Opened: June 29, 1988

Directed by: John Landis

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley, Paul Bates, Eriq La Salle, Frankie Faison, Vanessa Bell, Louie Anderson, Allison Dean, Sheila Johnson, Jake Steinfeld, Calvin Lockhart, Samuel L. Jackson, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Garcelle Beauvais, Victoria Dillard, Ruben Hudson & Cuba Gooding Jr.

A romantic comedy with a familiar storyline told in a completely different way, Coming to America celebrates embracing cultural differences and finding love.

Zamundan Prince Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) asks his father King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) to take some time to travel before his arranged wedding. Accompanied by his friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall), Akeem arrives in Queens, New York, where he falls for Lisa (Shari Headley).

Murphy and Hall are comedic geniuses in this film who not only perfectly play their main characters but through makeup designed by Rick Baker, also each play three almost unrecognizable additional roles.

The best part about Akeem’s transition to America is that he never questions that American customs – he leans into them. The understanding and working alongside different cultures is exactly what the world should look like.

Final say: Keep it coming. ★★★★★