The film "Coming to America" was filmed in New York, USA.

Filming Locations:

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

In the Movie

In Reality

392 S 5th St (at Hooper St), Williamsburg, Brooklyn

In the Movie

Scene where exterior setting used for key “local neighborhood” beats, including the modest apartment context and the nearby barbershop-style street presence, reinforcing the contrast between a humble Brooklyn block and the characters’ hidden royal identity.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a real building and streetscape in Williamsburg near the South 5th Street and Hooper Street corner, representative of older Brooklyn residential blocks. The intersection provides a practical exterior for neighborhood life, storefront-style scenes, and street-level establishing shots.

Terminal 7, John F. Kennedy International Airport

In the Movie

Scene where the characters’ early New York arrival moments, using the terminal setting to establish that they have just entered the United States and are now navigating a hectic, unfamiliar environment with luggage, crowds, and airport logistics.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at an active international airport terminal within JFK, with check-in halls, arrivals flows, curbside pickup, and constant passenger movement that matches the film’s “new country” arrival energy. It is a real transportation hub serving Queens and the wider NYC region.

McDowell’s Restaurant filming site (former Wendy’s), Queens Boulevard

In the Movie

Scene where the fast-food workplace setting where the characters take jobs while presenting themselves as ordinary students, creating a grounded everyday routine and providing a believable public place for interactions with coworkers and the owner’s family.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a commercial Queens Boulevard address in Elmhurst that historically hosted a fast-food restaurant; the site is noted for having been redeveloped after the original structure was demolished. The corridor is a typical busy Queens thoroughfare with heavy traffic and dense retail.

Madison Square Garden

In the Movie

Scene where a high-profile public-event backdrop that signals the characters’ entry into mainstream NYC life, using the arena’s recognizable exterior and neighborhood energy to communicate scale, celebrity atmosphere, and the city’s nonstop pace.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a world-famous multi-purpose arena above Penn Station, used for major sports and concerts and surrounded by constant midtown pedestrian traffic. Its scale, lighting, and signage make it instantly recognizable as a premier Manhattan venue.