Coming to America
Brief Synopsis
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Where is an African prince supposed to go to find the woman who will one day be his queen? Obviously that would be Queens, New York and that's where Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) goes in this hilarious fish out of water story. Traveling with the prince is his trusted friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) and, hiding the prince's identity, the two of them get jobs at a fast-food restaurant. While the prince is trying to adjust to a minimum wage lifestyle, he falls for Lisa (Shari Headley) the daughter of his boss Cleo (John Amos). As romance blooms, Akeem finds it hard to hide his royal secret, especially when the king (James Earl Jones) arrives with his regal entourage.
Cast & Crew
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John Landis
Director
Eddie Murphy
Arsenio Hall
James Earl Jones
Cuba Gooding
Samuel L. Jackson
Film Details
Also Known As
En prins i New York, Il Principe cerca moglie, Principe cerca moglie, Il, Un Prince a New York, prince à New York
MPAA Rating
Genre
Romantic Comedy
Release Date
1988
Production Company
Randy Mcdonald
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures
Location
Hoyt¿Schermerhorn Streets Subway Station, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA; Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City, New York, USA; Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA; Queens, New York City, New York, USA; Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 57m
Synopsis
Where is an African prince supposed to go to find the woman who will one day be his queen? Obviously that would be Queens, New York and that's where Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) goes in this hilarious fish out of water story. Traveling with the prince is his trusted friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) and, hiding the prince's identity, the two of them get jobs at a fast-food restaurant. While the prince is trying to adjust to a minimum wage lifestyle, he falls for Lisa (Shari Headley) the daughter of his boss Cleo (John Amos). As romance blooms, Akeem finds it hard to hide his royal secret, especially when the king (James Earl Jones) arrives with his regal entourage.
Director
John Landis
Director
Cast
Eddie Murphy
Arsenio Hall
James Earl Jones
Cuba Gooding
Samuel L. Jackson
Jim Abrahams
Paulette Banoza
Stephanie Clark
Garcelle Beauvais
Billi Gordon
Clyde R Jones
Vondie Curtis Hall
Sharon Owens
Randolph Scott
Ruben Hudson
David Weinman
Lead Person
Vanessa Colon
Cynthia Finkley
Patricia Matthews
Felicia Taylor
Sheila Johnson
Eriq La Salle
Monique Mannen
Raymond D Turner
Eric L Ellis
Shaun Earl
Dwayne Chattman
Mary Bond Davis
Eric D Henderson
Jerald Vincent
Don Ameche
Gina Consuela Rose
Ralph Bellamy
Elaine Kagan
Debra Johnson
Calvin Lockhart
Steve White
Louie Anderson
Dottie
Victoria Dillard
Helen Hanft
Tonja Rivers
Mindora Mimms
Aurorah Allain
Jimmy Locust
June Boykins
Uncle Ray Murphy
Montrose Hagins
Allison Dean
Paul Bates
Leah Aldridge
Shari Headley
Dionne Rockhold
Michael F. Tadross
Arthur Adams
Jake Steinfeld
Eyan Williams
Clint Smith
Tanya Lynne Lee
Kara Young
Gigi Hunter
Robbin Tasha-ford
Lisa Gumora
Loni Kaye Harkless
Michele Watley
Randy Bostic
Lead Person
Janette Colon
David Sosna
Madge Sinclair
Donna Perkins
Stephanie Simon
