Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy), the prince and heir of the fictitious African country of great wealth called Zamunda, is pampered all his life by his parents, King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) and Queen Aeoleon (Madge Sinclair). His bride-to-be, Imani Izzi (Vanessa Bell), whom he has never met, is trained to obey his every command. Akeem concocts a plan to travel to the United States to find a wife he can both love and respect and who accepts him for himself, not his status. He and his friend , Semmi (Arsenio Hall) arrive in New York City.They rent a rat-infested apartment, and begin working at a local fast food restaurant called McDowell's passing themselves off as poor foreign students. Akeem falls in love with McDowell's daughter, Lisa (Shari Headley), who possesses the qualities the prince is looking for. But his plans are busted as the Zamundian royal couple travels to the United States and reveal themselves to the McDowells. Lisa refuses to marry Akeem even after he offers to renounce his throne, and he returns to Zamunda with a broken heart. Until fate decides otherwise...
