"Code Name: The Cleaner" (2007) follows the story of a man named Jake, played by Cedric the Entertainer, who wakes up in a hotel room with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As he attempts to piece together his past, he discovers that he is embroiled in a web of espionage and intrigue. Mistaken for a secret agent, Jake finds himself on the run from both the authorities and a dangerous criminal organization. With the help of a mysterious woman, he navigates a series of comedic and action-packed encounters, all while trying to uncover the truth about his identity. As the plot unfolds, Jake must confront his past and decide who he can trust, leading to a thrilling climax filled with unexpected twists.

What is the budget of Code Name The Cleaner?

"Code Name The Cleaner," an action released in 2007, was directed by Les Mayfield and stars Cedric the Entertainer, Nicollette Sheridan. The production budget was $20,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for action productions of its era.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for an action production like this include:

Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects: Action films allocate a substantial portion of their budget to choreographing and executing practical stunts, pyrotechnics, and CGI-heavy sequences.
Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director): A-list talent commands significant upfront fees plus backend participation.
Production Design, Sets & Locations: Action films frequently require multiple international shooting locations, large-scale set construction, vehicle acquisitions and modifications, and specialized equipment , all of which drive production costs well above those of dialogue-driven genres.

What were the major cost factors in Code Name The Cleaner?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Code Name The Cleaner."

Stunts: Stunts, Action Sequences & Visual Effects is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
Above-the-Line Talent (Cast: Above-the-Line Talent (Cast & Director) is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.
Production Design: Production Design, Sets & Locations is one of the primary cost drivers in action productions of this scale.

How Does Code Name The Cleaner's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $20,000,000, Code Name The Cleaner sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070

The median budget for wide-release action films in the 2000s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Code Name The Cleaner Box Office Performance

"Code Name The Cleaner" earned $8,135,024 domestically and $10,337,477 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.

A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Code Name The Cleaner," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $10,337,477, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

Production Budget: $20,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $10,337,477
Net Return: −$9,662,523
ROI: approximately -48.3%

At -48.3%, "Code Name The Cleaner" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.