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What's After the Movie?
Action thriller

Cleaner (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Cleaner (2025) movie poster

Cleaner is a 2025 action thriller directed by Martin Campbell, starring Daisy Ridley as Joey Locke, Rufus Jones and Lee Boardman. It earned $1.4 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Critics gave it 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
worldwide gross
$1.4M
Echo Score
46
Metascore
51
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Cleaner (2025) movie poster
Released
Director
Martin Campbell
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
Studio
Anton
Budget
$25M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Cleaner About?

The premise of Cleaner without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

In present-day London, a group of radical activists take over an energy company's annual gala, seizing 300 hostages to expose the hosts' corruption. However, their cause is threatened when an extremist within the group intends to murder everyone in the building to promote his anarchic message.

Cleaner Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • hostage situation
  • die hard scenario
  • london england
  • group
  • villainess
  • brother sister relationship
  • female protagonist
  • telephone
  • bus
  • autistic
  • autistic brother
  • pregnant maid
+38 more
  • cleaning window
  • hacking
  • hacker
  • brother brother relationship
  • drugs
  • gas
  • head butting
  • murder
  • oil
  • oil spill
  • sos
  • bottle in throat
  • gun
  • sos signal
  • heights
  • backstabbing
  • thrown out a window
  • thor's hammer
  • military
  • police officer
  • bombs
  • pulse
  • activist
  • explosion
  • hostages
  • boom
  • social media
  • crying
  • shooting through a window
  • hug
  • brother sister hug
  • reference to the avengers
  • psycho
  • grenade
  • terrorist
  • knife
  • booby trap
  • f word
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Cast & crew

Cleaner Cast & Characters

Daisy Ridley leads the cast as Joey Locke, with Rufus Jones as Geoffrey Milton and Lee Boardman as Gerald Milton. Directed by Martin Campbell; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Martin Campbell

More films directed by Martin Campbell, best-rated first: Casino Royale, GoldenEye, The Foreigner and Edge of Darkness.

Full filmography
Ratings

Cleaner Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Cleaner 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 46/100, strongest in sensory experience (55) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

46 /100

Cleaner Echo Score Breakdown

Cleaner elicits a largely mixed response rooted in solid directorial choices and committed performances that are offset by a derivative script and uneven pacing. Critic responses frequently note Campbell's skilled staging and Daisy Ridley's engaging presence, yet observe that the film fails to innovate beyond its Die Hard model. While some users appreciate the action sequences, many highlight formulaic plotting and lack of character investment. In sum, Cleaner's competent craft elements are hampered by familiar genre tropes and a story that seldom surprises.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of direction and visual execution, Cleaner delivers a series of well-staged action set pieces that reflect Campbell's steady hand. Critics commend the efficiently blocked combat sequences and clean editing that sustain momentum. However, some reviews remark on occasional choppy pacing and uninspired production design that limit visual distinction. Overall, the film's craftsmanship shows competence but lacks a distinctive aesthetic flourish.

  • Character & Emotion 50

    When it comes to character development and performances, Cleaner benefits from Daisy Ridley's energetic presence and occasional chemistry in sibling exchanges. Several critics note Ridley and Owen's commitment despite thin characterizations that rarely transcend action archetypes. User feedback highlights underdeveloped roles and a lack of emotional depth that prevents meaningful engagement. In effect, the acting delivers intermittent appeal but is offset by characters who remain largely conventional and unmemorable.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Regarding narrative structure and pacing, Cleaner adheres closely to the Die Hard template with few innovations in plot or thematic content. Reviews point to a formulaic script that delivers predictable beats and middling tension until a late twist. While a handful of fresh elements draw occasional interest, the overall story often feels derivative and loosely constructed, resulting in uneven engagement throughout the runtime.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    In terms of auditory and visual impact, Cleaner presents reliably clear sound design and a straightforward musical score that support the action sequences. Critics appreciate the crisp hand-to-hand combat staging and moments of effective tension. Yet the film's reliance on familiar genre imagery and the absence of striking visual motifs undercut its sensory identity. As a result, the audiovisual elements function adequately but lack memorable distinctiveness.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    When considering the rewatch potential, Cleaner offers limited incentive for repeat viewings due to its predictable structure and minimal narrative surprises. While some viewers may revisit for individual action scenes or Ridley's performance, the largely derivative plot and conventional character arcs diminish long-term appeal. Consequently, the film's replay value is modest, with few elements that consistently invite audiences back for subsequent screenings.

Plot

Cleaner Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Cleaner from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Joey Locke and her older brother Michael grew up under the shadow of an abusive father in a tough London household, a history that pushes Joey to climb walls as a way to escape violence. Twenty years later, she is an adult and a former soldier who quit after a brutal incident with a perverted squad-mate, and she now looks after Michael, who is autistic and channels his passion into online crusades against corruption in his care homes. When a routine day at work collides with danger, their lives take a sharp turn.

Full summary

The whole story of Cleaner, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Cleaner Box Office & Budget

Cleaner grossed $1.4 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 6% of what it cost. $794,091 came from the US and Canada and $632,243 (44%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.4M

6% of its budget back

US & Canada
$794.1K
International
$632.2K
Budget
$25M
US & Canada 56% Rest of the world 44%
Videos

Cleaner Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 3 trailers.

Official UK Trailer
  • Trailer Redband Online Trailer
  • Trailer Greenband Online Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cleaner?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Joey's profession in the film?

Details

Cleaner Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “클리너” and “סיכון גבוה”.

Also known as
  • 클리너
  • סיכון גבוה
  • Đặc Vụ Lau Kính
  • Клінер
  • ไต่ระทึกตึกนรก
  • Клинер
  • Mirties gniaužtuose
  • 罪恶清除工
  • پاک کننده
  • Cleaner: Atentat la inaltime
  • 罪惡清除工
  • Sprzątaczka
+5 more
  • Nagytakarítás
  • عاملة التنظيف
  • Koristusekspert
  • Чистач
  • Čistačica, დამლაგებელი

Seen Cleaner?

FAQ

Cleaner FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Release Date

Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Cleaner, each answered in a sentence.

When was Cleaner released?

Cleaner was released on February 21, 2025.

Who directed Cleaner?

Cleaner was directed by Martin Campbell.

More films by Martin Campbell

Who is in the cast of Cleaner?

Cleaner stars Daisy Ridley as Joey Locke, Rufus Jones as Geoffrey Milton and Lee Boardman as Gerald Milton, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Cleaner make at the box office?

Cleaner grossed $1.4 million worldwide ($794,091 domestic, $632,243 international) on a budget of $25 million.

How is Cleaner rated?

Cleaner has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 51 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

Does Cleaner have a post-credit scene?

No. Cleaner has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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