Coming to America
Encyclopedia
Coming to America is a 1988 comedy film
directed by John Landis
. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield
and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy
, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry. Coming to America is the first of several films in which Murphy plays multiple characters.
), the prince and heir to the throne of the fictitious African country of great wealth called Zamunda, is discontented with being pampered all his life. The final straw comes when his parents, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones
) and Queen Aeoleon (Madge Sinclair
), present him with a bride-to-be, Imani Izzi (Vanessa Bell
), whom he has never met, and who is trained to obey his every command. Akeem concocts a plan to travel to the United States to find a wife he can both love and respect and who accepts him for himself, not his status. He and his friend and personal aide, Semmi (Arsenio Hall
) arrive in Queens
, New York City, because according to Akeem "What better place to find a queen than the city of Queens?" They rent a rat-infested apartment, with one window facing a brick wall, previously used for some type of crime against the tenant—a blind man and his dog, in the neighborhood of Jamaica
and begin working at a local fast food
restaurant called McDowell's (restaurateur Cleo McDowell's attempt to copy McDonald's
), passing themselves off as foreign students.
Akeem falls in love with McDowell's daughter, Lisa (Shari Headley
), who possesses the qualities the prince is looking for. The rest of the film centers on Akeem's attempts to win Lisa's hand in marriage, while adjusting to life in the United States and dodging his royal duties and prerogatives. Unfortunately, Semmi is not comfortable with the life of a poor man and thus unintentionally causes a near-disaster when, alerted by Semmi's plea for more financial help, the Zamundian royal couple travels to the United States and reveal themselves to the McDowells.
Although her father is ecstatic that his daughter has attracted the interest of a prince, Lisa, who has fallen for Akeem, becomes angry and confused as to why he lied to her about his identity. She refuses to marry Akeem even after he offers to renounce his throne, and he returns to Zamunda with a broken heart, resigned to marry the woman chosen for him by his parents. On the way to the airport, King Joffe remarks that Akeem cannot marry Lisa because of "tradition," and "who am I to change it?" Queen Aoleon responds, "I thought you were the King."
At the final scene's wedding procession, Akeem waits dejectedly at the altar as his bride-to-be makes her way down the aisle. But when he lifts the veil to kiss her, he finds Lisa instead of his arranged bride. They ride off happily in a carriage after the ceremony with Akeem offering to give up their royal privileges if she chose so. At this, Lisa playfully declines.
with director John Landis
. The two had previously worked together on the comedy hit Trading Places
(1983); however, Landis later recalled the differences in working with Murphy on the two movies: "The guy on Trading Places was young and full of energy and curious and funny and fresh and great. The guy on Coming to America was the pig of the world... But I still think he's wonderful in the movie." Despite the experience, Landis and Murphy collaborated again six years later on Beverly Hills Cop 3.
Coming to America features Murphy and Arsenio Hall
in several different roles, which following the success of this film, became a Murphy staple. Hall plays Reverend Brown, who introduces Randy Watson (Murphy) and his band Sexual Chocolate, who perform "Greatest Love of All
" at the Black Awareness Rally. Randy Watson is introduced as having portrayed Joe the Policeman in the "What's Goin' Down" episode of That's My Mama
. In the barbershop scenes, Murphy and Hall play elderly barbers Clarence and Morris, who engage in furious debate with Saul, the old Jewish man, (played by Murphy) about the boxing skills of Joe Louis
, Cassius Clay, and Rocky Marciano
. One scene includes Cuba Gooding Jr., who does not speak, and the barber scenes are notable because Murphy plays both Akeem and Clarence simultaneously (seemingly giving himself a haircut). Saul calls Akeem "Kunta Kinte
", referring to the Roots
character made famous by LeVar Burton
; co-star John Amos
played the adult Kunta Kinte later in the Roots series. Hall also plays a woman who comes on to Akeem and Semmi at a nightclub. Sitting next to Akeem, she tells him "I wanna tear you apart," then looks over at Semmi and adds, "and your friend, too." Akeem frowns at the suggestion while Semmi spits out his drink.
