Shanghai Surprise poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Philip Sayer ... see more see more... , Clyde Kusatsu , Sonserai Lee , Prof. Toru Tanaka , Michael Aldridge , Sarah Lam , Won Gam Bor , Michael Chow , To Chee Kan , Kay Tong Lim , George She , Philip Tan , George Harrison , Keith Bonnard , David Li , Claire Lutter , Samuel Tsao , Pamela Yang , Victor Wong

Madonna and Sean Penn, who were husband and wife at the time, starred in this notorious box-office bomb that one critic termed "Flop Suey." The film takes place in 1937, during the Japanese occupation... read more read more... of China. Drug runner Walter Faraday (Paul Freeman) is trying to leave the country with a large stash of opium but he is chased by armed guards and killed. A year passes and missionary Gloria Tatlock (Madonna) hires sleazy American con man Glendon Wasey (Sean Penn) to help her find the missing opium. She wants to use the drugs to relieve the suffering of wounded Chinese soldiers -- as she puts it, "Guns cause pain. Opium eases pain." Glendon reluctantly agrees. But unfortunately for the two do-gooders, there are other, more notorious seekers of the opium shipment as well. George Harrison, one of the film's producers, wrote the songs and appears in a cameo role as a nightclub singer. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

17% liked it

5,565 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

7 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Jim Goddard

Release Date: August 29, 1986

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 22, 2003

Stats: 150 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

On the set Hong Kong Shanghai Surprise Shanghai Surprise
Upload a Photo | View All Shanghai Surprise Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (150)

  • ajv2688
    February 14, 2011
    ajv2688
    So so so boring, I caught this on TV last night, and I couldn't even understand what Penn was saying or what they were supposed to be doing in the movie. The story is ridiculous and I'm like it's supposed to be a romance or what? It was too boring for me to care, so I switched ... read morechannels before the end. Stay away from this movie, it's just horrendous.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    November 12, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    I really don't know where to start... and I really don't know where to end! This balant Indiana Jones/ Romancing the Stone rip-off is one of the most tedious, tiresome, and dull films I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure that's all that really needs to be said.
  • trisarahtops22
    November 17, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    This movie gets 1 star for Sean Penn and 1 star for Madonna and that's pretty much all it had going for it!
  • mistressoftheundead
    May 18, 2008
    mistressoftheundead
    Had its funny points. But worst Movie Sean or Madonna ever made. I did not really like madonnas character in this... She did look hot with that bright blonde hair and red lipstick but thats about it. Bad BAD DYE JOB ON SEAN PENN. Shame on Jim goddard for casting these parts as he... read more did. I did laugh when they were both in the baskets but other then that. It tried to rip off Romancing the Stone and did not succeed. I do not recommend this movie to anyone. I guess thats what I get on renting a movie just because Madonna was in it never rent or go watch a movie just because you like the actors in it and no other reason. Thats the worst reason. I did like the music that was kind of cool at the end of the movie.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    August 1, 2007
    MovieGuruDude72
    Along with Who's That Girl, Ishtar and Battlefield Earth one of the worst movies in cinematic history. Back when Madonna thought she was Marilyn Monroe and back when Sean Penn was a thug, oh wait, when did that change?

View All Shanghai Surprise Reviews

Critic Reviews

Phil Hall
April 10, 2007
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. Full Review

Ken Hanke
October 15, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Striking visuals and some good George Harrison songs can't save it.

October 18, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Pat Graham
January 1, 2000
Pat Graham, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Boyd van Hoeij
June 10, 2006
Boyd van Hoeij, european-films.net

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
September 4, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jake Euker
August 12, 2005
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Philip Martin
April 28, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Daniel M. Kimmel
July 16, 2004
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Swept Away
    Swept Away (100%)
  • The Next Best Thing
    The Next Best Thing (100%)
  • Desperately Seeking Susan
    Desperately Seeking Susan (100%)
  • Madonna - Truth or Dare
    Madonna - Truth or Dare (100%)

More Movies like Shanghai Surprise

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Shanghai Surprise : Watch Free on TV

Shanghai Surprise Trivia

  • Who played the night club singer in the movie "Shanghai Surprise?"  Answer »
  • What movie did Madonna make with her then-husband Sean Penn?  Answer »
  • Which of the following movies has Madonna NOT provided at least one song to the soundtrack for?  Answer »
  • Madonna made her fim debut in the movie Shanghai Surprise ?  Answer »
More Shanghai Surprise Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Shanghai Surprise. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Shanghai Surprise to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Shanghai Surprise News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?