Honestly, the first time I saw Prince Akeem hand a paper bag full of cash to two homeless guys on a New York street, I didn't realize I was witnessing a cinematic crossover event decades before Marvel made it cool. Those weren't just random extras. They were the Duke brothers from Trading Places. It’s those little layers—the "blink and you’ll miss it" details—that have kept the Coming to America movies alive in our living rooms for nearly forty years.
You’ve probably quoted this movie at a backyard BBQ without even thinking about it. "In the face!" or "Good morning, my neighbors!" are basically part of the American lexicon at this point. But behind the Soul Glo and the McDowell’s "Big Mick," there’s a much weirder, more complicated story about how these films actually got made.
The McDowell’s lawsuit that wasn't
Everyone remembers the knock-off McDonald’s. Cleo McDowell, played by the legendary John Amos, was terrified of the "McDonald’s people" finding out he stole their idea. In reality, the production actually used a Wendy’s on Queens Boulevard. They just painted it over and swapped the signage.
The funnier part? McDonald’s actually gave the filmmakers permission to parody them. Usually, corporate legal teams are nightmares about that kind of thing. But they saw the script, realized it was all in good fun, and let it slide. Imagine if they’d said no. We might have ended up with a parody of Burger King called Burger Prince, which just doesn't have the same ring to it.
The apartment where Akeem and Semmi lived wasn't some Hollywood backlot either. It’s a real building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Back in 1988, that neighborhood was nothing like the hipster paradise it is today. It was gritty. It was loud. It was the perfect "fish out of water" setting for a guy who grew up having his rose petals thrown before him.
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Why the sequel felt... different
When Coming 2 America dropped in 2021, the internet basically split in half. On one side, you had people thrilled to see Wesley Snipes chewing the scenery as General Izzi. On the other, fans were annoyed that the sequel felt more like a "greatest hits" album than a new story.
Let's be real for a second. Comedy sequels are almost impossible to get right, especially after a thirty-year gap. The first movie was rated R. It had a bite to it. It felt grounded in a version of New York that felt lived-in and slightly dangerous. The sequel was PG-13 and filmed mostly on a set (which was actually Rick Ross’s massive mansion in Georgia, fun fact).
- The Original: A sweet, R-rated romance about a prince wanting to be loved for his mind.
- The Sequel: A family-friendly legacy story about Akeem finding a long-lost son he didn't know he had.
A lot of people felt the "bastard son" plot point was a bit of a stretch. It required a flashback scene where Akeem was essentially drugged and taken advantage of, which felt a little "off" compared to the tone of the first film. But hey, it gave us Leslie Jones and Tracy Morgan, so most people were willing to look past the wonky logic.
Eddie Murphy vs. the Studio
There is a persistent rumor that the studio, Paramount, forced Eddie Murphy to put a white actor in the first movie. It’s not a rumor. It’s 100% true. Murphy and Arsenio Hall have both confirmed that the executives were terrified of an all-Black cast. They didn't think it would "travel" or appeal to a wide enough audience.
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So, Murphy called up his buddy Louie Anderson.
Louie played Maurice, the guy working the fries at McDowell’s. He’s the one who gave the famous "When you think of garbage, think of Akeem" speech. It’s wild to think that one of the most iconic comedies of all time almost didn't happen because of executive cold feet. Murphy, being the biggest star in the world at the time, basically said, "Fine, here's Louie," and the rest is history.
The Lion King connection you missed
If you watch the Coming to America movies and then go watch the original Lion King, you’re going to hear some very familiar voices. James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair played the King and Queen of Zamunda. Then, just a few years later, they played Mufasa and Sarabi, the King and Queen of the Pride Lands.
Disney basically saw them as the ultimate royal couple and hired them as a package deal. It’s hard to imagine anyone else bringing that level of gravitas to a cartoon lion or a fictional African nation.
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Making the most of the Zamunda legacy
If you're planning a rewatch or just want to dive deeper into the world of Akeem, there are a few things you should actually do to appreciate the craft.
First, pay attention to the costumes. Ruth E. Carter did the costumes for the sequel, but the original ones were so iconic they basically set the standard for how "African Royalty" was portrayed in Hollywood for decades. There's a direct line from the gold-trimmed robes of Zamunda to the high-tech suits of Wakanda.
Second, watch the credits. Half the fun of these movies is seeing how many characters Eddie and Arsenio played. In the first one, they played four characters each. The makeup by Rick Baker was so good that most people didn't even realize the old Jewish man in the barbershop, Saul, was actually Eddie Murphy.
If you want to experience a bit of the movie in real life, you can still find "McDowell's" pop-ups that happen occasionally in major cities. They usually serve the "Big Mick" and have the employees wear the plaid uniforms. It's pure nostalgia bait, but it's fun.
The best way to enjoy the saga is to treat the first movie as the "heart" and the second as the "celebration." The first is a genuine romantic comedy that happens to be hilarious. The second is a victory lap for a cast that changed the industry.
Check out the original theatrical trailer for the 1988 version if you can find it on YouTube. It’s a masterclass in how to market a movie that defies genres. Then, go back and watch the barbershop scenes one more time. You'll catch a joke you missed before. I guarantee it.