Coming 2 America – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Coming 2 America

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Eddie Murphy's beloved 1988 comedy gets a soulless, unfunny sequel that even die-hard fans couldn't sit through.

49%

→

Coming 2 America

movie

PG-13, 2021

35%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Eddie Murphy's beloved 1988 comedy gets a soulless, unfunny sequel that even die-hard fans couldn't sit through.

49%

Jump to

Also rated on

49%

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Look, Coming to America (1988) is a beloved classic. Coming 2 America is what happens when a studio sees dollar signs and forgets to write an actual script.

The numbers don't lie: 37% audience score, 5.3 on IMDb, 2.3 on Letterboxd. This movie bombed with viewers across the board. It's not offensive or harmful, just aggressively mediocre—recycled jokes, a paint-by-numbers plot, and comedy that feels like it was written by an algorithm trained on 1990s sitcoms.

The sexual humor and objectification of women make it inappropriate for kids under 13, but honestly, even teens will be checking their phones. There's a vague message about heritage and family, but it's buried under so many bad jokes that you'd need an excavator to find it.

If your teen is begging to watch it because they heard about it, fine—it won't hurt them. But there are about 10,000 better uses of 110 minutes. This is a skip.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 13+, which is right given the sexual humor and innuendo. But honestly, even teens will probably find this boring and unfunny—it's a movie made for nostalgic 40-somethings that failed to land with anyone.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The sequel leans on familiar family themes—honoring tradition, finding your roots, father-son bonding—but undercuts them with crass humor, objectification of women, and stereotypical portrayals. The original's charm gets buried under lowbrow gags and dated comedy that doesn't model much kindness or cooperation beyond surface-level 'family matters' messaging.

Imaginative

This is a paint-by-numbers sequel that rehashes the original's fish-out-of-water premise with zero fresh ideas. The fictional kingdom of Zamunda could be a springboard for creativity, but instead we get recycled jokes, cameos for nostalgia's sake, and a plot so predictable you could set your watch to it. No invitation to explore, build, or think differently—just a studio cash-grab.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 13+, which tracks—there's sexual humor, innuendo, some crude language, and objectifying depictions of women (including gratuitous scenes). No graphic violence or gore, but the sexual content and crude jokes make this inappropriate for younger viewers. For teens 13+ it's relatively safe but definitely not family-friendly in the wholesome sense.

Enriching

There's a paper-thin message about embracing your heritage and respecting where you come from, but it's delivered with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. No real character growth, minimal cultural insight beyond stereotypes, and the humor is too lowbrow to spark meaningful conversations. Entertainment value is also questionable given the 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.3 on IMDb—most viewers found it unfunny and forgettable.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If your teen loved the original Coming to America, they might enjoy seeing the characters again (though they'll probably be disappointed)
Some nostalgic cameos and callbacks for parents who grew up with the first film
Touches on themes of cultural heritage and family legacy, even if handled clumsily
At least it's not actively harmful—just boring and forgettable

⚠

What to Watch For

Sexual humor and innuendo throughout, including objectifying depictions of women in revealing outfits
Crude jokes and bathroom humor that land with a thud
Stereotypical portrayals of both African royalty and African-Americans that feel dated and lazy
Your teen will likely be bored—the 37% audience score tells you everything you need to know

Conversation Starters

"Have you seen the original? How does this compare? (Spoiler: the original is way better)"
"What did you think about how they portrayed Zamunda and African culture—did it feel respectful or stereotypical?"
"The movie's about honoring your roots—what does that mean to you?"
"Why do you think so many people were disappointed by this sequel?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic