Coming to America

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

1988

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Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critics

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Universal acclaim based on 88 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 88 Ratings

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COMING TO AMERICA

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: June 29, 1988

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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Critic Reviews

100

Film Threat - 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

San Francisco Chronicle - 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]

Boston Globe - 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]

Empire - 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

Chicago Reader - 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

Variety - 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

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) - 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

kyle20ellis

Aug 25, 2016

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

dkareruku

May 28, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of my top old movies i have attached over and over. never boring so hilarious always making my days.A very nice comedy & romantic movie.… Expand

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

survivorfan989

Apr 23, 2013

A decent 80's Comedy that has taken me a while to see and I'm not sure why as I do love a good Eddie Murphy flick. He's had better but its nice to see some of his earlier work. It has some good laughs thanks to Eddie & Arsenio Hall mostly but the cast as a whole were very funny. Story is aA decent 80's Comedy that has taken me a while to see and I'm not sure why as I do love a good Eddie Murphy flick. He's had better but its nice to see some of his earlier work. It has some good laughs thanks to Eddie & Arsenio Hall mostly but the cast as a whole were very funny. Story is a little predictable but still quite funny and it showed what was to come for characters like The Klumps that Eddie would play in the future. Overall a good film and a must-see for Eddie fans!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

marc5477

Oct 20, 2015

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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