When ex‐soldier turned window cleaner Joey Locke shows up for her shift high above London’s skyline, she expects a routine job—until a major gala at the top of the city’s tallest building is stormed by radical activists. Amid corporate corruption exposés, hostage drama and high-altitude peril, Joey finds herself dangling between cleaning panes and saving lives, as the building becomes a battleground for justice and survival. With her autistic brother caught inside the melee and rogue environmental extremists turning their protest into mass murder, the lines between hero, victim and opportunist collapse. Directed by veteran thriller-maker Martin Campbell and anchored by a committed performance from Daisy Ridley, the film delivers sharp tension, vertigo-fuelled action and a reminder that sometimes the most unlikely person can become the difference between life and death.
Overview
Cleaner (2025) follows Joey Locke, a resilient window cleaner with a military past, who unexpectedly finds herself in the middle of a high-stakes hostage situation inside one of London’s tallest skyscrapers. When a group of eco-activists storm the building during a high-profile corporate event, Joey must rely on her instincts, courage, and tactical training to navigate the chaos. Suspended hundreds of feet above the city, she becomes an unlikely hero fighting to protect the innocent and uncover the truth behind the violent protest.
Set against a backdrop of corruption, activism, and survival, the film blends gripping action with emotional intensity. As the situation spirals out of control, Joey faces not only external threats but also the weight of personal responsibility and moral conflict. Cleaner explores the thin line between protest and terrorism, highlighting how ordinary people can rise to extraordinary challenges when pushed to their limits.
Cast and Crew
Director: Martin Campbell
Cleaner (2025) is directed by Martin Campbell, a master of high-stakes thrillers known for iconic films like Casino Royale and The Mask of Zorro. His direction brings intensity and precision to every frame, balancing nerve-wracking action sequences with emotionally grounded storytelling. Campbell’s expertise ensures that the film’s skyscraper setting feels both grand and claustrophobic, enhancing the sense of danger and suspense throughout.
Lead Actor: Taz Skylar
Taz Skylar delivers a strong and grounded performance in Cleaner (2025), bringing a sense of realism and empathy to his role. Known for his work in One Piece and Boiling Point, Skylar embodies resilience and humanity, perfectly complementing the film’s tense and emotional tone. His chemistry with Daisy Ridley strengthens the movie’s core relationship dynamic, making his character a crucial anchor in the unfolding chaos.
Lead Actress: Daisy Ridley
Daisy Ridley stars as Joey Locke, a window cleaner with a military past who becomes the unexpected hero of the film. Ridley’s portrayal is both powerful and vulnerable, showcasing her range beyond her well-known role as Rey in Star Wars. Through her fearless determination and emotional nuance, she transforms Joey into a relatable and inspiring protagonist caught between courage and survival.
Supporting Cast
The film features a talented ensemble including Clive Owen, Ruth Gemmell, Ray Fearon, Rufus Jones, and Matthew Tuck. Each member of the supporting cast brings depth to the story, representing different sides of the film’s moral and ethical conflicts. Their performances add richness and complexity, making Cleaner not just an action spectacle but a character-driven thriller.
Music Composer: Tom Hodge
The film’s score is composed by Tom Hodge, whose music intensifies the suspense and emotion of each scene. His compositions blend tension, rhythm, and melody to heighten both the film’s action sequences and its more introspective moments. The soundtrack contributes significantly to the overall atmosphere, ensuring every beat of the story feels immersive and cinematic.
Production Company
Cleaner (2025) is produced by Anton and Qwerty Films, two production houses known for their commitment to high-quality storytelling and innovative cinematography. Their collaboration results in a visually striking film that combines practical effects, real locations, and seamless pacing, creating a polished and engaging thriller experience.
Run Time: 1 Hour 37 Minutes
The movie runs for approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes, offering a compact yet gripping narrative that never loses momentum. Each moment is tightly constructed, keeping viewers hooked until the final frame without unnecessary filler or downtime.
Budget and Box OfficeBox Office
Cleaner (2025) was produced on an estimated budget of around $25 million, a modest figure compared to many large-scale action thrillers. Despite its controlled budget, the film doesn’t compromise on quality — its gripping rooftop sequences, detailed set designs, and high-rise visuals showcase impressive use of practical effects and camera work. The production focused heavily on creating realistic tension within confined spaces rather than relying on heavy CGI. Director Martin Campbell and producers Anton and Qwerty Films emphasized efficiency, opting for real urban locations in London and minimal digital enhancement to preserve authenticity. The budget also accounted for its strong ensemble cast, with Daisy Ridley leading the film and delivering one of her most physically demanding performances since Star Wars.
At the global box office, Cleaner earned an estimated $1.3 million worldwide, including about $794,000 from the U.S. and Canadian markets. The film’s limited theatrical release and niche marketing contributed to its modest commercial performance, though it found a more receptive audience in European and digital streaming markets. While the movie didn’t achieve blockbuster success, it received attention for its tense storytelling, grounded performances, and strong direction. Analysts noted that Cleaner performed better in post-theatrical distribution through video-on-demand and international licensing, allowing it to recover part of its production investment despite a slow domestic start.
Story
Set high above London’s glittering skyline, Cleaner (2025) follows Joey Locke, a former soldier turned professional window cleaner who prefers the quiet solitude of working hundreds of feet above the city. Her daily routine takes an unexpected turn when she arrives at a towering skyscraper on the day of a major corporate gala. As elite guests celebrate inside, a group of eco-activists led by a mysterious figure storms the building, taking hostages and threatening to expose corporate corruption tied to environmental exploitation. What begins as a protest for justice quickly spirals into a deadly siege, trapping Joey between the glass façade and the chaos within.