South Africa
n chorus Ladysmith Black Mambazo
sings Mbube during the opening sequence (the song also known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight
). The group has gone on to record several different versions of Mbube; however, the version heard in Coming to America has not been released on its soundtrack or on CD as of 2006.
Landis's calling card/easter egg, "See You Next Wednesday
", appears on a science-fiction movie poster in the subway station after Lisa storms off the train.
Ralph Bellamy
and Don Ameche
reprise their roles as the Duke brothers from another Landis and Murphy collaboration, Trading Places
. Randolph and Mortimer Duke had lost their enormous fortunes in that film. In this film, the two men are now homeless and living on the streets. Akeem gives them a paper bag filled with money, which they gratefully accept and exclaim "We're back!" A portion of the Trading Places score can be heard during the Bellamy-Ameche cameo. Trading Places is again referenced as the royal entourage leaves the Waldorf-Astoria in the final New York–based scene in the movie: the driver of Akeem and Semmi's limo is played by the same actor who played the Dukes' driver in Trading Places, from whom Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) seeks counsel when the Dukes pick him up after bailing him out of jail.
King Jaffe Joffer, played by James Earl Jones
, comes to America looking for his son after receiving a request for more money from Semmi. He goes to McDowell's and when asked by Lisa's father if he would like him to inform Akeem that his father had arrived, he responds with, "No, do not alert him to my presence. I will deal with him myself." This statement is similar to lines that Jones had delivered as the voice of Darth Vader
in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
.
The fictitious African country of Zamunda was probably inspired by a number of African republics
which were former British territories (whose former head of state
was the British monarch) which, as republics, no longer observe as head of state, but which remain members of the Commonwealth of Nations
. This is borne out by the currency
of Zamunda being “Zamundan pounds”, or by ancient African kingdoms such as Kongo
and Dahomey
, or perhaps, modern ones like Swaziland
or Lesotho
.
A promotional song for the film, also titled "Coming to America
", was written and performed by The System
.
) and based in Queens
, New York
. It is under investigation from the McDonald's Corporation for allegedly copying their franchise. At one point, McDowell confronts a photographer shooting outside the restaurant, whom McDowell believes is working to gather evidence for McDonald's. The logos and typeface are extremely similar, including the names of the dishes: the "Big Mac
" becomes the "Big Mick" - Mr. McDowell explains that "They both contain two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions. But they use a sesame seed bun. My buns have no seeds." McDowell, in describing the differences between his logo and McDonald's, explains, "They [have] got the Golden Arches
, mine [is] the Golden Arcs." Later in the film, when McDowell is first confronted by King Jaffe Joffer
, he is seen reading a McDonald's Operation Manual.
Because of the name similarity, the film's producers had to obtain legal permission from McDonald's
in advance before they could actually use the name "McDowell's." During production, the owner of a nearby McDonald's restaurant actually did threaten a lawsuit, not knowing this was a movie. The location of the restaurant is 85-07 Queens Boulevard
in Elmhurst, Queens
, as specified accurately in the movie. The actual building itself subsequently became the location of a Wendy's
restaurant.
The film, released on June 29, 1988 by Paramount Pictures
in the United States, was a commercial box-office success, both domestically and worldwide. The film grossed $128,152,301 at the domestic box office. It was the highest earning film that year for the studio and the third highest grossing film at the United States
box office.
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards
: Best Costume Design by Deborah Nadoolman Landis
and Best Makeup by Rick Baker, who designed the makeup effects for both Murphy and Arsenio Hall's multiple supporting characters. The film currently holds 63% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes critic website, but none of the five "top critics" gave the film positive reviews, giving it a top critic rating of 0%.
Side A
Side B
civil suit, which the humorist Art Buchwald
filed in 1990 against the film's producers on the grounds that the film's idea was stolen from a 1982 script that Paramount
had optioned from Buchwald. Buchwald won the breach of contract
action and the court ordered monetary damages. The parties later settled the case out-of-court prior to an appeal going to trial.
