
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.
Director(s)
David Sosna
Tobe Hooper
John Landis
Tomaz Remec
Charles Brescia
Richard Patrick
Where to watch

Apple TV Store
Rent

Amazon Video
Rent

Apple TV Store
Buy
Cast & crew

Eddie Murphy
Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul

Samuel L. Jackson
Hold-Up Man
Birdie M. Hale
Elderly Passenger

Calvin Lockhart
Colonel Izzi
David Sosna
Cartier Delivery Man

John Amos
Cleo McDowell

Garcelle Beauvais
Rose Bearer #3

James Earl Jones
King Jaffe Joffer

Madge Sinclair
Queen Aoleon

Don Ameche
Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)

Frankie Faison
Landlord
Richard Patrick
-

Louie Anderson
Maurice

Elaine Kagan
Telegraph Lady (uncredited)

Vanessa Bell Calloway
Imani Izzi

Arsenio Hall
Semmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown

Jake Steinfeld
Cab Driver

Cuba Gooding Jr.
Boy Getting Haircut

Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Street Hustler

John Landis
-

Darla
Dottie

Jim Abrahams
Face on Cutting Room Floor
Clint Smith
Sweets
Shaun Earl
Dancer (uncredited)

Victoria Dillard
Bather / Dancer
Raymond D. Turner
T-Shirt Hawker

Helen Hanft
Subway Lady (uncredited)

Montrose Hagins
Grandma Jenks

Vondie Curtis-Hall
Basketball Game Vendor

Tobe Hooper
Party Guest (uncredited)

Ralph Bellamy
Randolph Duke / Homeless Man #1 (uncredited)

Mary Bond Davis
Big Stank Woman

Paul Bates
Oha
Paula Brown
Dancer (uncredited)

Karen Owens
Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer

Sharon Owens
Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer

Shari Headley
Lisa McDowell

Eriq La Salle
Darryl Jenks

Allison Dean
Patrice McDowell
Feather
Rose Bearer #1
Stephanie Simon
Rose Bearer #2

Clyde Jones
Soul Glo Man
Felicia Taylor
Bather

Midori
Bather

Sheila Johnson
Lady-in-Waiting
Uncle Ray Murphy
Stu
Paulette Banoza
Soul Glo Woman

Patricia Matthews
Devil Woman
Carla Earle
Tough Girl
Lisa Gumora
Kinky Girl
June Boykins
Strange Woman
Janette Colon
Fresh Peaches
Vanessa Colon
Sugar Cube
Monique Mannen
Boring Girl / Dancer
Mindora Mimms
Awareness Woman
Cynthia Finkley
Awareness Woman
Arthur Adams
Mr. Jenks
Loni Kaye Harkless
Mrs. Jenks
Tonja Rivers
Party Guest
Karl Denson
'Sexual Chocolate' Saxophonist (uncredited)

Michael Tadross
Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Steve White
Subway Guy (uncredited)
Leah Aldridge
Dancer (uncredited)
Aurorah Allain
Dancer (uncredited)
Dwayne Chattman
Dancer (uncredited)
Stephanie Clark
Dancer (uncredited)
Robin L. Dimension
Dancer (uncredited)
Eric L. Ellis
Dancer (uncredited)
Sharon Ferrol-Young
Dancer (uncredited)
Eric D. Henderson
Dancer (uncredited)
Gigi Hunter
Dancer (uncredited)
Debra Johnson
Dancer (uncredited)

Tanya Lynne Lee
Dancer (uncredited)
Jimmy Locust
Dancer (uncredited)
Donna M. Perkins
Dancer (uncredited)
Dionne Rockhold
Dancer (uncredited)
Gina Consuela Rose
Dancer (uncredited)
Randolph Scott
Dancer (uncredited)
Robbin Tasha-Ford
Dancer (uncredited)
Jerald Vincent
Dancer (uncredited)
Eyan Williams
Dancer (uncredited)
Roy Milton Davis
Homeless Man Around Garbage Can Bonfire (uncredited)
Dorian DeMichele
Viola (uncredited)
Alison Gordy
Blond Hooker / Bag Lady in Fast Food Place (uncredited)
Mary Young
Stuck-Up Girl (uncredited)
Tomaz Remec
-
Charles Brescia
-
Details
Reviews
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._
r96sk
I didn't enjoy it as much as expected, but <em>'Coming to America'</em> 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.
tmdb55527033
_Coming to America_ is a classic 80's comedy with excellent performances by Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. The film's humor holds up well over time, and the duo's ability to portray a variety of different characters is impressive. While some aspects of the film may be dated, it remains a hilarious and heartwarming story about love and acceptance. Overall, _Coming to America_ is a timeless classic and one of the greatest comedies of the 80’s. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good laugh.
Wuchak
_**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+
Kamurai
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.

