It remains popular to this day: "Black Panther" stars Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira honored it by throwing a costume-themed birthday party while filming, and there are talks of a sequel.
In honor of the film's 30-year anniversary, here are six ways "Coming to America" paved the way for "Black Panther."
The journey of two princes
By now, you know the story of an African prince who must face the rites and anxieties of becoming a man and decide whether to uphold or break from his nation's long-standing tradition. That's the story of Prince Akeem Joffer, of course. "Coming to America" attacked African stereotypes by anchoring the story on African royalty, sort of like a Marvel superhero film we all know.
Advanced nations: from Zamunda to Wakanda
Before Wakanda ever graced the silver screen, there was the fictional African nation of Zamunda. This country is just as advanced as Western countries, so much so that Prince Joffer doesn't understand the African stereotypes presented to him in America. Similarly, Prince Joffer hides his wealthy stature in America, pretending to be a poor foreigner. The crux of "Black Panther" is that Wakanda's technological advancements outpace the rest of the world, but they pretend to be a Third World country because that is what's expected of them by the world.
Embracing African clothing style
African style is on display in both films. The royalty in "Coming to America" are proud of the raffia, lion furs and gold jewelry they wear. In "Black Panther," the clothing and design create a detailed world, a hodgepodge of several different tribes with their own flair coming together to be one people.
Women to the rescue
From the all-female Wakandan special forces Dora Milaje to King T'Challa's inventive sister, Shuri, "Black Panther" was lauded for how it portrayed women as more than capable of saving the day. While "Coming to America" has not aged well in this regard — there's a scene where topless female servants bathe Prince Joffer — there's some agency late in the film when Queen Aoleon, a forward thinker, scolds her husband for his outdated ways and comes to her son's rescue.
A fish out of water journey
In "Coming to America," Africa is explored through the cultural differences between African royalty and the African-Americans they encounter. It is a fish out of water comedy that explores blackness through the lens of Joffer's naivety about black culture in America. In "Black Panther," CIA agent Everett Ross' journey to Wakanda is played for laughs because he's out of his element. However, the divide between being African and being African-American is explored with more serious implications.
The breaking of tradition
"Coming to America" was modern when it came to the idea of tradition. Prince Joffer's journey is to find true love and break the bonds of arranged marriage that has been the custom in his kingdom. It suggests people should change with the times, a message that carries through "Black Panther." Like Joffer searching for love, T'Challa must decide whether to end centuries of isolationism and reveal his country's technological marvels to the world.
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