Coming to America 1988
7.1 / 10
Coming to America
An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble.
An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble.
Videos & Photos
All 1 Videos & 43 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
... Semmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown
... King Jaffe Joffer
... Cleo McDowell
... Lisa McDowell
... Landlord
User reviews
See All 4 Reviews23 Jun 2021 by Gimly
Hasn't aged flawlessly, made some stylistic decisions that probably would have come across as weird even at the time, and not the sort of thing (American comedy) that typically appeals to me. But I can still absolutely see why _Coming to America_ is remembered as fondly as it is. I liked it by and large more than the most similar offerings of today. _Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._
Release Date:
Jun 29, 1988 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 57`
MMPA Rating:
R
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
Coming to America
Hasn't aged flawlessly, made some stylistic decisions that probably would have come across as weird even at the time, and not the sort of thing (American comedy) that typically appeals to me. But I can still absolutely see why _Coming to America_ is remembered as fondly as it is. I liked it by and large more than the most similar offerings of today. _Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._
I didn't enjoy it as much as expected, but 'Coming to America' is nevertheless still good. Eddie Murphy is unsurprisingly the star of the film. Any notable scenes include him, which isn't a shock given the obvious and the fact he plays a number of characters; on that note, only Akeem amused me - the barber shop guys... not so much, to be honest. James Earl Jones (Jaffe), John Amos (Cleo) and Frankie Faison (landlord) are the most noteworthy in terms of those away from the lead, while there is even an appearance from someone named Samuel L. Jackson - what ever happened to that guy?! I wanted/anticipated much stronger humour, if only due to Murphy's presence. I can't say I laughed that much, which is disappointing. The romance parts are probably more memorable to me, even if it's kinda familiar in those regards. With all that said, I can see why loads thoroughly enjoy this - it just didn't fully land on me, personally. Still worth viewing and I'm very much up to see the sequel.
_**My all-time favorite comedy**_ In "Coming to America" (1988) Eddie Murphy plays the likable prince of a rich African kingdom, Akeem. He comes to Queens to find his future queen accompanied by his best friend & servant, Semmi, played by Arsenio Hall. He understandably wants a wife who will love him for who he is and not for his great riches. So they get hired at McDowell's, a McDonald's knock-off, where he meets the shining daughter of the owner (Shari Headley). Is she the one? Will she find a fast-food mop boy appealing enough to marry? As noted in my title blurb, "Coming to America" is my all-time favorite comedy. Why? Simply because it's a laugh-riot from beginning to end. The first time I saw it was on TV in 2000 and I couldn't stop laughing; I saw it again last night (after purchasing it) and it had the same effect. Everything works here -- the characters, the jokes, the story -- to make "Coming to America" one of the greatest comedies ever made. GRADE: A+
Really good watch, would watch again, and can recommend. A very good approach to a "Pauper and Prince" trope mix with a culture shock trope. The excellent cast involved really takes it a long way with good writing to help it along. It's admittedly not a very original story structure, so while it is not all that refreshingly unpredictable, but it's good to see a foreign royalty in an American setting, and an African one at that. I do think this is consistently funny and has maintained over 30 years, so definitely check this out if you haven't.
Cast & Crew of
Coming to America
Directors & Credit Writers
TR
Tomaz Remec... Second Second Assistant Director
DS
David Sosna... First Assistant Director
... Director
Cast
... Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
... Semmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown
... King Jaffe Joffer
... Cleo McDowell
... Lisa McDowell
... Landlord
... Maurice
... Darryl Jenks
... Patrice McDowell
... Queen Aoleon
... Oha
... Hold-Up Man
... Randolph Duke / Homeless Man #1 (uncredited)
... Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
... Imani Izzi
... Colonel Izzi
... Rose Bearer #3
... Boy Getting Haircut
BMH
Birdie M. Hale... Elderly Passenger
... Basketball Game Vendor
Produced By
Related Movies To
Coming to America
Heads of State (2025)
0 /10
The UK Prime Minister and US President have a public rivalry that risks their countries' alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they're forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world.
Run Time: 1hr 53` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 24 Jun 2025
Director: Ben Howard , Matthew Sharp , Ilya Naishuller
Producer: Marcus Viscidi , Josh Appelbaum , John Rickard
Stars: Idris Elba , John Cena , Priyanka Chopra Jonas , Paddy Considine , Stephen Root , Carla Gugino
Lilo & Stitch (2025)
0 /10
The wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Run Time: 1hr 48` . MMPA: PG . Release: 17 May 2025
Director: Brian Avery Galligan , Aldric La'Auli Porter , Stephanie Tull
Producer: Thomas Schumacher , Ryan Halprin , Terri Douglas
Stars: Chris Sanders , Maia Kealoha , Zach Galifianakis , Billy Magnussen , Sydney Agudong , Courtney B. Vance
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
0 /10
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.