In the retrospective interviews included on the 2007 DVD release of Coming to America, John Landis and screenwriters Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield make no mention of Art Buchwald's lawsuit, and maintain that the film's story originated with Eddie Murphy, with Blaustein and Sheffield writing the screenplay from Murphy's 25-page treatment. In an interview filmed around the time of the film's theatrical release, and included on the DVD, Murphy himself claims that he came up with the idea for the movie whilst on tour
. According to Murphy, the film was originally titled The Quest. Blaustein and Sheffield renamed it The Zamuda Project (named for writer/comedian Bob Zmuda
; Landis renamed the titular country "Zamunda" to make it sound more African).
In Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan's 2008 book John Landis, Landis is quoted as saying that Art Buchwald's case against Paramount was "without merit," going on to state the following:
Landis also provided the following response as to why Buchwald's lawsuit received more attention in the press than other similar lawsuits:
of a weekly sitcom version of the film was produced for CBS
, following the film's success, starring Tommy Davidson
as Prince Tariq, and Paul Bates
reprising his role as Oha. The pilot went unsold, but was televised on July 4, 1989 as part of the CBS Summer Playhouse
pilot anthology series.
is reportedly developing a remake
; Back to Africa has a similar storyline as the original, but told "in reverse". The film tells the story of a working-class man from Queens, New York (Lawrence) who learns he is the heir to the throne of an African country.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by John Landis
John Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield
David Sheffield
David Sheffield is an American comedy writer best known for his writing on Saturday Night Live and the screenplays for The Nutty Professor and the Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, in which he collaborated with Barry W...
and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry. Coming to America is the first of several films in which Murphy plays multiple characters.
Plot
Akeem Joffer (Eddie MurphyEddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
), the prince and heir to the throne of the fictitious African country of great wealth called Zamunda, is discontented with being pampered all his life. The final straw comes when his parents, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
) and Queen Aeoleon (Madge Sinclair
Madge Sinclair
Madge Dorita Sinclair was a Jamaican American character actress.-Early years:Sinclair was born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, Jamaica, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.-Career:In 1978, she starred in...
), present him with a bride-to-be, Imani Izzi (Vanessa Bell
Vanessa Bell Calloway
Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress who has appeared in a number of films, including Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, What's Love Got to Do with It, Coming to America, and Cheaper by the Dozen....
), whom he has never met, and who is trained to obey his every command. Akeem concocts a plan to travel to the United States to find a wife he can both love and respect and who accepts him for himself, not his status. He and his friend and personal aide, Semmi (Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
) arrive in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York City, because according to Akeem "What better place to find a queen than the city of Queens?" They rent a rat-infested apartment, with one window facing a brick wall, previously used for some type of crime against the tenant—a blind man and his dog, in the neighborhood of Jamaica
Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...
and begin working at a local fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant called McDowell's (restaurateur Cleo McDowell's attempt to copy McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
), passing themselves off as foreign students.
Akeem falls in love with McDowell's daughter, Lisa (Shari Headley
Shari Headley
Shari Headley is an American actress. Headley made her acting debut on The Cosby Show in 1985. Since then her career has mostly focused on television acting; she is perhaps best known for portraying police officer Mimi Reed Frye Williams on the popular soap opera All My Children from May 1991 to...
), who possesses the qualities the prince is looking for. The rest of the film centers on Akeem's attempts to win Lisa's hand in marriage, while adjusting to life in the United States and dodging his royal duties and prerogatives. Unfortunately, Semmi is not comfortable with the life of a poor man and thus unintentionally causes a near-disaster when, alerted by Semmi's plea for more financial help, the Zamundian royal couple travels to the United States and reveal themselves to the McDowells.