From her unique vantage point outside the skyscraper, Joey becomes the only person capable of intervening without being detected. Using her military training and tools of her trade, she scales the exterior, moving stealthily between floors to rescue hostages and gather information. The tension rises as she learns that her autistic brother, who works inside the building, is among those trapped. Her mission transforms from survival to a desperate rescue, forcing her to confront not only the armed assailants but also her lingering guilt over her family and past.
As the activists’ motives unravel, it becomes clear that not everyone inside is innocent. Corporate leaders are revealed to have buried dark secrets involving environmental crimes and political cover-ups. Joey uncovers evidence suggesting that the protest may have been manipulated by those in power, turning well-intentioned activism into a violent distraction. Suspended between truth and deception, she must decide whom to trust while racing against time to stop the building from becoming a massacre site.
In its final act, the story shifts into a heart-pounding battle of endurance and moral conflict. Joey faces impossible odds — scaling the building in brutal weather, outsmarting the attackers, and confronting the mastermind behind the siege. Each decision carries heavy emotional weight as she struggles to protect her brother and expose the truth. The film concludes with a climactic confrontation that tests Joey’s strength, resilience, and sense of justice, leaving audiences reflecting on the fine line between heroism, sacrifice, and redemption.
Review
Cleaner (2025) stands as a tense and atmospheric action thriller that thrives on its simplicity and precision. Director Martin Campbell brings his trademark craftsmanship to the screen, blending old-school stunt work with modern storytelling. The film wastes no time in establishing its claustrophobic tension — a single skyscraper becomes both a stage and a trap, forcing the protagonist to navigate danger from dizzying heights. Campbell’s direction maintains an unrelenting pace, using tight camera angles and natural lighting to amplify the realism. Every window pane, every gust of wind, and every movement on the glass surface feels palpably dangerous, making Cleaner an edge-of-your-seat experience from start to finish.
At the heart of the film is Daisy Ridley, who delivers one of her most physically and emotionally charged performances. As Joey Locke, Ridley embodies quiet resilience and grit, turning an ordinary worker into an unlikely hero. Her performance is grounded and deeply human — she’s neither invincible nor flawless, but her vulnerability and determination make her compelling to watch. Ridley’s ability to balance fear, courage, and moral conflict gives the movie its emotional depth, elevating what could have been a standard action plot into something far more resonant.
Taz Skylar, Clive Owen, and Ruth Gemmell contribute strong supporting performances that give the narrative weight. Owen, in particular, adds complexity to the story, portraying a morally ambiguous figure whose motivations shift throughout the film. The supporting characters are well-written, each serving a purpose in heightening the tension or exposing new layers of the central conflict. The dynamic between Joey and the activists reveals deeper questions about justice and corruption, blurring the lines between right and wrong in a world built on corporate greed and human desperation.
Visually, the film is a triumph of restraint and realism. Cinematographer David Tattersall captures the vertigo-inducing height of London’s skyline with breathtaking precision, while still keeping the focus on Joey’s personal struggle. The practical effects and stunt choreography shine through — no overreliance on CGI, just raw, meticulously crafted sequences that remind audiences of what real tension feels like. The use of reflective glass surfaces, shifting perspectives, and confined spaces gives Cleaner a distinct visual language that perfectly matches its themes of entrapment and exposure.
The film’s score by Tom Hodge ties everything together, layering subtle piano notes and rising string motifs that mirror Joey’s emotional journey. The music swells and recedes in all the right moments, never overwhelming the scene but always amplifying its intensity. Combined with Campbell’s direction and Ridley’s powerhouse performance, Cleaner (2025) becomes more than a survival thriller — it’s a meditation on courage, control, and redemption in a world where the truth is always seen through glass.
Themes and Cinematic Impact
Cleaner (2025) is more than a vertical thriller — it’s a reflection on isolation, morality, and the weight of human conscience. Through Joey Locke’s struggle, the film explores how ordinary individuals can rise to extraordinary challenges when faced with chaos. The skyscraper itself becomes a symbol of modern society — towering, reflective, and fragile — mirroring the divide between power and vulnerability. The story examines the consequences of unchecked greed, environmental destruction, and the manipulation of good intentions, grounding its action in real-world relevance. Beneath the intense stunts and narrow escapes lies a deeply human story about redemption, courage, and the cost of doing what’s right.
Visually and emotionally, Cleaner leaves a strong impression through its use of realism and tension. Martin Campbell crafts every sequence with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that the film feels both authentic and cinematic. The confined setting of the glass tower enhances the suspense, while the grounded performances allow the emotional core to shine through. With its blend of action, emotion, and social commentary, Cleaner (2025) stands as a reminder that heroism doesn’t always come from grand gestures — sometimes it’s found in the quiet resolve of someone who refuses to look away when the world needs saving.
Conclusion
Cleaner (2025) delivers a gripping cinematic experience that balances suspense, emotion, and moral complexity with remarkable precision. Director Martin Campbell succeeds in transforming a seemingly straightforward hostage thriller into a story layered with humanity and ethical depth. The film’s tension never lets up, but it’s the emotional journey of Joey Locke, brought to life by Daisy Ridley, that leaves the most lasting impression. Her courage, vulnerability, and determination embody the film’s central theme — that even in the face of overwhelming odds, one person’s will to do what’s right can change everything.
In the end, Cleaner stands out not because of explosive set pieces or flashy effects, but because of its authenticity and purpose. It’s a reminder that true strength often lies in persistence and compassion, even when surrounded by corruption and chaos. With its sharp direction, strong performances, and thought-provoking undertones, Cleaner (2025) cements itself as a modern thriller that resonates beyond its action — a story of redemption, responsibility, and the quiet power of resilience.