Shanghai Surprise

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Shanghai Surprise

PG-13

1986

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

15%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Glendon Wasey (Sean Penn) is a sleazy, down-on-his-luck con man struggling to sell glow-in-the-dark neckties in Shanghai. When he encounters the lovely Gloria Tatlock (Madonna), a nurse who wants to obtain a supply of opium to ease the suffering of her patients, he decides to help her get hold of a stolen supply of the valuable drug. The only problem is that a lot of other people want to secure the stolen opium as well -- gangsters, smugglers, thugs and a host of dangerous lowlifes.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

It feels, more than anything, like the duo went looking for a movie they could co-star in, and this was the only script that was lying around.

Sep 3, 2016

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…a silly screwball farce, short on stunts or visceral action and clearly missing some scenes, but as a retro star vehicle, it’s out-of-stepness with the 80’s provides added value today…

Rated: 3/5

Sep 13, 2022

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Phil Hall

EDGE Boston

Madonna's incompetent performance secured her reputation as a no-talent actress...and, to date, she still hasn't been able to shake that reputation.

Rated: 0/5

Apr 10, 2007

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Betsy Bozdech

DVDJournal.com

The sight of the Material Girl in bobby socks and a prim blue suit is one of the few funny things in the movie; too bad the laughs are unintentional.

Rated: .5/4

Nov 6, 2006

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Boyd van Hoeij

european-films.net

Rated: 3/5

Jun 10, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Sep 4, 2005

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alan g

One of the worst movies ever made. Soundly panned universally. Madonna as a missionary? Please. Sean Panned as a sleezy con man? Absolutely.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

John S

It really is a bad movie. But not nearly the worst I've ever seen. I don't need to watch it again though. (Ever.)

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/24

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Steve D

No Surprise here. It is really bad.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/05/23

Full Review

sean g

I was surprised I really like this movie, only the second Madonna movie I have seen from start to finish. The movie is great from the get go, like a indian Jones movie, Madonna and Sean Penn act their socks off and make this movie great, the rest of the cast are great too, action drama and surprise 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A remake of "Macao" would have served them better and displayed fewer embarrassing Asian stereotypes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bubble Gum love with both in their Prime.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Jim Goddard

Director

Sean Penn

Glendon Wasey

Madonna

Gloria Tatlock

Paul Freeman

Walter Faraday

Richard Griffiths

Willite Tuttle

Philip Sayer

Justin Kronk

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Fish Food

2:35

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Rickshaw Chase

2:14

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Drunk With the Ducks

2:05

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Under Obligation

2:21

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Someplace Else

2:14

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Shanghai Surprise

1:43

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - The Whip and the Horse

1:53

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - A Man Can Always Use Luck

2:28

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - Sorely Lacking in Moral Fiber

1:34

Shanghai Surprise: Official Clip - The Devil Himself

2:40

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Synopsis

Glendon Wasey (Sean Penn) is a sleazy, down-on-his-luck con man struggling to sell glow-in-the-dark neckties in Shanghai. When he encounters the lovely Gloria Tatlock (Madonna), a nurse who wants to obtain a supply of opium to ease the suffering of her patients, he decides to help her get hold of a stolen supply of the valuable drug. The only problem is that a lot of other people want to secure the stolen opium as well -- gangsters, smugglers, thugs and a host of dangerous lowlifes.

Director: Jim Goddard
Producer: John Kohn
Screenwriter: John Kohn
Production Co: Handmade Films, The Vista Organisation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.2M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround

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