2007 Thriller Film, Once a Box Office Flop, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 19 Years Later
Films that didn't meet the mark at the box office have been gaining new life thanks to streaming services. A Samuel L. Jackson thriller film from 2007 is making its way to the top of the Netflix charts since becoming available to watch, but it wasn't the biggest success upon its release.
Cleaner stars Jackson alongside an A-list cast includingEd Harris, Keke Palmer, and Eva Mendes in a police cover-up storyline. The film is now high on the charts of Netflix's Top 10 list, ranking in at No. 4, beating out the psychological thrillerStolen Baby starring Emily Osment.
Released in late May of 2007, Cleaner centers around retired police officer Tom Cutler (Jackson). He's now retired and owns his own crime scene cleaning service. Eight years prior, his life was turned upside down when his wife was murdered in a home invasion that his daughter witnessed.
Like any other day at work, Tom receives an order from someone named Detective Jones to clean up a crime scene at a wealthy home. Using his own special blend of chemicals, Tom leaves the home spotless and later realizes that he accidentally kept the house key. When returning to the home, he meets the owner and wife, Ann Norcut (Mendes), who has no idea about his services. Tom soon realizes something is wrong and starts to suspect he's involved in a murder cover-up.
Cleaner was considered a box-office flop upon release, having had a budget of $25 million, but only making $5.8 million. IMDb gives the film a 6.1 score, while Rotten Tomatoes scored it a lower 17%. The thriller, directed by Renny Harlin, received mixed reviews from critics and fans, with many calling it an enjoyable thriller versus mediocre storytelling.
"A neatly contained crime whodunit with a nifty setup and an expert lead performance from Samuel L. Jackson," said The Hollywood Reporter.
Another critic said, "It's not that Cleaner is a terrible film, it just doesn't rear back and sock the viewer in the jaw like a great thriller should. It's mild sauce from the first frame to the last."
Some fans praised Jackson and the cast's performance, but felt they were far too good actors working with an "increasingly impossible plot." Other fans felt Cleaner had a good premise but did little to develop a worthwhile plot, which is tagged as a "forgettable flick."
Related: 2001 Thriller Film, Once a Box Office Flop, Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 25 Years Later
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 10:48 AM.