How to watch
Coming to America Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Coming to America movies in order
Last updated: September 28 2026
Written by: ChronoBob
Eddie Murphy's beloved royal comedy finally got a sequel over three decades later. Here's the simple two-film watch order.
Coming to America starred Eddie Murphy as Prince Akeem of Zamunda, who travels to Queens, New York, to find a bride on his own terms. A cultural touchstone, it returned in 2021 with a legacy sequel reuniting the original cast. Directed by John Landis, the 1988 original was celebrated for Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall's multiple-role performances and its warm, quotable humor, becoming one of the defining comedies of its era.
π Release Order
Release order is the natural pick, as Coming 2 America picks up Akeem's life decades later.
- Coming to America (1988)
- Coming 2 America (2021)
The sequel is set years after the first, so chronology and release order align.
π Story Chronology
The story jumps forward roughly thirty years, so chronological order matches release order.
- Coming to America (1988)
- Coming 2 America (2021)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Watch the 1988 original first β it's a classic in its own right, and Coming 2 America is packed with callbacks, returning characters, and payoffs that only land if you know the first film. Release order is the only way to fully enjoy the reunion. The 2021 sequel is essentially a nostalgia victory lap, reviving beloved characters and running jokes, so it only fully lands once you've experienced the original's trip to Queens.
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