Shanghai Surprise
“A romantic adventure for the dangerous at heart.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Shanghai Surprise (1986) - Original TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2019-05-24
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
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
Ho Chong
Professor Toru Tanaka
Yamagani San
Michael Aldridge
Mr. Burns
Sarah Lam
China Doll's Maid
George Harrison
Nightclub Singer
Sonserai Lee
China Doll
George She
Wu Ch'En She
Won Gam Bor
Rickshaw King
To Chee Kan
China Doll's Boatman
Philip Tan
Ship's Officer
To Wai-Wo
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 29, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$17M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$2.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.14x
-$14.7M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jim Goddard
- Screenplay & Story
- John Kohn, Robert Bentley, Tony Kenrick
- Original Score
- George Harrison, Michael Kamen
- Original Title
- Shanghai Surprise
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Budget
- $17M
- Worldwide Gross
- $2.3M
- Production Studios
- Handmade Films, The Vista Organization
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jim Goddard
John Kohn, Robert Bentley, Tony Kenrick
George Harrison, Michael Kamen
Ernest Vincze
Ralph Sheldon
George Harrison, Denis O'Brien, John Kohn
Department Leadership Roster
Jim Goddard
Director
John Kohn
Writer
Peter Mullins
Production Design
George Harrison
Original Music Composer
Michael Kamen
Original Music Composer
Robert Bentley
Writer
Ralph Sheldon
Editor
John Kohn
Producer
Ernest Vincze
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shanghai Surprise.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shanghai Surprise.
Movies
My Movies
Master List In Progress
Abstrusest 2
Shitty Movie Nights
A running log of cinematic garbage we willingly subject ourselves to during Shitty Movie Night. Bad movies, questionable choices, great company.
Heist Movies
MGM+ US - Romantic Comedy Movies
Curated list of Most Popular on MGM+ (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
Similar Titles to Shanghai Surprise
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.5
7.2
5.5
8.1
7.0
6.8
6.4
6.9
6.6
6.4
6.9
7.2
8.0
5.8
6.0
6.8
7.2
7.2
7.7
5.8
More Like Shanghai Surprise
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shanghai Surprise
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
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.
Who directed Shanghai Surprise?
Shanghai Surprise was directed by Jim Goddard.
Who stars in Shanghai Surprise?
The principal cast of Shanghai Surprise includes Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Clyde Kusatsu.
When was Shanghai Surprise released and how long is it?
Shanghai Surprise was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of Shanghai Surprise?
Shanghai Surprise had a reported production budget of $17M and grossed $2.3M at the worldwide box office (0.14 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Shanghai Surprise?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shanghai Surprise was composed by George Harrison, Michael Kamen.
Is Shanghai Surprise based on a book or true story?
Shanghai Surprise is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Tony Kenrick".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shanghai Surprise?
Shanghai Surprise holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).