Coming to America | Rotten Tomatoes

Coming to America

R

Released Jun 29, 1988

1h 56m

Comedy

Romance

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Coming to America: Trailer 1

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73%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

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

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

Full Review

Duane Byrge

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

Full Review

Herb Boyd

The Crisis

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

Nov 27, 2023

Full Review

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

Full Review

Sean Collier

Box Office Prophets

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

Rated: 8/10

Mar 31, 2021

Full Review

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Narciso R

I think they held back, I think their shock would be greater. NRJ.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

Oliver N

One of my favourite feel good movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Jeremiah N

Eddie Murphy is a really great actor as a prince! This movie shows how hard it is to find a woman that isn't a gold digger!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/23

Full Review

Stephanie Danielle G

this movie goes so hard

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/09/23

Full Review

Ethan G

Ridiculously hilarious and hilariously ridiculous, "Coming to America" is inventive and witty.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/23

Full Review

Aeric A

It's one of the best comedies of all time. It's probably Eddie Murphy's best. It's a classic and they could not replicate it, only still what they wish they had done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

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

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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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Coming to America: Trailer 1

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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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