Coming to America

  • 1988
  • R
  • 117m
movieMx RATING
6.9/104.6K
VERDICT
HIT
Advertisement

Performance & Direction: Coming to America Review

Last updated: January 31, 2026

movieMx Editorial Team
REVIEWED BY

movieMx Editorial Team

🔍 Cinematic Analysis Expert

Leading cinematic analysis expert with over 10 years of experience in Bollywood and Hollywood box office tracking. Reviewed 500+ films with a focus on narrative structure and commercial profitability.

📅 Updated: January 31, 2026 🎟️ Verified Viewing

🎬 Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?

Is Coming to America (1988) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.

🎭 Cast Performances: A Masterclass

The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Coming to America features a noteworthy lineup led by Eddie Murphy . Supported by the likes of Arsenio Hall and Shari Headley , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.

Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.

💡 Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?

In summary, our editorial assessment of Coming to America (1988) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 6.9/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Result: HIT
Based on verified audience sentiment and box office trajectory, Coming to America stands as a HIT.

Story & Plot Summary: Coming to America

Quick Plot Summary: Coming to America is a Comedy, Romance film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.

Story Breakdown

The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.

Narrative Structure

  • Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
  • Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
  • Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.

Ending Explained: Coming to America

Ending Breakdown: Coming to America concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.

The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.

Ending Analysis:

  • Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
  • Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
  • Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.

The final moments of Coming to America reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.

Who Should Watch Coming to America?

Worth Watching If You:

  • Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
  • Are a fan of the cast or director
  • Want some laughs and light entertainment

Box Office Collection: Coming to America

Metric / RegionCollection (Approx)
Production Budget $30.0M
Worldwide Gross $288.8M
Trade Verdict CLEAN HIT

Coming to America Budget

The estimated production budget for Coming to America is $30.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.

Advertisement

Top Cast: Coming to America

All Cast & Crew →
Eddie Murphy
Eddie MurphyPrince Akeem / Clarence / Randy Watson / Saul
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio HallSemmi / Extremely Ugly Girl / Morris / Reverend Brown
Shari Headley
Shari HeadleyLisa McDowell
John Amos
John AmosCleo McDowell
James Earl Jones
James Earl JonesKing Jaffe Joffer
Madge Sinclair
Madge SinclairQueen Aoleon
Eriq La Salle
Eriq La SalleDarryl Jenks
Allison Dean
Allison DeanPatrice McDowell
Advertisement

Where to Watch Coming to America Online?

Streaming Hub

🎟️ Rent on

Apple TV StoreApple TV Store
Amazon VideoAmazon Video

🏷️ Buy on

Apple TV StoreApple TV Store

Coming to America Parents Guide & Age Rating

1988 Advisory
R

Official Age Rating

Wondering about Coming to America age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:

Coming to America is rated R. Parents should be aware that it contains romantic content. It is intended for mature audiences only.

⏱️ Runtime & Duration

The total runtime of Coming to America is 117 minutes (1h 57m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.

Verdict Summary

Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.9/10, and global performance metrics, Coming to America is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1988 cinematic calendar.

HIT
Official movieMx status for Coming to America. Rating: 6.9/10

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Coming to America worth watching?

Coming to America is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.9/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.

Where can I find Coming to America parents guide and age rating?

The official parents guide for Coming to America identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.

What is the total runtime of Coming to America?

The total duration of Coming to America is 117 minutes, which is approximately 1h 57m long.

Best Movies to Watch if you liked Coming to America

How Coming to America Compares & Where it Ranks

Critic Reviews for Coming to America

🛡️

movieMx Verified

This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.

This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.

Advertisement
Expert Consensus
Live Rating
MOVIEMX
★ 6.9
Coming to America
<a href="https://moviemx.in/review/coming-to-america-9602" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;"><div style="background:#121212;border:1px solid #f5c518;border-radius:12px;padding:15px;width:180px;text-align:center;font-family:sans-serif;box-shadow:0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);"><div style="color:#f5c518;font-size:10px;font-weight:900;letter-spacing:2px;">MOVIEMX</div><div style="color:white;font-size:28px;font-weight:900;margin:8px 0;">★ 6.9</div><div style="color:#888;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;">Coming to America</div></div></a>

Share this rating on your blog or website. Includes a 100% organic backlink.

More with Eddie Murphy

View full filmography

Part of the Coming to America Collection

Explore the full watch order, ratings, and collection details.

View Full Franchise