Disappointing 2007 Crime Thriller Surging up Netflix's Most-Watched List
Nearly 20 years after its release, which was a box office flop, a Samuel L. Jackson crime thriller is finding its second chance on Netflix.
Cleaner was released in 2007 and had some of the biggest names in Hollywood on the cast list with Jackson starring alongside Ed Harris and Eva Mendes. The film grossed just $5.8 million at the box office against a $25 million budget.
But it's now finding a second wind on the streaming giant. What's on Netflix revealed the movie is up to No. 3 on the most-watched movies list just behind The Crash and animated hit Goat – both of which were released this year.
What Is 'Cleaner' About?
Jackson stars as retired policeman Tom Cutler, who works as a crime-scene cleaner to support his young daughter.
"Cutler's quiet life is thrown into turmoil when woman-in-peril Ann Norcut (Eva Mendes) contacts him in the wake of a routine job," the synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes reads.
"When Norcut reveals that her husband has disappeared - and that his agency has sterilized an apparent crime scene in her home without her permission - Cutler turns to his hardened former partner, police Detective Eddie Lorenzo (Ed Harris), for answers."
How Was the Movie Received?
The film was panned by critics, who gave the movie a meager 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans were slightly more kind, but still rated the movie "rotten" by giving it a 40%, while those in iMBD gave it a 6.1 rating - with over 50,000 ratings.
Richard Roeper from Ebert & Roeper said, "I did like the dynamic between Samuel L. Jackson and Keke Palmer. I'd like to see them play father and daughter in the better film."
In a more positive review, Michael Rechtshaffen from The Hollywood Reporter said Cleaner was "A neatly contained crime whodunit with a nifty setup and an expert lead performance from Samuel L. Jackson."
The movie is now streaming on Netflix.
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 6:49 AM.