Run Time: 1hr 36` . MMPA: PG . Release: 20 Jun 2025
Director: Maggie Kang , Sean Tadlock , Chris Appelhans
Producer: Angie K. Farella , Michelle Wong , Charisma Garcia
Stars: Arden Cho , Rolando Davila-Beltran , May Hong , Ji-young Yoo , Ahn Hyo-seop , Yunjin Kim
Long Distance (2024)
0 /10
After crash-landing on an alien planet, an asteroid miner must contend with the challenges of his new surroundings, while making his way across the harsh terrain to the only other survivor – a woman who is trapped in her escape pod.
Run Time: 1hr 27` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 12 Jul 2024
Director: Will Speck , Cliff Lanning , Josh Gordon
Producer: Will Speck , Cliff Lanning , Anna Halberg
Stars: Anthony Ramos , Naomi Scott , Kristofer Hivju , Zachary Quinto , Izzy Jones , Leon Nurse-Joseph
A Minecraft Movie (2025)
0 /10
Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.
Run Time: 1hr 41` . MMPA: PG . Release: 31 Mar 2025
Director: Jon Valera , Rosie Vavasour , Ben Bamford
Producer: Jason Momoa , Jono Wilce , Roy Lee
Stars: Jack Black , Jason Momoa , Matt Berry , Pauline Chalamet , Jennifer Coolidge , Danielle Brooks
Baby Blue (2023)
5 /10
A group of teens stumble across the story of now dead serial killer Baby Blue and decide he'd be the perfect subject of a true crime vodcast. But when they start digging, they quickly discover that his murder spree never stopped. Now they are being targeted from beyond the grave.
Run Time: 1hr 30` . MMPA: . Release: 16 Apr 2023
Director: Adam Mason
Producer: Johannes Roberts , Bradley Pilz
Stars: Dylan Sprayberry , Lia McHugh , Anthony Turpel , Aramis Knight , Alexia Ioannides , Oliver Cooper
Ready or Not (2019)
6.9 /10
A young bride's wedding night turns into her worst nightmare when her ridiculously rich in-laws force her to play a gruesome game of hide-and-seek.
Run Time: 1hr 35` . MMPA: R . Release: 21 Aug 2019
Director: Gino Sandoval , Rory James , Tyler Gillett
Producer: Neil Olsen , John O'Grady , Jordan Delic
Stars: Samara Weaving , Adam Brody , Mark O'Brien , Henry Czerny , Andie MacDowell , Melanie Scrofano
Deep Cover (2025)
0 /10
Kat is an improv comedy teacher beginning to question if she’s missed her shot at success. When an undercover cop offers her the role of a lifetime, she recruits two of her students to infiltrate London’s gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals.
Run Time: 1hr 39` . MMPA: R . Release: 12 Jun 2025
Director: Tom Kingsley , Kelly Maracin Krieg
Producer: Stephanie Winter , Alex Johnson , Colin Trevorrow
Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard , Orlando Bloom , Sean Bean , Paddy Considine , Ian McShane , Nick Mohammed
Open (2025)
0 /10
The perfect summer turns into a blood-soaked nightmare as counselors at an isolated camp are hunted by a killer and the truth behind the murders is darker than anyone imagined. If the killer doesn't get you, the drama definitely will.
Run Time: 1hr 4` . MMPA: . Release: 14 Jun 2025
Director: David Saban
Producer: Eliot Schuler
Stars: Kayla Decilio , Ethan Michaels , Dimitry Bilanicz , Kylie Rose Collins , Marlee Lewis , Mike Lavit
Moana 2 (2024)
0 /10
After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys alongside Maui and a new crew to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced.
Run Time: 1hr 40` . MMPA: PG . Release: 21 Nov 2024
Director: Dana Ledoux Miller , David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand
Producer: Yvett Merino Flores , Osnat Shurer , Jared Bush
Stars: Auli'i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Nicole Scherzinger
Jack in Time for Christmas (2024)
0 /10
Christmas is approaching and Jack Whitehall is racing to get home in time to spend it with his family. Stranded on the other side of the world, he enlists the help of some famous faces and embarks on a far-fetched quest across the globe. His cast of celebrity do-gooders includes Jimmy Fallon, Dave Bautista, Rebel Wilson, Tom Davis, and Michael Bublé. But will they get him back in time for Christmas?
Run Time: 1hr 5` . MMPA: . Release: 02 Dec 2024
Director: Phil Ashton
Producer: Richard Ackerman
Stars: Jack Whitehall , Michael Bublé , Dave Bautista , Rebel Wilson , Jimmy Fallon , Daisy May Cooper
Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation (2024)
0 /10
When thrill-seeker Cricket tricks his family into taking a "road trip" in space, chaos in the cosmos quickly ensues. Despite growing frustrations between Cricket and his dad, Bill, the two must learn to appreciate each other's unique perspectives in order to prevent Big City from being destroyed by an interstellar disaster.
Run Time: 1hr 22` . MMPA: PG . Release: 06 Jun 2024
Director: Anna O'Brian
Producer: Mike Coughlin , Michael Coughlin , Abigail Swoap
Stars: Chris Houghton , Artemis Pebdani , Marieve Herington , Bob Joles , Wendi McLendon-Covey , Zeno Robinson