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Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley ... see more see more... , Madge Sinclair , Eriq La Salle , Allison Dean , Paul Bates , Louie Anderson , Clint Smith , Vanessa Bell , Don Ameche , Ralph Bellamy , Arthur Adams , Leah Aldridge , Stephanie Clark , Vondie Curtis-Hall , Mary Bond Davis , Victoria Dillard , Frankie Faison , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Birdie M. Hale , Helen Hanft , Samuel L. Jackson , Clyde Jones , Elaine Kagan , Calvin Lockhart , Monique Mannen , Jake Steinfeld , Raymond D. Turner , Jerald Vincent , Jim Abrahams , Aurorah Allain , Steve White , Paulette Banoza , Garcelle Beauvais , June Boykins , Paula M. Brown , Janette Colon , Vanessa Colon , Dottie , Carla Earle , Sharon Ferrol , Cynthia Finkley , Billi Gordon , Lisa Gumora , Montrose Hagins , Loni Kaye Harkless , Ruben Hudson , Sheila Johnson , Tanya Lynne Lee , Patricia Matthews , Mindora Mimms , Uncle Ray Murphy , Karen Renee Owens , Tonja Rivers , Stephanie Simon , David Sosna , Michael Tadross , Felicia Taylor , Michele Watley , Eyan Williams , Kara Young , Randolph Scott

Coming to America casts comedian Eddie Murphy as pampered African prince Akeem, who rebels against an arranged marriage and heads to America to find a new bride. Murphy's regal father (James Earl Jone... read more read more...s) agrees to allow the prince 40 days to roam the U.S., sending the prince's faithful retainer Semmi (Arsenio Hall) along to make sure nothing untoward happens. To avoid fortune hunters, Prince Akeem conceals his true identity and gets a "Joe job" at a fast-food restaurant. Murphy and Hall play multiple roles, and there are innumerable celebrity cameos peppered throughout the proceedings -- including the Duke Brothers (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) from Trading Places. Coming to America made further headlines when humorist Art Buchwald sued the film's producers for plagiarizing one of his works. Buchwald carried the case to trial, where he won a sizeable judgement against the film's producers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

245,568 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

36 critics

R, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: John Landis

Release Date: June 29, 1988

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DVD Release Date: March 9, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (13,061)

  • cosmo313
    April 21, 2012
    cosmo313
    John Landis directs this funny film about a pampered African prince named Akeem who, not happy about being in an arranged marriage, and getting tired of a pampered lifestyle, heads to America to try living like a regualr guy and find a wife on his own terms. It's basically just o... read morene big update of the Prince and the Pauper/fish out of water sort of thing, but, since this is the 80s, it features Eddie Murphy when he was still tremendously funny AND making good movies...I miss those days.

    Murphy is great as Akeem, though he seems a bit mroe subdued in the lead. Thankfully, he plays multiple characters, and this give him the chance to really let loose when he takes on those other roles. He's famolus for it now, but this is the first time he did this routine. Arsenio Hall gets in on the fun too, and the best side character each plays would have to be the Jewish man at the barber shop for Eddie (the makeup job is superb and very convincing), and the crazy lady at the bar for Hall.

    Too bad those guys didn't work together all the time, or weren't able to stay in their prime forever, because they have grrat chemistry together, and this is when they were at some of their best. We also get appearances from James Earl Jones (who gets to be atypical and silly), as well as a stand out, but all too brief cameo from Samuel L. Jackson (in his second ever film role) as a bum who tries to hold up a fast food joint. It's a brilliant and extremely memorable scene.

    The film is funny throughout, but it feels like the best stuff is few and far between. Also, the film feels a little long and draggy at times, as if the great director John Landis was just very unfocused and unsure of how to use all of the great talent at hand to its fullest.