Although her father is ecstatic that his daughter has attracted the interest of a prince, Lisa, who has fallen for Akeem, becomes angry and confused as to why he lied to her about his identity. She refuses to marry Akeem even after he offers to renounce his throne, and he returns to Zamunda with a broken heart, resigned to marry the woman chosen for him by his parents. On the way to the airport, King Joffe remarks that Akeem cannot marry Lisa because of "tradition," and "who am I to change it?" Queen Aoleon responds, "I thought you were the King."
At the final scene's wedding procession, Akeem waits dejectedly at the altar as his bride-to-be makes her way down the aisle. But when he lifts the veil to kiss her, he finds Lisa instead of his arranged bride. They ride off happily in a carriage after the ceremony with Akeem offering to give up their royal privileges if she chose so. At this, Lisa playfully declines.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Eddie Murphy Eddie Murphy Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician.... |
Prince Akeem Joffer/Clarence/Randy Watson/Saul |
| Arsenio Hall Arsenio Hall Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the... |
Semmi/Morris/Reverend Brown/Extremely Ugly Woman |
| James Earl Jones James Earl Jones James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership... |
King Jaffe Joffer |
| John Amos John Amos John Amos is an American actor and former football player. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, the miniseries Roots, and a recurring role in The West Wing. He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades... |
Cleo McDowell |
| Madge Sinclair Madge Sinclair Madge Dorita Sinclair was a Jamaican American character actress.-Early years:Sinclair was born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, Jamaica, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.-Career:In 1978, she starred in... |
Queen Aoleon |
| Shari Headley Shari Headley Shari Headley is an American actress. Headley made her acting debut on The Cosby Show in 1985. Since then her career has mostly focused on television acting; she is perhaps best known for portraying police officer Mimi Reed Frye Williams on the popular soap opera All My Children from May 1991 to... |
Lisa McDowell |
| Paul Bates Paul Bates Paul Bates is an American actor. He is most known for his minor roles in 8 Mile, True Romance and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.He is also known for playing Oha in the 1988 film Coming to America.-External links:... |
Oha |
| Eriq La Salle Eriq La Salle Eriq La Salle is an American actor and director, known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER.-Early life:... |
Darryl Jenks |
| Frankie Faison Frankie Faison Frankie Russel Faison , often credited as Frankie R. Faison, is an American actor.-Personal life:Faison was born in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Carmena and Edgar Faison. He studied drama at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where he joined Theta Chi Fraternity... |
Landlord |
| Vanessa Bell Vanessa Bell Calloway Vanessa Bell Calloway is an American actress who has appeared in a number of films, including Biker Boyz, Love Don't Cost a Thing, What's Love Got to Do with It, Coming to America, and Cheaper by the Dozen.... |
Imani Izzi |
| Louie Anderson Louie Anderson Louie Perry Anderson is an American stand-up comedian. Anderson created the cartoon series Life with Louie, has written three books, and was the initial host of the second revival of the game show Family Feud, from 1999 to 2002.... |
Maurice |
| Allison Dean | Patrice McDowell |
| Sheila Johnson | Lady–in–Waiting |
| Jake Steinfeld Jake Steinfeld Jake Steinfeld is an American actor and fitness personality. He has a line of fitness equipment called "Body by Jake" and also once hosted a Body by Jake TV show. He also starred on a sitcom on the Family Channel called Big Brother Jake. In 1985, he played a small role in the Jeff Goldblum comedy... |
Cab Driver |
| Calvin Lockhart Calvin Lockhart Calvin Lockhart was a Bahamian-American actor on stage and in film. He was best known for the role of a big time gangster "Biggie Smalls" in the 1975 film Let's Do It Again, not to be confused with the deceased rapper Biggie Smalls... |
Colonel Izzi |
| Samuel L. Jackson Samuel L. Jackson Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,... |
Robber |
| Vondie Curtis-Hall Vondie Curtis-Hall Vondie Curtis-Hall is an American actor and film director.As an actor, he is best known for his role as Dr. Dennis Hancock on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope created by David E. Kelley.-Early life:... |
Basketball Game Vendor |
| Don Ameche Don Ameche Don Ameche was an Academy Award winning American actor with a career spanning almost sixty years.-Personal life:... |
Mortimer Duke |
| Ralph Bellamy Ralph Bellamy Ralph Bellamy was an American actor whose career spanned sixty-two years.-Early life:He was born Ralph Rexford Bellamy in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Lilla Louise , a native of Canada, and Charles Rexford Bellamy. He ran away from home when he was fifteen and managed to get into a road show... |
