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Coming to America Poster

Coming to America

This summer, Prince Akeem discovers America.
1988 | 117m | English

(235407 votes)

TMDb IMDb

Popularity: 4 (history)

Details

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.
Release Date: Jun 29, 1988
Director: John Landis
Writer: David Sheffield, Barry W. Blaustein, Eddie Murphy
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Keywords new york city, fast food restaurant, prince, fake identity, royal family, heir to the throne, fish out of water, rich man, searching for love, rich family, satirical, pretending to be poor, absurd, hilarious, ambiguous, amused, exhilarated, familiar, melodramatic, african american romance, african american lead, african royalty
Production Companies Paramount Pictures, Eddie Murphy Productions
Box Office Revenue: $288,752,301
Budget: $30,000,000
Updates Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Entered: Apr 13, 2024
Trailers and Extras

Full Credits

Name Character
Eddie Murphy Prince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
Arsenio Hall Semmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown
Shari Headley Lisa McDowell
John Amos Cleo McDowell
James Earl Jones King Jaffe Joffer
Madge Sinclair Queen Aoleon
Eriq La Salle Darryl Jenks
Allison Dean Patrice McDowell
Frankie Faison Landlord
Louie Anderson Maurice
Paul Bates Oha
Samuel L. Jackson Hold-Up Man
Vanessa Bell Calloway Imani Izzi
Calvin Lockhart Colonel Izzi
Vondie Curtis-Hall Basketball Game Vendor
Cuba Gooding Jr. Boy Getting Haircut
Feather Rose Bearer #1
Stephanie Simon Rose Bearer #2
Garcelle Beauvais Rose Bearer #3
Ruben Santiago-Hudson Street Hustler
Birdie M. Hale Elderly Passenger
Clyde Jones Soul Glo Man
Jim Abrahams Face on Cutting Room Floor
Victoria Dillard Bather / Dancer
Felicia Taylor Bather
Midori Bather
Sheila Johnson Lady-in-Waiting
Jake Steinfeld Cab Driver
Clint Smith Sweets
Uncle Ray Murphy Stu
Paulette Banoza Soul Glo Woman
Patricia Matthews Devil Woman
Mary Bond Davis Big Stank Woman
Carla Earle Tough Girl
Karen Owens Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer
Sharon Owens Ex-Siamese Twin / Dancer
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
David Sosna Cartier Delivery Man
Arthur Adams Mr. Jenks
Loni Kaye Harkless Mrs. Jenks
Montrose Hagins Grandma Jenks
Tonja Rivers Party Guest
Ralph Bellamy Randolph Duke / Homeless Man #1 (uncredited)
Don Ameche Mortimer Duke / Homeless Man #2 (uncredited)
Karl Denson 'Sexual Chocolate' Saxophonist (uncredited)
Elaine Kagan Telegraph Lady (uncredited)
Michael Tadross Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Steve White Subway Guy (uncredited)
Helen Hanft Subway Lady (uncredited)
Leah Aldridge Dancer (uncredited)
Aurorah Allain Dancer (uncredited)
Paula Brown Dancer (uncredited)
Dwayne Chattman Dancer (uncredited)
Stephanie Clark Dancer (uncredited)
Robin L. Dimension Dancer (uncredited)
Shaun Earl 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)
Tobe Hooper Party Guest (uncredited)
Raymond D. Turner T-Shirt Hawker
Name Job
John Landis Director
David Sheffield Screenplay
Barry W. Blaustein Screenplay
Nile Rodgers Original Music Composer
Richard B. Lewis Art Direction
Bruce McBroom Still Photographer
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck Costume Supervisor
Paula Abdul Choreographer
Rick Baker Makeup Effects, Makeup Artist
Michael Tadross Unit Production Manager
Stan Cockerell Assistant Property Master
Richard Evans Swing
Dean Drabin Foley Mixer
James Beshears Supervising ADR Editor
Carlton Holder Stunt Double
Eddie Murphy Story
Madelyn Most Assistant Camera
Jon Falkengren Dolly Grip
Dennis Gamiello First Company Grip
Joseph Cosko Jr. Second Assistant Camera
Brian Fitzsimons Second Company Grip
Ferne Cassel Casting Assistant
Bill Christians Wardrobe Supervisor
Sol Negrin Director of Photography
