Coming to America

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2:38

Coming to America

R

Released Jun 29, 1988

1h 56m

Comedy

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is the prince of a wealthy African country and wants for nothing, except a wife who will love him in spite of his title. To escape an arranged marriage, Akeem flees to America accompanied by his persnickety sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), to find his queen. Disguised as a foreign student working in fast food, he romances Lisa (Shari Headley), but struggles with revealing his true identity to her and his marital intentions to his king father (James Earl Jones).

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Critics Consensus

Eddie Murphy was in full control at this point, starkly evident in Coming to America's John Landis' coasting direction.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Subtlety is not Mr Murphy's strong point, but on the, whole his spiky charm saves both him and the movie.

Jul 22, 2021

Full Review

David Robinson

The Times (UK)

John Landis directs the slim affair at a riskily leisured pace; but with some enjoyment from supporting characters such as James Earl Jones as the King and Eriq LaSalle as the Prince's rival for spunky Shari Headley.

Jul 22, 2021

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

This comedy is generally tame and sappy... what we get is homogenized Eddie Murphy, drained of his kinetic comic charm and smiling sass.

Jan 29, 2019

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Herb Boyd

The Crisis

What a pleasure it is to see such a glamorous array of black people on screen.

Nov 27, 2023

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Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

Even Akeem's gentle African lilt seems like Murphy trying to distance himself from his star persona, if not demonstrate his range.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 3, 2022

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Sean Collier

Box Office Prophets

It is charmingly old-school in plenty of regards - while remaining quotable.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 31, 2021

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Stephen C

A success in 1 hour and 56 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

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Kevin P

A very funny comedy with such rapid-fire jokes and great multiple roles from Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. Samuel Jackson was hilarious as the deranged robber. James Earl Jones is awesome as always, and it's cool how he and Madge Sinclair played African Royalty 6 years before "The Lion King". Eddie Murphy is really charming as the naive Prince and I enjoy that his storyline subverts the "rich boy gets humbled by the poor lifestyle" since he's so enthusiastic to have agency, even if it's for a fast-food joint surrounded by angry New Yorkers. The romance subplot is actually really sweet and I'm glad that the "Liar revealed plot" wasn't too melodramatic or dragged out. Another classic Eddie Murphy comedy and definitely worth a watch!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Peter V

Not bad, but also not good. Was enjoyable. Eddie Murphy has certainly better movies.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Aiden K

Great movie if you ask me 8.5/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/25

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Merick H

Love it! Great laughs and leaves me feeling pure joy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/25

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alan g

One of Eddie Murphy's better films. Looking for a Queen in Queens, NY is a good plot. A fish out of water film but it works. Good supporting cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

Full Review

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John Landis

Director

Eddie Murphy

Prince Akeem

Arsenio Hall

Semmi

John Amos

Cleo McDowell

James Earl Jones

King Jaffe Joffer

Shari Headley

Lisa McDowell

Coming to America: Official Clip - The King Has Entered the Building

1:50

Coming to America: Official Clip - New Digs

0:57

Coming to America: Official Clip - Unhappy Meal

1:35

Coming to America: Official Clip - Miss Black Awareness Pageant

1:43

Coming to America: Official Clip - Cassius Clay or Muhammad Ali

1:02

Coming to America: Official Clip - Sparring Session

1:28

Coming to America: Official Clip - Akeem Meets Lisa

0:59

Coming to America: Official Clip - Akeem Talks Football

0:48

Coming to America: Official Clip - The Barbershop

1:19

Coming to America: Official Clip - Semmi Writes Home

0:56

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Preview: Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... Coming to America

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Coming to America: Trailer 1

2:38

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Synopsis

Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is the prince of a wealthy African country and wants for nothing, except a wife who will love him in spite of his title. To escape an arranged marriage, Akeem flees to America accompanied by his persnickety sidekick, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), to find his queen. Disguised as a foreign student working in fast food, he romances Lisa (Shari Headley), but struggles with revealing his true identity to her and his marital intentions to his king father (James Earl Jones).

Director: John Landis
Producer: George Folsey Jr., Robert D. Wachs
Screenwriter: Barry W. Blaustein, David Sheffield
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount, Eddie Murphy Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $128.1M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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