Movie Background

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

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Apple TV Store

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Amazon Video

Amazon Video

Rent

Apple TV Store

Apple TV Store

Buy

Cast & crew

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy

Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Hold-Up Man

Birdie M. Hale

Birdie M. Hale

Elderly Passenger

Calvin Lockhart

Calvin Lockhart

Colonel Izzi

David Sosna

David Sosna

Cartier Delivery Man

John Amos

John Amos

Cleo McDowell

Garcelle Beauvais

Garcelle Beauvais

Rose Bearer #3

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones

King Jaffe Joffer

Madge Sinclair

Madge Sinclair

Queen Aoleon

Don Ameche

Don Ameche

Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)

Frankie Faison

Frankie Faison

Landlord

Richard Patrick

Richard Patrick

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Louie Anderson

Louie Anderson

Maurice

Elaine Kagan

Elaine Kagan

Telegraph Lady (uncredited)

Vanessa Bell Calloway

Vanessa Bell Calloway

Imani Izzi

Arsenio Hall

Arsenio Hall

Semmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown

Jake Steinfeld

Jake Steinfeld

Cab Driver

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Boy Getting Haircut

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Street Hustler

John Landis

John Landis

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Darla

Darla

Dottie

Jim Abrahams

Jim Abrahams

Face on Cutting Room Floor

Clint Smith

Clint Smith

Sweets

Shaun Earl

Shaun Earl

Dancer (uncredited)

Victoria Dillard

Victoria Dillard

Bather / Dancer

Raymond D. Turner

Raymond D. Turner

T-Shirt Hawker

Helen Hanft

Helen Hanft

Subway Lady (uncredited)

Montrose Hagins

Montrose Hagins

Grandma Jenks

Vondie Curtis-Hall

Vondie Curtis-Hall

Basketball Game Vendor

Tobe Hooper

Tobe Hooper

Party Guest (uncredited)

Ralph Bellamy

Ralph Bellamy

Randolph Duke / Homeless Man #1 (uncredited)

Mary Bond Davis

Mary Bond Davis

Big Stank Woman

Paul Bates

Paul Bates

Oha

Paula Brown

Paula Brown

Dancer (uncredited)

Karen Owens

Karen Owens

Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer

Sharon Owens

Sharon Owens

Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer

Shari Headley

Shari Headley

Lisa McDowell

Eriq La Salle

Eriq La Salle

Darryl Jenks

Allison Dean

Allison Dean

Patrice McDowell

Feather

Feather

Rose Bearer #1

Stephanie Simon

Stephanie Simon

Rose Bearer #2

Clyde Jones

Clyde Jones

Soul Glo Man

Felicia Taylor

Felicia Taylor

Bather

Midori

Midori

Bather

Sheila Johnson

Sheila Johnson

Lady-in-Waiting

Uncle Ray Murphy

Uncle Ray Murphy

Stu

Paulette Banoza

Paulette Banoza

Soul Glo Woman

Patricia Matthews

Patricia Matthews

Devil Woman

Carla Earle

Carla Earle

Tough Girl

Lisa Gumora

Lisa Gumora

Kinky Girl

June Boykins

June Boykins

Strange Woman

Janette Colon

Janette Colon

Fresh Peaches

Vanessa Colon

Vanessa Colon

Sugar Cube

Monique Mannen

Monique Mannen

Boring Girl / Dancer

Mindora Mimms

Mindora Mimms

Awareness Woman

Cynthia Finkley

Cynthia Finkley

Awareness Woman

Arthur Adams

Arthur Adams

Mr. Jenks

Loni Kaye Harkless

Loni Kaye Harkless

Mrs. Jenks

Tonja Rivers

Tonja Rivers

Party Guest

Karl Denson

Karl Denson

'Sexual Chocolate' Saxophonist (uncredited)

Michael Tadross

Michael Tadross

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Steve White

Steve White

Subway Guy (uncredited)

Leah Aldridge

Leah Aldridge

Dancer (uncredited)

Aurorah Allain

Aurorah Allain

Dancer (uncredited)

Dwayne Chattman

Dwayne Chattman

Dancer (uncredited)

Stephanie Clark

Stephanie Clark

Dancer (uncredited)

Robin L. Dimension

Robin L. Dimension

Dancer (uncredited)

Eric L. Ellis

Eric L. Ellis

Dancer (uncredited)

Sharon Ferrol-Young

Sharon Ferrol-Young

Dancer (uncredited)

Eric D. Henderson

Eric D. Henderson

Dancer (uncredited)

Gigi Hunter

Gigi Hunter

Dancer (uncredited)

Debra Johnson

Debra Johnson

Dancer (uncredited)

Tanya Lynne Lee

Tanya Lynne Lee

Dancer (uncredited)

Jimmy Locust

Jimmy Locust

Dancer (uncredited)

Donna M. Perkins

Donna M. Perkins

Dancer (uncredited)

Dionne Rockhold

Dionne Rockhold

Dancer (uncredited)

Gina Consuela Rose

Gina Consuela Rose

Dancer (uncredited)

Randolph Scott

Randolph Scott

Dancer (uncredited)

Robbin Tasha-Ford

Robbin Tasha-Ford

Dancer (uncredited)

Jerald Vincent

Jerald Vincent

Dancer (uncredited)

Eyan Williams

Eyan Williams

Dancer (uncredited)

Roy Milton Davis

Roy Milton Davis

Homeless Man Around Garbage Can Bonfire (uncredited)

Dorian DeMichele

Dorian DeMichele

Viola (uncredited)

Alison Gordy

Alison Gordy

Blond Hooker / Bag Lady in Fast Food Place (uncredited)

Mary Young

Mary Young

Stuck-Up Girl (uncredited)

Tomaz Remec

Tomaz Remec

-

Charles Brescia

Charles Brescia

-

Details

GenresComedy, Romance
Runtime1h 57 mins
Released on29 Jun 1988
Languageen
Produced inUnited States of America

Reviews

Gimly

5/10

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

7/10

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

/10

_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

10/10

_**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

7/10

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.

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