Pampered African Prince Akeem is a rebel who is against an arranged marriage and heads to Queens, New York to find a new bride. His regal father agrees to allow the prince 40 days to roam the U.S., sending the prince's faithful retainer Semmi along to make sure nothing untoward happens. To avoid fortune hunters, Prince Akeem conceals his true identity and gets a "regular" guy job at a fast-food restaurant.