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Coming to America
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.
rating
6.878
runtime
117 min

Release

1988-06-29

Cast

Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
as Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
as Semmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown
Shari Headley
Shari Headley
as Lisa McDowell
John Amos
John Amos
as Cleo McDowell
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
as King Jaffe Joffer
Madge Sinclair
Madge Sinclair
as Queen Aoleon
Eriq La Salle
Eriq La Salle
as Darryl Jenks
Allison Dean
Allison Dean
as Patrice McDowell
Frankie Faison
Frankie Faison
as Landlord
Louie Anderson
Louie Anderson
as Maurice
Paul Bates
Paul Bates
as Oha
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
as Hold-Up Man
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Vanessa Bell Calloway
as Imani Izzi
Calvin Lockhart
Calvin Lockhart
as Colonel Izzi
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Vondie Curtis-Hall
as Basketball Game Vendor
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba Gooding Jr.
as Boy Getting Haircut
Feather
Feather
as Rose Bearer #1
Stephanie Simon
Stephanie Simon
as Rose Bearer #2
Garcelle Beauvais
Garcelle Beauvais
as Rose Bearer #3
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
as Street Hustler
Birdie M. Hale
Birdie M. Hale
as Elderly Passenger
Clyde Jones
Clyde Jones
as Soul Glo Man
Jim Abrahams
Jim Abrahams
as Face on Cutting Room Floor
Victoria Dillard
Victoria Dillard
as Bather / Dancer
Felicia Taylor
Felicia Taylor
as Bather
Midori
Midori
as Bather
Sheila Johnson
Sheila Johnson
as Lady-in-Waiting
Jake Steinfeld
Jake Steinfeld
as Cab Driver
Clint Smith
Clint Smith
as Sweets
Uncle Ray Murphy
Uncle Ray Murphy
as Stu
Paulette Banoza
Paulette Banoza
as Soul Glo Woman
Patricia Matthews
Patricia Matthews
as Devil Woman
Mary Bond Davis
Mary Bond Davis
as Big Stank Woman
Carla Earle
Carla Earle
as Tough Girl
Karen Owens
Karen Owens
as Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer
Sharon Owens
Sharon Owens
as Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer
Lisa Gumora
Lisa Gumora
as Kinky Girl
June Boykins
June Boykins
as Strange Woman
Janette Colon
Janette Colon
as Fresh Peaches
Vanessa Colon
Vanessa Colon
as Sugar Cube
Monique Mannen
Monique Mannen
as Boring Girl / Dancer
Mindora Mimms
Mindora Mimms
as Awareness Woman
Cynthia Finkley
Cynthia Finkley
as Awareness Woman
David Sosna
David Sosna
as Cartier Delivery Man
Arthur Adams
Arthur Adams
as Mr. Jenks
Loni Kaye Harkless
Loni Kaye Harkless
as Mrs. Jenks
Montrose Hagins
Montrose Hagins
as Grandma Jenks
Tonja Rivers
Tonja Rivers
as Party Guest
Ralph Bellamy
Ralph Bellamy
as Randolph Duke / Homeless Man #1 (uncredited)
Don Ameche
Don Ameche
as Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Karl Denson
Karl Denson
as 'Sexual Chocolate' Saxophonist (uncredited)
Elaine Kagan
Elaine Kagan
as Telegraph Lady (uncredited)
Michael Tadross
Michael Tadross
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Steve White
Steve White
as Subway Guy (uncredited)
Helen Hanft
Helen Hanft
as Subway Lady (uncredited)
Leah Aldridge
Leah Aldridge
as Dancer (uncredited)
Aurorah Allain
Aurorah Allain
as Dancer (uncredited)
Paula Brown
Paula Brown
as Dancer (uncredited)
Dwayne Chattman
Dwayne Chattman
as Dancer (uncredited)
Stephanie Clark
Stephanie Clark
as Dancer (uncredited)
Robin L. Dimension
Robin L. Dimension
as Dancer (uncredited)
Shaun Earl
Shaun Earl
as Dancer (uncredited)
Eric L. Ellis
Eric L. Ellis
as Dancer (uncredited)
Sharon Ferrol-Young
Sharon Ferrol-Young
as Dancer (uncredited)
Eric D. Henderson
Eric D. Henderson
as Dancer (uncredited)
Gigi Hunter
Gigi Hunter
as Dancer (uncredited)
Debra Johnson
Debra Johnson
as Dancer (uncredited)
Tanya Lynne Lee
Tanya Lynne Lee
as Dancer (uncredited)
Jimmy Locust
Jimmy Locust
as Dancer (uncredited)
Donna M. Perkins
Donna M. Perkins
as Dancer (uncredited)
Dionne Rockhold
Dionne Rockhold
as Dancer (uncredited)
Gina Consuela Rose
Gina Consuela Rose
as Dancer (uncredited)
Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott
as Dancer (uncredited)
Robbin Tasha-Ford
Robbin Tasha-Ford
as Dancer (uncredited)
Jerald Vincent
Jerald Vincent
as Dancer (uncredited)
Eyan Williams
Eyan Williams
as Dancer (uncredited)
Roy Milton Davis
Roy Milton Davis
as Homeless Man Around Garbage Can Bonfire (uncredited)
Dorian DeMichele
Dorian DeMichele
as Viola (uncredited)
Alison Gordy
Alison Gordy
as Blond Hooker / Bag Lady in Fast Food Place (uncredited)
Mary Young
Mary Young
as Stuck-Up Girl (uncredited)
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Raymond D. Turner
Raymond D. Turner
as T-Shirt Hawker
Darla
Darla
as Dottie

Director

REVIEWS
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Ruuz

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._

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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.

NA

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+

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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.

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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.