Trivia for
Coming to America (1988) More at IMDbPro »

• Eddie Murphy was ordered by a court to give 19% of his earnings to co-writer Art Buchwald because Murphy did not give Buchwald credit for developing the story with him.
  
  
• Airport scenes in Into the Night (1985/I) and Coming to America (1988) have a call over the PA system for a "Mr. Frank Oznowicz" to pick up the white courtesy phone. This is Frank Oz's real name.
  
  
• The bums that pick up the money that Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) drops are the "Duke Brothers" (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) from Trading Places (1983) (also directed by John Landis). In that movie, Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) was responsible for The Dukes losing their fortune.
  
  
• The predatory woman in the bar was played by Arsenio Hall.
  
  
• All characters in the barber shop (including the Caucasians) are played by Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Clint Smith, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
  
  
• Director Trademark: [John Landis] [SYNW] on a movie poster in the subway station (the movie claims to star Jamie Lee Curtis, who appeared in Landis' Trading Places (1983)). Another poster is visible in Ophelia's apartment.
  
  
• When King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) meets Lisa's father in the restaurant, he warns him to keep his presence secret from Akeem. As King Joffer leaves the restaurant, he says, "Do not alert him to my presence. I'll deal with him myself," similar to lines Jones delivered as Darth Vader in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).
  
  
• The IND Hoyt-Schermerhorn subway station in Brooklyn was used for the scenes at Sutphin Blvd.
  
  
• Most of the dance that's performed by the royal dancers before presenting Prince Akeem's queen-to-be is a high-tempo rendition of the dance from Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983) (TV) (also directed by John Landis).
  
  
• The barbers call Akeem "Kunta Kinte", a reference to "Roots" (1977). John Amos, who plays Cleo McDowell (Lisa's father), played the adult Kunta Kinte in "Roots" (1977). Madge Sinclair (Queen Aoleon), played Kunta Kinte's wife and James Earl Jones (King Jaffe Joffer) played Alex Haley Jr. in "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979).
  
  
• Director Trademark: [John Landis] [look to camera] When Patricia tells Daryl he needs to take off his wet clothes after he tells her that Lisa dumped him, he looks directly into the camera.
  
  
• The "McDowell's" restaurant was actually a Wendy's on Queens Blvd. that was scheduled to be closed for a complete renovation. Although the production had approval from McDonald's corporate headquarters, they apparently didn't pass the word down to their local outlets. On the day the "McDowell's" sign was erected, the manager of the McDonald's 1/2 mile further up the road arrived with his lawyer and proceeded to take photographs while telling the set dressing crew they were going to be sued for everything they were worth.
  
  
• The name of the fictional African country the main characters are from is called "Zamunda". This name was taken from a Richard Pryor routine where he referred to a fictional African tribe of the same name.
  
  
• LOGO GIMMICK: After the stars circle around the Paramount mountain and "Paramount" and "A Gulf+Western Company" appear, the sky becomes sunnier (pink to yellow) and the camera zooms in over the mountain summit. We then see a valley/terrain and the opening credits begin.
  
  
• During the McDowell party, they show a painting on the wall of a woman. This is a spoof on Manet's "A Bar at the Folies-Bergere".
  
  
• Director Cameo: [John Landis] to the right of Arsenio Hall (Reverend Brown) and Shari Headley, listening to Brown's non-stop preaching during the McDowell party.
  
  
• CAMEO: Michael Tadross (Unit Production Manager) - Taxi Driver
  
  
• This film marks the first time Eddie Murphy played multiple characters the same film. Something which has gone on to be a trademark of his.
  
  
• The working title of this film was "The Quest".
  
  
• Sidney Poitier was originally considered for the role of King Jaffe Joffer.
  
  
• Vanessa Williams was originally considered for the role of Lisa McDowell.
  
  
• In the credits, the fictitious Zamundun Film Commission are thanked.
  
  
• Akeem's apartment building is supposed to be in Queens, but it's actually located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at S. 5th Street and Hooper.
  
  
• When arriving to Queens in the taxi cab the cab driver is driving down the wrong way on a one way street. All the cars are facing the other direction.
  
  
• Cuba Gooding Jr., an Oscar nominee, and Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Emmy/SAG Award nominee, made their first on-screen appearances in this film.
  
  
• The role of Winston Zeddemore in Ghost Busters (1984) was originally written with Eddie Murphy in mind. When the film was turned into the animated series, 'The Real Ghostbusters (1986)(TV)', Winston was voiced by Arsenio Hall.
  
  
• Director John Landis and Eddie Murphy did not get along and Murphy vowed to never work with Landis again. However, the two later reconciled and Eddie personally asked John to direct Beverly Hills Cop 3.
  
  
• The McDowell's home address is 2532 Derby Avenue, Jamaica Estates.
  
  

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