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Coming to America (1988)

R  |   |  Comedy, Romance  |  29 June 1988 (USA)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 113,899 users   Metascore: 48/100
Reviews: 127 user | 61 critic | 15 from Metacritic.com

An African prince goes to Queens, New York City to find a wife whom he can respect for her intelligence and will.

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Writers:

(story), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Paul Bates ...
Oha
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Imani Izzi (as Vanessa Bell)
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Maurice
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Sheila Johnson ...
Lady-in-Waiting
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Colonel Izzi
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Storyline

It is the 21st birthday of Prince Akeem of Zamunda and he is to marry a woman he never saw before. Now the prince breaks with tradition and travels to America to look for the love of his life. Written by Harald Mayr <marvin@bike.augusta.de>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

This summer, Prince Akeem discovers America. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

29 June 1988 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Un príncipe en Nueva York  »

Box Office

Budget:

$39,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$128,152,301 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

A scene featured in this movie's theatrical trailer but was cut from the final film shows Cleo McDowell, Akeem, and Semmi walking into Cleo's office where he asks them if either of them have had any fast food work experience, to which Semmi quizzically responds "Certainly not!". Akeem then proceeds to lightly nudge Semmi and then responds to Cleo telling him that this is their first job in the United States. See more »

Goofs

As Akeem and Lisa are walking, right before Akeem gives Randolf and Mortimer Duke the wad of cash, the twin towers of the WTC are visible and pass in the background as they walk. Akeem stops and gives the brothers the cash and he and Lisa begin walking again in the same direction as before. As they continue, the twin towers again pass in the background. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Rose Bearer: Good morning, Your Highness.
Rose Bearer: Good morning, Your Highness.
Rose Bearer: Good morning, Your Highness.
Oha: Happy birthday, Your Highness.
Prince Akeem: [thinks] Yes, it *is* my birthday.
See more »

Crazy Credits

On conversion of the movie to HD digital format, Saul's credit has been omitted. When Saul interrupts the end credits with the soup joke, originally Eddie Murphy's name appears under Saul to indicate it's him (the name then disappears and reappears immediately under Clarence). This does not happen in modern digital versions of the movie, and Saul is left unidentified until the conventional credits list. See more »


Soundtracks

Come Into My Life
Written by Paul Chiten & Pamela Phillips Oland (as Pamela Phillips-Oland)
Performed by Laura Branigan & Joe Esposito
Produced by Arif Mardin & Robbie Buchanan
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User Reviews

 
Murphy and Hall shine
13 April 2002 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

It must take a lot of hard work to play multi characters film,and the hard work of Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall really pay off.They take a very unique idea for a film,play most of the characters in it,and the results are nothing short of hilarious.Murphy plays (among others), Prince Akeem of Zumunda.Akeem,discouraged with the arranged marriage tradition of his beloved country,seeks to find the true meaning of love in America.The typical fish out of water style here is worked to perfection by Murphy,as well as Hall.Also excellent are James Earl Jones(as always),and Madge Sinclair as King Jaffe and Queen Aoleon, Akeem's parents.Jones and Sinclair would later portray husband and wife again 6 years later,as the parents of Simba in The Lion King,a little trivia for those of you who may not have known.There is a clever tie-in involving Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy,portraying their characters from another Murphy film,Trading Places.A unique story,great character acting and a great supporting cast make Coming to America great fun to watch.


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