Randolph Duke |
| Garcelle Beauvais Garcelle Beauvais Garcelle Beauvais is a Haitian-American actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her roles as hotel employee Francesca "Fancy" Monroe on The WB television sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show which ran from 1996 to 2001, and as Valerie Heywood on the ABC crime drama, NYPD Blue.-Early... |
Rose Bearer |
| Cuba Gooding, Jr. Cuba Gooding, Jr. Cuba M. Gooding, Jr. is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning portrayal of Rod Tidwell in Cameron Crowe's 1996 film Jerry Maguire, and his critically acclaimed performance as Tré Styles in John Singleton's 1991 film Boyz n the Hood.-Early life:Gooding was born... |
Boy getting haircut in barbershop |
| Clint Smith | Sweets |
Production
Coming to America reunited star Eddie MurphyEddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
with director John Landis
John Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
. The two had previously worked together on the comedy hit Trading Places
Trading Places
Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film, of the satire genre, directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet...
(1983); however, Landis later recalled the differences in working with Murphy on the two movies: "The guy on Trading Places was young and full of energy and curious and funny and fresh and great. The guy on Coming to America was the pig of the world... But I still think he's wonderful in the movie." Despite the experience, Landis and Murphy collaborated again six years later on Beverly Hills Cop 3.
Coming to America features Murphy and Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
in several different roles, which following the success of this film, became a Murphy staple. Hall plays Reverend Brown, who introduces Randy Watson (Murphy) and his band Sexual Chocolate, who perform "Greatest Love of All
Greatest Love of All
"The Greatest Love of All" is a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed and originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest. The song was later popularized by Whitney Houston. Creed wrote the lyrics in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer...
" at the Black Awareness Rally. Randy Watson is introduced as having portrayed Joe the Policeman in the "What's Goin' Down" episode of That's My Mama
That's My Mama
That's My Mama is an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the ABC network from September 1974 until December 1975. There are 39 episodes of this series.-Synopsis:...
. In the barbershop scenes, Murphy and Hall play elderly barbers Clarence and Morris, who engage in furious debate with Saul, the old Jewish man, (played by Murphy) about the boxing skills of Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, Cassius Clay, and Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
. One scene includes Cuba Gooding Jr., who does not speak, and the barber scenes are notable because Murphy plays both Akeem and Clarence simultaneously (seemingly giving himself a haircut). Saul calls Akeem "Kunta Kinte
Kunta Kinte
Kunta Kinte is the central character of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by American author Alex Haley, and of the television miniseries Roots, based on the book. Haley described his book as faction - a mixture of fact and fiction...
", referring to the Roots
Roots: The Saga of an American Family
Roots: The Saga of an American Family is a novel written by Alex Haley and first published in 1976. It tells the story of Kunta Kinte, an 18th-century African, captured as an adolescent and sold into slavery in the United States, and follows his life and the lives of his descendants in the U.S....
character made famous by LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton
Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr. , professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, producer and author who first came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley...
; co-star John Amos
John Amos
John Amos is an American actor and former football player. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, the miniseries Roots, and a recurring role in The West Wing. He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades...
played the adult Kunta Kinte later in the Roots series. Hall also plays a woman who comes on to Akeem and Semmi at a nightclub. Sitting next to Akeem, she tells him "I wanna tear you apart," then looks over at Semmi and adds, "and your friend, too." Akeem frowns at the suggestion while Semmi spits out his drink.
South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n chorus Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
sings Mbube during the opening sequence (the song also known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight", also known as "Wimoweh" and originally as "Mbube", is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers,...
