Eddie Murphy was basically the king of the world in 1988. If you weren't there, it’s hard to describe the sheer gravity he pulled. He wasn't just a movie star; he was a cultural event. When the Coming to America full production hit theaters, it didn't just make money. It changed how Hollywood looked at Black-led comedies. It proved that you could have a massive, big-budget romantic fairy tale that felt universal while staying deeply rooted in African and African-American identity.
Most people remember the laughs. They remember the barbershop scenes. But honestly, the movie is a bit of a technical miracle. It’s the first time we saw Murphy and Arsenio Hall play multiple characters in one frame using heavy prosthetics by Rick Baker. It was groundbreaking.
What Actually Happened with the Coming to America Full Script Controversy
You might’ve heard the rumors. Or maybe you saw the headlines decades later. Behind the scenes, the Coming to America full experience wasn't all sunshine and rose petals. There was a massive legal battle that actually changed how Hollywood contracts work. Art Buchwald, a famous columnist, sued Paramount Pictures. He claimed he’d pitched a similar idea years earlier.
The studio said the movie made "no profit" despite grossing nearly $300 million. Think about that for a second. $300 million in 1980s money and the studio accountants said, "Nah, we're in the red." This led to the famous "Buchwald v. Paramount" case. It basically exposed the dark art of Hollywood accounting. The court eventually ruled in Buchwald’s favor, calling the studio’s contract "unconscionable." It was a mess. But it’s a mess that every aspiring screenwriter should study because it defines how "net profits" are still debated today.
The movie itself survived the drama. John Landis directed it, though he and Murphy famously clashed on set. Landis had previously directed Murphy in Trading Places, but by 1988, Murphy’s ego had grown to match his paycheck. They reportedly almost came to blows. Yet, the friction created something brilliant.
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Why Zamunda Felt So Real (Even Though It’s Fake)
Zamunda isn't real. Obviously. But for a lot of people watching the Coming to America full movie for the first time, it felt like a vision of Africa that Hollywood usually ignored. No famine. No war. Just wealth, tradition, and extremely shiny gold outfits.
The costume designer, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, did an incredible job. She didn't just throw random African-inspired patterns together. She looked at real royal traditions from across the continent. She mixed British ceremonial pomp with West African aesthetics. It created this weird, beautiful, regal world that felt lived-in.
- The wedding scene alone cost a fortune.
- The dancers were professionals who brought a level of energy usually reserved for Broadway.
- The "Soul Glo" jingle was written by Nile Rodgers’ partner, Bernard Edwards. That’s why it’s so catchy. It’s literally high-level funk parody.
It’s these tiny details. You've got the McDowell’s restaurant, which is a blatant (and hilarious) ripoff of McDonald’s. That wasn't just a joke about fast food. It was a joke about the American Dream and how immigrants often have to hustle to make it work, even if that hustle involves "Golden Arcs" instead of "Golden Arches."
The Multi-Character Genius of Rick Baker
We have to talk about the makeup. Rick Baker is a legend for a reason. Before Coming to America, he’d done An American Werewolf in London. To go from horror to a Jewish man in a Queens barbershop is a wild range.
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Murphy played Saul, the elderly Jewish man. He played Randy Watson, the lead singer of Sexual Chocolate. He played Clarence, the barbershop owner. He played Prince Akeem. He was everywhere. This wasn't just a gimmick. It was a showcase of mimicry that most actors couldn't pull off in a million years. If you watch the Coming to America full credits, you see the names of these characters, and it still shocks some people to realize it was all the same two guys.
The Cultural Weight of the 1988 Classic
There’s a reason we got a sequel thirty years later. The original Coming to America full narrative works because it’s a simple "fish out of water" story. But it has heart. Akeem isn't looking for a "queen" in the traditional sense; he’s looking for a partner who has her own mind. In 1988, that was a relatively progressive take for a raunchy comedy.
Lisa McDowell, played by Shari Headley, wasn't just a trophy. she was smart. She was community-oriented. She challenged him.
The movie also gave breaks to actors who would become icons. Samuel L. Jackson has a tiny role as a stick-up man in the McDowell’s. Look closely. He’s there for three minutes and he’s already terrifying and hilarious. Cuba Gooding Jr. is in the barber chair. It was a breeding ground for Black talent in an era when those opportunities were few and far between.
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The Coming to America Full Legacy in 2026
Looking back from 2026, the movie feels like a time capsule of a specific kind of optimism. It’s before the internet. It’s before the hyper-cynicism of the modern age. It’s just a guy in a New York apartment with a "I Heart NY" shirt and a dream of finding love.
People still quote it daily. "Good morning, my neighbors!" "Bark like a dog." "His royal highness is clean." These lines have outlived the careers of most of the people who wrote them.
The film also paved the way for movies like Black Panther. It sounds like a stretch, but it’s not. Ruth E. Carter, the Oscar-winning costume designer for Black Panther, has often cited the visual language of Zamunda as a precursor to Wakanda. It was the first time a major studio spent that much money to make an African nation look aspirational and powerful rather than a place of tragedy.
Actionable Takeaways for Film Buffs and Creators
If you’re looking to revisit or study the Coming to America full production, don't just watch it for the laughs. There’s a lot to learn under the hood.
- Study the Rick Baker Makeup Work: Watch the "making of" documentaries to see how the appliances were applied. It took hours every single morning. It’s a masterclass in physical transformation that doesn't rely on CGI.
- Analyze the "Buchwald v. Paramount" Case: If you are an aspiring filmmaker or writer, read the court summaries. It is the most important legal lesson you can learn about how "net points" in a contract can often equal zero dollars.
- Observe the Pacing: Notice how the movie spends nearly 20 minutes in Zamunda before ever getting to New York. Modern comedies rarely take that much time for world-building. They want the jokes to start in the first 30 seconds. This movie trusted its audience to be interested in the world first.
- Spot the Cameos: See if you can find all the Trading Places references. The Duke brothers (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) make a legendary appearance as homeless men who get a huge sack of cash from Akeem. It’s a perfect cinematic universe crossover before that was even a term people used.
The Coming to America full impact is undeniable. It’s a rare beast: a comedy that has aged well, a romance that feels earned, and a technical achievement that still looks impressive forty years later. It’s a reminder that when you combine a massive star at the height of his powers with a crew of literal geniuses, you get something that stays relevant forever.