Coming to America Is Still a Comedy Classic Nearly 40 Years Later

By Alexus Mosley

Some movies age, but Coming to America just keeps getting funnier. Released in 1988, the comedy starring Eddie Murphy gave us Prince Akeem, Semmi, McDowell’s, Sexual Chocolate, and enough quotable moments to keep family group chats alive for generations. At the center of all the chaos, though, is a surprisingly sweet love story.

Prince Akeem has everything a man could possibly want in the fictional kingdom of Zamunda: wealth, servants, a palace, and a bride already chosen for him. The problem? He wants someone who loves him for who he is, not because he happens to be a prince. So of course, he heads to Queens.

A rom-com Prince before we knew we needed one, Akeem’s entire mission is ridiculously romantic when you think about it. He gives up royal luxury, moves into a questionable apartment, and gets a job at McDowell’s just for the chance to meet a woman who likes him without knowing about the crown. The standards were high in 1988.

And can we talk about how McDowell’s deserves its own place in Pop Culture history? Cleo McDowell insisting that his restaurant is completely different from McDonald’s will never stop being funny. The golden arcs and the Big Mick are evidence of his shameless confidence. Honestly, McDowell’s might be one of cinema’s greatest fake businesses.

Part of the fun of rewatching Coming to America is remembering just how many characters Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall played. The barbershop scenes alone feel like their own little comedy universe, and their being everywhere only makes the movie more charming.

The leading lady, Lisa, was the real queen. She had the wardrobe, charm, and the confidence. She never feels like someone simply waiting to be chosen by a prince. The girl has her own life, opinions, and expectations, which is exactly why Akeem falls for her in the first place.

Let’s not forget Zamunda. Before Akeem ever lands in New York, the movie gives us one of the most extravagant fictional kingdoms in comedy. The palace, costumes, choreography, and royal ceremony make Zamunda feel completely over-the-top in a way that makes us want to board the first flight there.

Then the movie drops Akeem directly into Queens, and the contrast does half the comedy for it.

Underneath all the jokes, it’s really about being loved as yourself. That’s probably why Coming to America still works so well. For all the outrageous characters, disguises, and royal pageantry, the story is built around something pretty simple: Akeem doesn’t want someone to fall in love with Prince Akeem. He wants someone to fall in love with who he is at his core.

Nearly four decades later, Coming to America still has everything we want from a comfort movie: romance, comedy, memorable characters, fabulous costumes, and one very unforgettable trip to Queens.

Prince Akeem came to America looking for a queen, and in return we got a comedy classic.

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Pop Culturette Flashback: Coming to America Gave Us Romance, Royalty and One Very Iconic Trip to Queens