). The group has gone on to record several different versions of Mbube; however, the version heard in Coming to America has not been released on its soundtrack or on CD as of 2006.
Landis's calling card/easter egg, "See You Next Wednesday
See You Next Wednesday
See You Next Wednesday is a recurring gag in most of the films directed by John Landis, usually referenced as a fictional film. No version of See You Next Wednesday in any Landis film ever looks the same as it did in any previous Landis film....
", appears on a science-fiction movie poster in the subway station after Lisa storms off the train.
Ralph Bellamy
Ralph Bellamy
Ralph Bellamy was an American actor whose career spanned sixty-two years.-Early life:He was born Ralph Rexford Bellamy in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Lilla Louise , a native of Canada, and Charles Rexford Bellamy. He ran away from home when he was fifteen and managed to get into a road show...
and Don Ameche
Don Ameche
Don Ameche was an Academy Award winning American actor with a career spanning almost sixty years.-Personal life:...
reprise their roles as the Duke brothers from another Landis and Murphy collaboration, Trading Places
Trading Places
Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film, of the satire genre, directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet...
. Randolph and Mortimer Duke had lost their enormous fortunes in that film. In this film, the two men are now homeless and living on the streets. Akeem gives them a paper bag filled with money, which they gratefully accept and exclaim "We're back!" A portion of the Trading Places score can be heard during the Bellamy-Ameche cameo. Trading Places is again referenced as the royal entourage leaves the Waldorf-Astoria in the final New York–based scene in the movie: the driver of Akeem and Semmi's limo is played by the same actor who played the Dukes' driver in Trading Places, from whom Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) seeks counsel when the Dukes pick him up after bailing him out of jail.
King Jaffe Joffer, played by James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, comes to America looking for his son after receiving a request for more money from Semmi. He goes to McDowell's and when asked by Lisa's father if he would like him to inform Akeem that his father had arrived, he responds with, "No, do not alert him to my presence. I will deal with him myself." This statement is similar to lines that Jones had delivered as the voice of Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
.
The fictitious African country of Zamunda was probably inspired by a number of African republics
British West Africa
British West Africa was the collective name for British colonies in West Africa during the colonial period, either in the general geographical sense or more specifically those comprised in a formal colonial administrative entity...
which were former British territories (whose former head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
was the British monarch) which, as republics, no longer observe as head of state, but which remain members of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. This is borne out by the currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
of Zamunda being “Zamundan pounds”, or by ancient African kingdoms such as Kongo
Kingdom of Kongo
The Kingdom of Kongo was an African kingdom located in west central Africa in what are now northern Angola, Cabinda, the Republic of the Congo, and the western portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and Dahomey
Dahomey
Dahomey was a country in west Africa in what is now the Republic of Benin. The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful west African state that was founded in the seventeenth century and survived until 1894. From 1894 until 1960 Dahomey was a part of French West Africa. The independent Republic of Dahomey...
, or perhaps, modern ones like Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
or Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
.
A promotional song for the film, also titled "Coming to America
Coming to America (Nile Rodgers song)
-Chart performance:...
", was written and performed by The System
The System (band)
The System was an American synth pop duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Mic Murphy and seasoned session keyboardist David Frank. The band was founded in 1982 in New York and backed up by Paul Pesco on electric guitar and Kris Khellow - keyboards, synthesizers.Sometimes the group is referred to...
.
McDowell's
In the film, the restaurant is owned by Cleo McDowell (John AmosJohn Amos
John Amos is an American actor and former football player. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, the miniseries Roots, and a recurring role in The West Wing. He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades...
) and based in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is under investigation from the McDonald's Corporation for allegedly copying their franchise. At one point, McDowell confronts a photographer shooting outside the restaurant, whom McDowell believes is working to gather evidence for McDonald's. The logos and typeface are extremely similar, including the names of the dishes: the "Big Mac
Big Mac
The Big Mac is a hamburger sold by McDonald's, an international fast food restaurant chain. It is one of the company's signature products...