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Frankie Faison
Karen Renee Owens
Sharon Ferrol
Birdie M Hale
Robin Dimension
John Amos
Paula Brown
Carla Earle
Crew
Nestor Abascal
Assistant
Paula Abdul
Choreographer
Aurorah Allain
Choreographer
Bernadine Anderson
Makeup Supervisor
Martha Appel
Production Assistant
Bruce Atwater
Grip
Rick Baker
Makeup
Bobbi Banks
Adr Editor
Joe Banks
Generator Operator
Stephen L Bedell
Assistant
Leslie Belzberg
Executive Producer
Margaret Beserra
Makeup
James Beshears
Adr Editor
Gregg H Bilson
Property Master
Lindell Blake
Stunts
Barry Blaustein
Screenplay
Laura Branigan
Song Performer
Alex Brown
Stunts
Maurice Brown
Camera Assistant
Richard Bruns
Foreman
Jennifer L Bryan
Wardrobe
Robbie Buchanan
Song
Art Buchwald
Story By
Art Buchwald
From Story
Jackie Burch
Casting
Norman Cabrera
Makeup
John Cambria
Camera Assistant
Malcolm Campbell
Editor
Danny Cangemi
Special Effects Supervisor
Phil Caplan
Camera Assistant
Paul Carden
Sound Editor
Daniel Allen Carlin
Music Editor
Tyran Carlo
Song
Marie Carter
Makeup Assistant
Ferne Cassel
Casting Associate
Pamela Cederquist
Assistant
Ed Cherney
Music
Paul Chiten
Song
Bill Christians
Wardrobe Supervisor
Gil Clayton
Set Designer
Stan Cockerell
Property Master Assistant
Carole Lee Cole
Assistant Art Director
Gardner Cole
Song
Fetteroff Colen
Production Assistant
Ed Cooper
Lighting Technician
Joseph Cosko
Assistant Camera Operator
Linda Creed
Song
Erin Cummins
Set Designer
Chico Debarge
Song Performer
Jerry Deblau
Lighting Technician
John Deblau
Lighting Technician
Anthony Desposito
Production Assistant
Jerry Detitta
On-Set Dresser
Craig Dibona
Camera Operator
Mike Dobie
Sound Editor
Sharon Dolin
Assistant
Mark Dornfeld
Other
Antoine L. Douaihy
Location Assistant
Lamont Dozier
Song
Dean Drabin
Foley Mixer
Andy Duppin
Stunts
William Durnin
On-Set Dresser
Syd Dutton
Matte Painter
Syd Dutton
Special Effects
Jane English
Makeup
Chuck Eskridge
Art Department
Joe Esposito
Song Performer
Richard Evans
Swing Gang
J J Fad
Song Performer
Jon Falkengren
Dolly Grip
Sylvia Fay
Casting
Ken Fisher
Assistant Camera Operator
Jerry Fitzpatrick
Construction Coordinator
Brian Fitzsimons
Grip
Bill Fletcher
Makeup
George Folsey
Producer
George Folsey
Editor
Richard Ford
Electrician
David Michael Frank
Song
Richard C Franklin
Sound Editor
Melissa Franz
Costumes
Emily Freeman
Production Assistant
Leigh French
Adr
Mark Freund
Photography
Kenneth Frith
Production Assistant
Dennis Gamiello
Grip
Edward Garzero
Scenic Artist
Marvin Gaye
Song Performer
Marvin Gaye
Song
William Joyce Gazecki
Sound
Lenny Geschke
Sound Editor
Marilyn Gill
Assistant
Raphaella Giugliano
Accounting Assistant
Norman Glasser
Lighting Technician
Mark Gordon
Song
Berry Gordy
Song
Gwendolyn Gordy
Song
Matthew Gould
Production Assistant
Frank Graziadei
Sound
Jim Green
Casting
Daniel K Grosso
On-Set Dresser
John A Haggar
Assistant Editor
Gregory G. Hale
Production Assistant
Daniel Hank
Production Assistant
Dennis Harper
Grip
Randall I Harris
Production Assistant
Douglas C Hart
Camera Assistant
Gary Hecker
Foley
Walter A Hekking
Assistant Editor
Nona Hendryx
Song Performer
Richard Hilton
Assistant
Peter Hock
Stunts
Carlton Holder
Stunts
Brian Holland
Song
Edward Holland
Song
Jerome Holmes
Production Assistant
Spike Allison Hooper
Sound Editor
Bill Howard
Hair Assistant
Bud Howell
Dolly Grip
Nancy Huang
Song
Lawrence Hubbs
