Schemin' was released on 10 April 2026.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    4/15/2026

    6/10

    Based very loosely on a true story (or lie!), this tells the story of two Dundonian rappers - Gavin (Séamus McLean Ross) and Billy (Samuel Bottomley) - as they strive to escape the mundanity of their call-centre jobs and take their own earthy brand of street-poetry to an unreceptive music industry. They have tried all of the traditional methods of getting noticed, but it is now at the point where even record company …

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