Shanghai Surprise

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Shanghai Surprise

PG-13

1986

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

20%

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10 Reviews

16%

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

09/03/2016

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.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

09/13/2022

3/5

…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…

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Phil Hall

EDGE Boston

04/10/2007

0/5

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.

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Betsy Bozdech

DVDJournal.com

11/06/2006

.5/4

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.

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Boyd van Hoeij

european-films.net

06/10/2006

3/5

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

09/04/2005

2/5

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Melissa M

@Lisey Mar 12

The movies were all about the camp back then. Most of the movies were over the top, goofy and campy. So was the acting. It's just nice to see Sean and Madonna playing parts other than the usual goofball characters they often played an '80s & 90s films. It was an interesting casting choice having Madonna played a part of a missionary. That's why they call it acting the actors play something other than themselves. You can tell there was a lot of chemistry back in day between Sean Penn & Madonna. That shows on film. Even though the plot line has been done a thousand times before. Now in Hollywood it's all sequels, prequels, and remakes. At least Hollywood had somewhat of an imagination back then. Which it seriously lacking now.

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alan g

@agenser 03/15/2025

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

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John S

@RT40486670 09/24/2024

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.)

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Steve D

@RT35616104 03/05/2023

No Surprise here. It is really bad.

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sean g

@RT86188705 09/29/2022

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

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04/18/2021

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

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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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