Shanghai Surprise_
"A romantic adventure for the dangerous at heart."
Glendon Wasey is a fortune hunter looking for a fast track out of China. Gloria Tatlock is a missionary nurse seeking the curing powers of opium for her patients. Fate sets them on a hectic, exotic, and even romantic quest for stolen drugs. But they are up against every thug and smuggler in Shangai.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Tubi
FREE
2 countries
fuboTV
1 country
MGM Plus
1 country
Philo
1 country
The Roku Channel
FREE
1 country
Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Shanghai Surprise earned $2.3M against a $17.0M budget.
Year context
Shanghai Surprise was released 40 years ago in 1986.
CAST (18)
Sean Penn
Glendon Wasey
Madonna
Gloria Tatlock
Paul Freeman
Walter Faraday
Richard Griffiths
Willie Tuttle
Clyde Kusatsu
Joe Go
Philip Sayer
Justin Kronk
Lim Kay Tong
Mei Gan
Victor Wong Chi-Keung
Ho Chong
Professor Toru Tanaka
Yamagani San
Michael Aldridge
Mr. Burns
Sarah Lam
China Doll's Maid
George Harrison
Nightclub Singer
SL
Sonserai Lee
China Doll
GS
George She
Wu Ch'En She
WG
Won Gam Bor
Rickshaw King
TC
To Chee Kan
China Doll's Boatman
Philip Tan
Ship's Officer
TW
To Wai-Wo
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$17.0M
Budget
$2.3M
Revenue
-86%
ROI
FLOP
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
AWARDS (1)
B
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress
1987
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
97 min (1h 37m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
4.3/10 (97 votes)
Popularity
5
Budget
$17,000,000
Box Office
$2,315,683
Profit
$-14,684,317
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Shanghai Surprise about?
Glendon Wasey is a fortune hunter looking for a fast track out of China. Gloria Tatlock is a missionary nurse seeking the curing powers of opium for her patients. Fate sets them on a hectic, exotic, and even romantic quest for stolen drugs. But they are up against every thug and smuggler in Shangai.
How long is Shanghai Surprise?
Shanghai Surprise has a runtime of 97 minutes (1h 37m).
Who directed Shanghai Surprise?
Shanghai Surprise was directed by Jim Goddard.
Who stars in Shanghai Surprise?
The cast of Shanghai Surprise includes Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Clyde Kusatsu.
How much did Shanghai Surprise make at the box office?
Shanghai Surprise earned $2,315,683 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $17,000,000.
What is the rating of Shanghai Surprise?
Shanghai Surprise has a rating of 4.3 out of 10 based on 97 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (4)
Romance
Adventure
Crime
Comedy
KEYWORDS (3)
china
shanghai, china
american abroad