Where was Coming to America filmed

Locations

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

  In 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.

  Real

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

  Scene was shot 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.

• Madison Square Garden

  In 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.

  Real

  Madison Square Garden on the map

  Scene was shot 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.

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

  In 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.

  Real

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

  Scene was shot 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.

• Terminal 7, John F. Kennedy International Airport

  In 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.

  Real

  Terminal 7, John F. Kennedy International Airport on the map

  Scene was shot 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.

• Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

  In movie

  Scene where

  Real

  Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on the map

  Scene was shot

  New York