Woody Omens Director of Photography
Malcolm Campbell Editor
Jackie Burch Casting
Richard Macdonald Production Design
Christopher Nowak Art Direction
Cheryal Kearney Set Decoration
Dan von Blomberg Set Decoration
Deborah Nadoolman Landis Costume Design
Carole Lee Cole Assistant Art Director
Jerry Fitzpatrick Construction Coordinator
William Apperson Construction Foreman
Philip C. Hurst Greensman
R. Gilbert Clayton Set Designer
Ken Fisher First Assistant Camera
Bruce Atwater Grip
Kelly Kimball Assistant Costume Designer
Rolf John Keppler Makeup Artist
Gerald DeTitta Set Dressing Artist
Marc Fambro Carpenter
Eddie Jones Craft Service
Patrick Hogan Driver
Gregg H. Bilson Property Master
Edward Garzero Scenic Artist
Greg Knapp Set Medic
Frank Graziadei Sound Recordist
John Sherrod Stunt Coordinator
Lindell Blake Stunts
Cary Kelley Transportation Coordinator
Saul Kahan Unit Publicist
John Ashby Utility Stunts
David Sosna First Assistant Director
Bob Noland Color Timer
Richie Ford Electrician
Michael T. James Rigging Grip
Charles Miller Location Manager
Janet L. Wattles Production Accountant
Terry Ladin Production Coordinator
Louis Sabat Boom Operator
Spike Allison Hooper Assistant Sound Editor
Daniel Allan Carlin Music Editor
Mike Dobie Sound Editor
William B. Kaplan Sound Mixer
Paul Timothy Carden Supervising Sound Editor
Danny Cangemi Special Effects Supervisor
William Howard Assistant Hairstylist
Marie Carter Assistant Makeup Artist
Charles Brescia Additional Second Assistant Director
Richard Patrick Second Assistant Director
Tomaz Remec Second Second Assistant Director
John Haggar Assistant Editor
Chris Schutsky Location Assistant
Ed Cooper Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
John W. DeBlau Chief Lighting Technician
Rae Lockett Extras Casting Assistant
Joseph Banks Generator Operator
Martha Appel Production Assistant
Ginny Warner Production Secretary
Brian Stewart Story Editor
George Folsey Jr. Editor
Drew Struzan Art Designer
Sunny Johnson Grip
Name Title
Leslie Belzberg Executive Producer
Mark Lipsky Executive Producer
Robert D. Wachs Producer
David Sosna Associate Producer
Eddie Murphy Executive Producer
George Folsey Jr. Producer
Organization Category Person
Golden Globes Best Supporting Actor N/A Nominated
Academy Awards Best Actress Eddie Murphy Nominated
BAFTA Awards Best Actor Eddie Murphy Nominated
Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 4 61 106 46
2024 5 144 163 100
2024 6 111 155 43
2024 7 67 96 50
2024 8 44 65 30
2024 9 46 80 31
2024 10 42 70 30
2024 11 40 48 30
2024 12 41 49 30
2025 1 40 53 30
2025 2 35 47 7
2025 3 13 45 3
2025 4 9 17 6
2025 5 9 19 6
2025 6 8 12 6
2025 7 7 8 5
2025 8 6 8 5
2025 9 8 10 4
2025 10 5 5 4

Trending Position


Year Month High Avg
2025 9 799 862
Year Month High Avg
2025 8 313 722
Year Month High Avg
2025 7 657 764
Year Month High Avg
2025 6 396 662
Year Month High Avg
2025 5 457 751
Year Month High Avg
2025 4 570 813
Year Month High Avg
2025 3 304 673
Year Month High Avg
2025 2 242 376
Year Month High Avg
2025 1 546 815
Year Month High Avg
2024 12 619 772
Year Month High Avg
2024 11 773 879
Year Month High Avg
2024 9 910 931

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Reviews

Ruuz
5.0

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 l ... arge more than the most similar offerings of today. _Final rating:★★½ - Not quite for me, but I definitely get the appeal._

Jun 23, 2021
r96sk
7.0

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 amu ... sed 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.

Jun 23, 2021
Wuchak
10.0

_**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+

Jun 23, 2021
Kamurai
7.0

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.

Jun 23, 2021
tmdb55527033
N/A

_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 a ... nd 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.

Nov 07, 2023