Coming to America

Name: Coming to America
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: June 29, 1988
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Eddie Murphy

1988

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 109 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 109 Ratings

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Coming To America

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: June 29, 1988 | R

Starring: Eddie Murphy

Summary: A very wealthy and pampered African prince comes to America in search of a bride. Accompanied by his closest companion, he quickly finds a job, new friends, new digs, new enemies - and lots of trouble. (Paramount Pictures)

Director: John Landis

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Brad Laidman

Eddie Murphy does everything in this movie successfully. Coming To America remains his most personal work and a great argument that a movie can be decent and wholesome despite having enough profanity to make Bill Cosby lose sleep. A perfect argument for Eddie Murphy as decent guy even without the fame and fortune. Not that he's planning on giving it back though. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Eddie Murphy's latest picture, Coming to America, is a harmless, fairly amusing comedy that will delight Eddie Murphy fans and keep everyone else mildly entertained. [30 Jun 1988, p.E1]

Jay Carr

The romantic stuff is tepid. Luckily, his onscreen buddy, Hall, never strays far. Coming to America is at its best when they're playing off each other, and not just as the prince and his buddy. [29 Jun 1988, p.69]

Gavin Bainbridge

Landis' latest keeps you laughing not with it's originality (of which there is little) but with it's confidence to out-joke it's predecessors on this much-trodden ground. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Murphy takes on a softer edge than usual this time: the plot recalls a Jeanette MacDonald operetta of the Depression, the mythical African country looks like a Beverly Hills fever dream, and, true to Murphy's idealized black middle-class view of things, everybody gets what he wants without much fuss or sacrifice, and virtually the only poor people in evidence are white. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Coming to America starts on a bathroom joke, quickly followed by a gag about private parts, then wanders in search of something equally original for Eddie Murphy to do for another couple of hours. It's a true test for loyal fans. Read full review

Jay Scott

In past celluloid lives Eddie Murphy has been responsible for a handful of the most popular movies ever made, which explains why he has been able to bring Coming to America to your neighborhood theatre with its misogyny, technical ineptitude and witlessness intact.

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User Reviews

KellyJelly

Nov 7, 2019

One of the best comedy/dramas of the late 80’s! An all black cast made an instant classic!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

deeznuts

Aug 19, 2007

The critics are wrong, this movie was GREAT. So many classic lines and absolutely hilarious, Eddie Murphy's best.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

shod3030

Jun 5, 2017

Eddie Murphy at his best. This my all-time favorite movie. I have maybe watched this film over 100 time, and at one point I knew all the lines word for word. Arsenio Hall, and James Earl Jones serves as great supporting character in this classic coming of age movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Strigarum

Jul 11, 2020

Still funny as it was in 1988, They don't make comedy movies like this anymore. The story and acting is great.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

marc5477

Oct 20, 2015

One of the better comedies to come out of the 80s, it is a bit crude due to its age but the characters are simply unforgettable from the stars to the supporting cast. When you can remember supporting characters clearly, you know that a movie did something right though it does not hurt toOne of the better comedies to come out of the 80s, it is a bit crude due to its age but the characters are simply unforgettable from the stars to the supporting cast. When you can remember supporting characters clearly, you know that a movie did something right though it does not hurt to have people like James Earl Jones playing a comedic supporting cast in your movie. From the slutty sister, to the yukky hair family and the barbers, all the characters made an impact despite very limited screen time. This is very hard to do in a 2 hour movie and although its cheesy, I actually thought that the love interest is believable making the movie better than one might expect. In my opinion, this movie is probably Eddie Murphy's best comedic performance. Hint, you should watch this movie after Trading Places since it makes a funny reference to the other movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

VincentV.

Jul 17, 2008

The movie's story isn't that original, but Eddie Murphy delivers a good job and the most jokes are quite funny.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

EpicLadySponge

Apr 7, 2016

Coming to America easily kills the playground of laughter by actually a few minutes of laughter and then silence just randomly pops out of nowhere from all the laughing. This 'comedy' needs a little bit of improving, but works great as just a plain movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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