Details

Release year: 1988

Storyline

An extremely pampered African prince travels to Queens, New York and goes undercover to find a wife that he can respect for her intelligence and strong will.

Top credits

Directors

John Landis

Writers

Cast

Eddie Murphy — Prince Akeem, Clarence, Saul, Randy Watson
Paul Bates — Oha
Garcelle Beauvais — Rose Bearer
Feather — Rose Bearer

See all 121 credits →

Awards

0 wins & 2 nominations

See all awards →

Did you know

• After the make-up and clothing was applied for the Jewish character Saul, Eddie Murphy wanted to test the make-up and costume out. He got a golf cart and drove from one studio department to another in Paramount Studios. He would get out of the cart and say in his regular voice, "Hi. I'm Eddie Murphy." No one believed him.

• This was the first time Eddie Murphy played multiple characters in the same film, inspired by Peter Sellers who did the same in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). This would become a trademark of Murphy.

• The homeless men that receive the money from Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) are the Duke brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) from Trading Places (1983) (also directed by John Landis). In that movie, Billy Ray Valentine (Murphy) was responsible for The Dukes losing their fortune. The Dukes theme from the movie can be heard in the background. Apparently, Landis didn't like the idea because it would be too self-referential, even though he is known for breaking the fourth wall in his movies. It led to a conflict with producer George Folsey Jr., until star Eddie Murphy decided that it was a great idea.