Set Designer
Philip C Hurst
Other
Bridget Jacoby
Production Assistant
Tina James
Production Assistant
Francine Jamison-tanchuck
Costume Supervisor
Larry Johnson
Production Assistant
Eddie Jones
Craft Service
Faith Jones
Assistant Editor
Violette Jones-faison
Costumes
William B. Kaplan
Sound
Cheryal Kearney
Set Decorator
Stan Keitt
Camera Assistant
Cary Kelley
Transportation Coordinator
Kelly Kimball
Assistant
Pamela G Kimber
Sound Editor
Douglas H Knapp
Camera Assistant
Douglas Knapp
Camera Assistant
Luca Kouimelis
Script Supervisor
Terry Ladin
Production Coordinator
Max Landis
Assistant
Rachel Landis
Assistant
Lynn Ledgerwood
Other
James Leonard
Makeup
Eddie Levert
Song Performer
Eddie Levert
Song
Gerald Levert
Song Performer
Gerald Levert
Song
Robin Levine
Makeup Assistant
John Lewis
Swing Gang
Richard B Lewis
Art Director
Solomon Linda
Song
Mark Lipsky
Executive Producer
Jeff Lorber
Song
Edward W Lowry
Grip
Greg Lynch
Swing Gang
Richard Macdonald
Production Designer
Don Malouf
Sound Editor
Enrico Mastracchi Manes
Production Assistant
Arif Mardin
Song
Ned Martin
Assistant Camera Operator
Michael Masser
Song
Patricia Matthews
Assistant
John Mazzola
Grip
Bruce V. Mcbroom
Photography
Grant Mccune
Visual Effects
Randy Mcdonald
Sound
Randy Mcdonald
Cable Operator
Joseph Mcdougall
Production Assistant
Mark Mckenzie
Original Music
Brian Mcmillan
Animal Supplier
Charles Miller
Location Manager
Jonathan Phillip Moffett
Song
Cindy Montoya
Choreographer
Warren Moore
Song
Lance Mooreland
Production Assistant
Justin Moritt
Production Assistant
Lou Mugavero
Swing Gang
Charlie Murphy
Production Assistant
Eddie Murphy
Song Performer
Eddie Murphy
Screenplay
Mic Murphy
Song
Ray Murphy
Production Assistant
Ray Murphy
Production Assistant
Deborah Nadoolman
Costume Designer
Mel Neiman
Sound
Aurelia Nelson
Dga Trainee
Greg Nelson
Makeup
Richard Nelson
On-Set Dresser
Bob Nolan
Color Timer
Dan O'connell
Foley
Pamela Phillips Oland
Song
Babatunde Olatunji
Assistant
Woody Omens
Director Of Photography
Woody Omens
Dp/Cinematographer
Mona Orr
Hair
Guy Owens
Property Master Assistant
David Page
Costumes
Andy Panda
Song
Greg Papalia
Set Designer
Richard Patrick
Assistant Director
Film Details
Also Known As
En prins i New York, Il Principe cerca moglie, Principe cerca moglie, Il, Un Prince a New York, prince à New York
MPAA Rating
Genre
Romantic Comedy
Release Date
1988
Production Company
Randy Mcdonald
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures
Location
Hoyt¿Schermerhorn Streets Subway Station, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA; Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City, New York, USA; Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA; Queens, New York City, New York, USA; Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 57m
Award Nominations
Best Costume Design
1988
Deborah Nadoolman
Best Makeup
1988
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Summer June 29, 1988
Released in United States on Video May 1989
Released in United States 2018
In December 1989 a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled that the film was based on Art Buchwald's story "King for a Day," although credit had previously been given to Eddie Murphy.
Released in United States Summer June 29, 1988
Released in United States on Video May 1989
Began shooting January 4, 1988.
Released in United States 2018 (Spotlights)
