Shanghai Surprise (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 4.3
Released in 1986, Shanghai Surprise is a comedy, drama, crime and adventure film directed by Jim Goddard, running about 97 minutes. “A romantic adventure for the dangerous at heart.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s 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.
Who’s in it. Shanghai Surprise stars Madonna as Gloria Tatlock, Sean Penn as Glendon Wasey, Paul Freeman as Walter Faraday and Richard Griffiths as Willie Tuttle, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.3/10, Shanghai Surprise has proved divisive with audiences. It went on to earn $2.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo and rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Shanghai Surprise page.
If you liked it. Fans of Shanghai Surprise tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Shanghai Surprise (1986)?
- In US, Shanghai Surprise is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Shanghai Surprise worth watching?
- Shanghai Surprise holds an audience score of 4.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama, crime and adventure. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Shanghai Surprise?
- Shanghai Surprise stars Madonna, Sean Penn, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths and Clyde Kusatsu.
- When was Shanghai Surprise released?
- Shanghai Surprise was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 97 minutes.