    All in all though, this is some good stuff, though perhaps a bit overrated. It's funny, yeah, but underwhelming. It's still worth a look though.
  • aquateen2
    April 20, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Back when Eddie Murphy wasn't bombarding us with stupid, low brow and unfunny kids films he made Coming to America and to this day it remains one of his most cherished, warmest and funniest films. Murphy... read more is phenomenal playing witty, fast talking smart arses but slowing down his pace here it still works amazingly as a comedy. However, the plot moves forward a bit quicker than it should and becomes more dramatised in it's second half and it is an undeniably predictable storyline but unlike his more recent films it's decently written, well intended and quite funny. There is also a great supporting cast featuring James Earl Jones who was perfectly cast as Eddie's father and I thought his performance was absolutely hilarious.
  • CloudStrife84
    March 21, 2012
    CloudStrife84
    Remember the days when Eddie Murphy's movies were actually funny? It seems but a distant memory now, but every once in a while I make a little re-visit to the 80's, just to remind myself of a time when it wasn't all about fat suits and farting at the dinner table. Granted that he... read more plays a multitude of roles in this one too, but at least the jokes are on the money and the make-up extremely convincing. A hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy, that even more than 20 years after its making, is still as side-splitting as ever. This, along with "Beverly Hills Cop", are my hands down favourite Eddie Murphy flicks, that always manages to get a laugh out of me. Not to mention the great supporting cast, which includes a prime-performing Arsenio Hall, the legendary James Earl Jones and a brief, but memorable cameo by Samuel L. Jackson. Maybe not a comedy to everyone's taste, but I for one really love it.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    It was an ok film, nothing great.
  • ajv2688
    March 12, 2011
    ajv2688
    This movie is hilarious. I think it's the first time Murphey attempted to play more than one character, and I didn't even notice it was him at first. The story is a romantic comedy and a fish out of water tale as well. It's a great movie, and I highly recommend it.
  • theunknownhobo
    January 21, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    A hilarious classic movie that should be seen at least once by any true comedy fan. Playing not only on the class and race divides of America, this movie also brings to light the lesser portrayed subject of human interaction at its most basic level and highlights how people would... read more treat others were they stripped of their reconceived notions of their wealth and stature. Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall play multiple roles wonderfully in this movie and it should be remembered as one of Murphy's finest, with a cameo from James Earl Jones really sealing the deal on this one!
  • FrizzDrop
    August 2, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    An iconic movie that shows Murphy in his best light.
  • lewiskendell
    April 10, 2010
    lewiskendell
    Eddie Murphy at the top of his game! Coming to America is easily one of his best movies, this is the Murphy that I would love to have come back to us. If you don't laugh tons of times while you watch this, you seriously do not have any sense of humor.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 13, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    It is not an American Movie, it is not an Asian Movie it is not a European Movie it a Eddie Murphy Movie.
  • TomBowler
    October 19, 2009
    TomBowler
    If ever you are doubting Eddie Murphy as an actor after seeing Norbit, Meet Dave or really any of his recent work, watch Coming to America. It incorporates his playing multiple characters ability and gives him a chance to use his incredible alienation ability to its full potentia... read morel. The story itself is great, a funny version of the whole "should i marry him for his money" movie. Great film to sit down and laugh at without having to think too much in between.

    Defining Scene:
    That fantastic joke by the Jewish gentleman in the barbers, fantastic.

View All Coming to America Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
June 6, 2009
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

The director is ... rather distracted; John Landis seems to be browsing through the scenes rather than gobbling them down. Full Review

Variety Staff
October 18, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Starts on a bathroom joke, quickly followed by a gag about private parts, then wanders in search of something equally original for Eddie Murphy to do for another couple of hours. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

A screenplay that seems to have escaped its doctors before it was entirely well. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The main pleasure in America comes in the romancing of prince and pauper. But the comedy is a mere handmaiden. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

In Landis' hands, the film doesn't live up to even the meagerest of expectations. Full Review

Common Sense Media Editors
January 1, 2011
Common Sense Media Editors, Common Sense Media

Silly, curse-happy '80s Eddie Murphy vehicle. Full Review

June 6, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Murphy gives his sweetest, most touching, and most genuinely likable performance to date, playing a character who embraces society instead of holding it in contempt. Full Review

June 6, 2009
Film4

The winning combination of Landis and Murphy redeems the very predictable storyline, which is chock-full of snappy one-liners and impressive caricatures by Murphy and Hall. Full Review

Kevin Carr
March 5, 2009
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

very funny and shows Eddie Murphy in his prime Full Review

Jamie Gillies
February 21, 2009
Jamie Gillies, Apollo Guide

Not only a great comedic effort but Eddie Murphy's best romantic film as well. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Darryl Jenks: Wearing clothes must be a new experience for you.
    • Prince Akeem: When you think of garbage think of Akeem.
    • Prince Akeem: Good morning my neighbors.
    • Extremely Ugly Girl: Can I tell you a secret? I worship the devil.
    • Rev. Brow: You know him as Joe the policeman on the 'What's goin' down' episode of That's My Mama. Put your hands together for Jackson Heights own! Mr Randy Watson!
    • Cleo McDowell: I'll let him know you're here!
    • King Jaffe Joffer: No! Do not alert him to my presence! I shall deal with him myself.
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Coming to America : Watch Free on TV

Coming to America Trivia

  • in what movie did eddie murphy come to america to find his queen?  Answer »
  • In what movie did the band 'Sexual Chocolate' appear?  Answer »
  • Which Eddie Murphy movie is being described here? An African prince goes to Queens, New York City to find a wife whom he can respect for her intelligence and will.  Answer »
  • Which movie was it that Eddie Murphy was a rich prince and went to America to find a wife?????  Answer »
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