" becomes the "Big Mick" - Mr. McDowell explains that "They both contain two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions. But they use a sesame seed bun. My buns have no seeds." McDowell, in describing the differences between his logo and McDonald's, explains, "They [have] got the Golden Arches
Golden Arches
The Golden Arches are the symbol of McDonald's, the global fast-food hamburger chain. Originally, real arches were part of the restaurant design...
, mine [is] the Golden Arcs." Later in the film, when McDowell is first confronted by King Jaffe Joffer
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, he is seen reading a McDonald's Operation Manual.
Because of the name similarity, the film's producers had to obtain legal permission from McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
in advance before they could actually use the name "McDowell's." During production, the owner of a nearby McDonald's restaurant actually did threaten a lawsuit, not knowing this was a movie. The location of the restaurant is 85-07 Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard
Queens Boulevard is a major thoroughfare in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens connecting communities from Midtown Manhattan to Jamaica...
in Elmhurst, Queens
Elmhurst, Queens
Elmhurst is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue on the north; Corona to the northeast; Junction Boulevard on the east; Rego Park to the southeast; the Long Island Expressway on the south; Middle Village to the south and southwest; and Maspeth...
, as specified accurately in the movie. The actual building itself subsequently became the location of a Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
restaurant.
Reception
The film received a generally favorable reception by critics.The film, released on June 29, 1988 by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
in the United States, was a commercial box-office success, both domestically and worldwide. The film grossed $128,152,301 at the domestic box office. It was the highest earning film that year for the studio and the third highest grossing film at the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
box office.
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards
61st Academy Awards
The 61st Academy Awards were presented on March 29, 1989 at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. The date had been moved from its usual Monday telecast due to Easter, which was on March 26. For this show, there was no "official" host as the show opened with a stage-show featuring Merv Griffin, Snow...
: Best Costume Design by Deborah Nadoolman Landis
Deborah Nadoolman Landis
Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis is an American film and theater costume designer. She worked on such notable films as Animal House, Three Amigos, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Landis recently completed her second term as president of the Costume Designers Guild of which she has been a member for more...
and Best Makeup by Rick Baker, who designed the makeup effects for both Murphy and Arsenio Hall's multiple supporting characters. The film currently holds 63% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes critic website, but none of the five "top critics" gave the film positive reviews, giving it a top critic rating of 0%.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack to the film was released on LP, cassette and CD. The song "Come into My Life" by Laura Branigan and Joe Esposito was released as a single.Side A
- "Coming to AmericaComing to America (Nile Rodgers song)-Chart performance:...
" — The SystemThe System (band)The System was an American synth pop duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Mic Murphy and seasoned session keyboardist David Frank. The band was founded in 1982 in New York and backed up by Paul Pesco on electric guitar and Kris Khellow - keyboards, synthesizers.Sometimes the group is referred to...
(3:49) - "Better Late Than Never" — The Cover GirlsThe Cover GirlsThe Cover Girls is a New York City-based freestyle-urban-dance-pop girl group that achieved the majority of its chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
(4:02) - "All Dressed Up (Ready to Hit the Town)" — Chico DeBargeChico DeBargeJonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge...
(4:50) - "I Like It Like That" — Michael RodgersMichael RodgersMichael "Mike" Rodgers is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 meters.-Career:He attended Berkeley High School in St. Louis, Missouri where he ran varsity track and played varsity basketball for the Bulldogs. Later attended Lindenwood University and Oklahoma Baptist University where he...
(4:01) - "That's the Way It IsThat's the Way It Is (Mel and Kim song)"That's the Way It Is" was the fourth internationally-released single of British pop duo Mel and Kim. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman...
" — Mel & Kim (3:25)
Side B
- "Addicted to You" — LevertLeVertLeVert is a R&B/pop music singing group, formed in Ohio in 1984, comprising Sean and Gerald Levert, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert, as well as Marc Gordon.-Biography:The group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes' Tempre label...
