Daisy Ridley’s action thriller streaming success has surprised audiences, as her latest film, Cleaner, recovered from its disappointing theatrical performance to achieve significant popularity on HBO Max within weeks of its release. The movie, once dismissed at the box office, now sits prominently on streaming charts, marking a new chapter for Ridley outside of her famed Star Wars role.
Moving Beyond Star Wars: Ridley’s Career After Rey
For many actors, shifting from a globally recognized franchise to original projects brings both anticipation and risk. Daisy Ridley, who rose to fame as Rey Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and continued in The Rise of Skywalker, has expressed apprehension about revisiting such an iconic character. Yet, eager to escape being typecast solely as a Star Wars star, Ridley has chosen roles that diverge from her previous work. Cleaner, now streaming on HBO Max, stands out as one of her bold ventures since leaving the galaxy far, far away.
Synopsis: High-Rise Hostage Crisis in ‘Cleaner’
Cleaner sets its action in the heart of present-day London, with Ridley in the role of Joanna “Joey” Locke. Joey’s backstory reveals a troubled home life — alongside her older brother, she endured abuse from their father and developed wall-climbing skills to escape. Years later, after leaving her position as a soldier due to a violent incident with a fellow squad member, Joey works as a window cleaner. The film’s central plot unfolds during a dramatic takeover at an energy company’s annual gala:
“Set in present-day London, a group of radical activists take over an energy company’s annual gala, seizing 300 hostages in order to expose the corruption of the hosts. Their just cause is hijacked by an extremist within their ranks, who is ready to murder everyone in the building to send his anarchic message to the world. It falls to an ex-soldier turned window cleaner, played by Ridley, suspended 50 stories up on the outside of the building, to save those trapped inside, including her younger brother.”
With her unique skills and determination, Joey finds herself as the unlikely, last line of defense, pressured to rescue both strangers and her own family as chaos reigns inside the tower.
Box Office Failure Contrasted by Streaming Triumph
Despite the presence of established stars such as Clive Owen, and the direction of Martin Campbell, the U.S. box office for Cleaner was abysmal, grossing only $1.3 million against a substantial $25 million budget. However, the shift to HBO Max was transformative. The film has held a dominant position on the service’s movie chart since debuting, outperformed only by the release of the A Minecraft Movie in subsequent weeks. This reversal of fortune demonstrates the impact of streaming services in rehabilitating films that initially failed to connect with theater audiences.
Critical and Audience Reactions to ‘Cleaner’
Cleaner’s reception has been divided among critics and viewers, creating heated discussions regarding its similarities to classic action films. Many reviews have noted the film’s homage to Die Hard, with Bruce Willis’s performance frequently used as a standard of comparison. Critics highlighted the movie’s uneven execution and limitations in production.
Cleaner has good people behind it but this British attempt at a Die Hard ends up just being a bit of a mess. Yippee-ki-nay.
—John Nugent, Empire Magazine
Others described Cleaner as a “clockwork actioner” hampered by obvious financial restrictions and inconsistent pacing. Audience response has been more generous, as seen in the film’s 66% approval score. Nonetheless, concerns about the script’s reliance on genre tropes were voiced, with some also pointing to the minimal range afforded to Ridley’s character:
Daisy Ridley having little to do for most of the movie.
—Attributed to audience review
The Cast and Their Performances
Central to the story is Daisy Ridley’s portrayal of Joey Locke, an ex-soldier turned window cleaner whose skills and resolve are tested during the crisis. Clive Owen appears as Marcus, and Taz Skylar is among the supporting cast. Director Martin Campbell’s experience in prior action films, including his time as a James Bond director, added to expectations, although box office results did not reflect the pedigree involved.
What Streaming Success Might Mean for Ridley’s Future
The remarkable turnaround for Cleaner on streaming platforms hints at changing dynamics in film distribution and audience engagement. As the film finds appreciation among home viewers, the possibility arises that Daisy Ridley could pursue further action-oriented projects, whether inside or outside the Star Wars universe. While Cleaner’s initial release was met with disappointment, its current success represents both a redemption for the movie and a signal to studios about the enduring appeal of well-placed content beyond theaters.
Source: FlixPatrol
