A pampered African prince, Akeem, hails from the wealthy nation of Zamunda, where his every whim is catered to and his life follows a preordained path. On his twenty-first birthday, he's presented with an arranged marriage to a woman he has never met, bred to be blindly subservient. Unwilling to marry someone who has no say in her own desires and interests, Akeem yearns for a bride who will love him for who he is, not for his royal status or wealth. Deciding to seek a wife in America, he conceives a plan to find a woman who will be his equal and marry for love. Akeem and his loyal aide Semmi set out on their journey, choosing the bustling borough of Queens in New York City as their destination, believing it's the perfect place to find a queen.

Disguising himself as a common foreign student and taking a lowly job at McDowell’s, an imitation fast-food restaurant, Akeem attempts to blend in with everyday Americans. He wants to experience life without the filter of royalty and to avoid women interested solely in his title. Akeem navigates the complexities of American life, culture, and the dating scene, all the while keeping his true identity a secret. Along the way, he encounters a colorful array of characters, including the McDowell family, whose strong-willed daughter, Lisa, catches his eye, compelling Akeem to question whether she could be the true love he's been searching for.