(3:54) - "Comin' Correct" — J.J. Fad (3:56)
- "Livin' the Good Life" — Sister SledgeSister SledgeSister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
(3:46) - "Transparent" — Nona HendryxNona HendryxNona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...
(3:50) - "Come into My LifeCome into My Life (song)"Come into My Life" is a song recorded in 1988 as a duet between singers Laura Branigan and Joe Esposito. It was featured in the film Coming to America and was released in the United States as a single from the film's original soundtrack...
" — Laura BraniganLaura BraniganLaura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
& Joe EspositoJoe Esposito (singer)Joe Esposito is a Grammy winning American singer/songwriter whose career spans from the 1970s to the present day. Esposito's songs have been recorded by Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Labelle, and Stephen Stills and others.-Biography:...
(4:39)
Lawsuit
The film was the subject of the Buchwald v. ParamountBuchwald v. Paramount
Buchwald v. Paramount was a breach of contract lawsuit filed and decided in California in which humorist and writer Art Buchwald alleged that Paramount Pictures stole his script idea and turned it into the 1988 movie Coming to America...
civil suit, which the humorist Art Buchwald
Art Buchwald
Arthur Buchwald was an American humorist best known for his long-running column in The Washington Post, which in turn was carried as a syndicated column in many other newspapers. His column focused on political satire and commentary...
filed in 1990 against the film's producers on the grounds that the film's idea was stolen from a 1982 script that Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
had optioned from Buchwald. Buchwald won the breach of contract
Breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....
action and the court ordered monetary damages. The parties later settled the case out-of-court prior to an appeal going to trial.
In the retrospective interviews included on the 2007 DVD release of Coming to America, John Landis and screenwriters Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield make no mention of Art Buchwald's lawsuit, and maintain that the film's story originated with Eddie Murphy, with Blaustein and Sheffield writing the screenplay from Murphy's 25-page treatment. In an interview filmed around the time of the film's theatrical release, and included on the DVD, Murphy himself claims that he came up with the idea for the movie whilst on tour
Eddie Murphy Raw
Eddie Murphy Raw is an American stand-up comedy film directed by Robert Townsend and starring Eddie Murphy. It was Murphy's second feature stand-up video, following Eddie Murphy Delirious...
. According to Murphy, the film was originally titled The Quest. Blaustein and Sheffield renamed it The Zamuda Project (named for writer/comedian Bob Zmuda
Bob Zmuda
Bob Zmuda is an American writer, comedian, producer and director best known as the sidekick, co-writer and friend of cult personality Andy Kaufman....
; Landis renamed the titular country "Zamunda" to make it sound more African).
In Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan's 2008 book John Landis, Landis is quoted as saying that Art Buchwald's case against Paramount was "without merit," going on to state the following:
Landis also provided the following response as to why Buchwald's lawsuit received more attention in the press than other similar lawsuits:
Television pilot
A television pilotTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
of a weekly sitcom version of the film was produced for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, following the film's success, starring Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson is an American comedian, film and television actor.Born in Washington, D.C., Davidson was adopted when he was 2-years-old. He was a child of an interracial adoption, with his parents being Caucasian and he being African-American. He attended high school at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High...
as Prince Tariq, and Paul Bates
Paul Bates
Paul Bates is an American actor. He is most known for his minor roles in 8 Mile, True Romance and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.He is also known for playing Oha in the 1988 film Coming to America.-External links:...
reprising his role as Oha. The pilot went unsold, but was televised on July 4, 1989 as part of the CBS Summer Playhouse
CBS Summer Playhouse
CBS Summer Playhouse is an American anthology series that ran from June 12, 1987 to August 22, 1989 on CBS. It aired unsold television pilots during the summer season.-Overview:...
pilot anthology series.
Remake
Martin LawrenceMartin Lawrence
Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence is an American actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and stand up comedian. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor, most notably the films Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma's House...
is reportedly developing a remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
; Back to Africa has a similar storyline as the original, but told "in reverse". The film tells the story of a working-class man from Queens, New York (Lawrence) who learns he is the heir to the throne of an African country.