California Schemin’ made its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival to a packed audience. The directorial debut of The Chronicles of Narnia and X-Men actor James McAvoy, California Schemin’ is based on the book of the same name by the erstwhile rappers, Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd. Is California Schemin’ a good music film? Ross and Bottomley bring an easy chemistry that carries this film—without it, California Schemin’ couldn’t have worked. What makes California Schemin’ so engaging is that it’s a surprisingly universal story.