Menu

Episode 12 June 04, 2025

Coming To America (1988)

69 minutes

Listen Now

Enjoying the show?

Help us reach more movie lovers by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts!

Leave a Review

About This Episode

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.

Film Synopsis

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.

Cast & Crew

Directors

Composers

Cast

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
+ 72 more

Comments

Sign in to join the conversation!

No comments yet.

Coming to America poster

Film Details

Title
Coming to America
Release Year
1988
Runtime
117 minutes
View on TMDB

Ratings

Host Ratings

Steve 3/5
Nic 4/5
Total 7/10

Rotten Tomatoes

73%

IMDB

7.1

Siskel & Ebert

Siskel: 👍
Ebert: 👎

Box Office

Budget
$30,000,000
Box Office
$288,800,000