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.
Critics Sentiment
Akeem and Semmi work at McDowell's restaurant
Lisa angrily refuses to marry Akeem
The film drops significantly from the hilarious McDowell's restaurant sequences to Lisa's rejection, losing comedic momentum for sentimental drama.
Coming to America starts exceptionally strong with the Zamunda palace sequences and McDonald's parody scenes earning widespread critical praise. The film maintains solid momentum through the culture clash setup but loses steam in the final act as it shifts from laugh-a-minute comedy to more conventional romantic drama. Despite the uneven pacing, reviewers consistently praised Murphy's versatile performance and the film's heart.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 82
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
Crew
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