10 Strangest Fictitious Countries

10. Zamunda - Coming To America

Even when he was still an unqualified success, no one saw Eddie Murphy coming.

Take Paramount Pictures' initial reaction to Coming to America, Murphy's second pairing with director John Landis. Today, it's fondly remembered as one of Murphy's highlights alongside Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places. Before its release, however, it wasn't even screened for critics.

Even after release, critics harshly rebuked it, writing it off as a cheap fairy tale. Perhaps it was Murphy's primadonna attitude which led to tussles with director John Landis that shook Paramount's faith. The director was nearly on the outs with Hollywood after The Twilight Zone debacle, and Murphy viewed hiring him for a job he was set to direct himself as a favour.

"The guy on Coming to America was the pig of the world... but I still think he's wonderful in the movie," said Landis.

Murphy's main role is played straight, a rare choice for an actor who got laughs winking at the camera through Beverly Hills. As a wealthy prince of African nation Zamunda, it's the smart choice, centering the film's emotional core on a romance between his fish-out-of-water and inner-city activist Lisa.

Little is known about the monarchy Zamunda beyond a few customs (including, unfortunately, arranged marriage), but seeing an African nation portrayed as wealthy in the Eighties was the closest we'd get to Wakanda for several decades. Those "fairy tale" criticisms don't hold up well in that context. We'll hopefully see more of the country in Craig Brewer's upcoming sequel.