#12: Coming To America (1988)
This week, the dads head to Queens with Coming to America, Eddie Murphy’s 1988 comedy crown jewel. From royal palaces to fast food counters, we follow Prince Akeem’s quest to find a queen who loves him for who he is — not just his crown.
We break down Murphy’s all-star multi-role performance, celebrate Arsenio Hall’s unmatched sidekick energy, and revisit the film’s unforgettable supporting characters, from barbershop philosophers to soul crooners and slippery corporate knockoffs. There’s discussion about which jokes still land, what’s aged a bit weirdly, and how this movie manages to mix rom-com sincerity with full-blown sketch comedy chaos.
Is it one of the all-time great comedies? We think so. Just remember: it’s good to be the prince.
