Coming to America

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Coming to America is available in Australia on Foxtel Now and ABC iview, and in the US on Philo and YouTube TV right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 4,789 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Eddie Murphy is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Available now on Foxtel Now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Coming to America earns its spot. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Coming to America from the crowd. 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 chemistry Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 1988. What keeps Coming to America from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Coming to America is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Eddie Murphy anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.