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Sunshine Cleaning

  • 20082008
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
73K
YOUR RATING
Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
This is the theatrical trailer for Sunshine Cleaning, directed by Christine Jeffs.
Play trailer2:33
21 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDrama
In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business -- a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service -- with her unreliable sister.In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business -- a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service -- with her unreliable sister.In order to raise the tuition to send her young son to private school, a mom starts an unusual business -- a biohazard removal/crime scene clean-up service -- with her unreliable sister.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
73K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Christine Jeffs
  • Writer
    • Megan Holley
  • Stars
    • Amy Adams
    • Emily Blunt
    • Alan Arkin
  • Director
    • Christine Jeffs
  • Writer
    • Megan Holley
  • Stars
    • Amy Adams
    • Emily Blunt
    • Alan Arkin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 152User reviews
    • 177Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos21

    Sunshine Cleaning
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:46
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:38
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:45
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:41
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:41
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:47
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:46
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:43
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:43
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:43
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning
    Sunshine Cleaning
    Clip 0:46
    Watch Sunshine Cleaning

    Photos323

    Alan Arkin, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Jason Spevack in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Mary Lynn Rajskub and Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Jason Spevack in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Clifton Collins Jr., Amy Adams, and Jason Spevack in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams and Jason Spevack in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams and Jason Spevack in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams and Christine Jeffs in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Emily Blunt in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Amy Adams and Jason Spevack in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
    Alan Arkin and Amy Adams in Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Amy Adams
    Amy Adams
    • Rose
    Emily Blunt
    Emily Blunt
    • Norah
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Joe
    Jason Spevack
    Jason Spevack
    • Oscar
    Steve Zahn
    Steve Zahn
    • Mac
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    • Lynn
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    Clifton Collins Jr.
    • Winston
    Eric Christian Olsen
    Eric Christian Olsen
    • Randy
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • Sherm
    Kevin Chapman
    Kevin Chapman
    • Carl
    Judith Jones
    • Paula Datzman-Mead
    Amy Redford
    Amy Redford
    • Heather
    Christopher Dempsey
    Christopher Dempsey
    • Gun Shop Suicide
    Vic Browder
    Vic Browder
    • Gun Shop Owner
    Ivan Brutsche
    • Above and Beyond Worker
    Arron Shiver
    Arron Shiver
    • Detective
    Ralph Jason Aukison
    • Gun Shop Employee #1
    Cliff Garstka Sr.
    • Gun Shop Employee #2
    • (as Clifford R. Garstka Sr.)
    • Director
      • Christine Jeffs
    • Writer
      • Megan Holley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The filmmakers have said in interviews their story is based on a 2001 National Public Radio "All Things Considered" report about two women in the Seattle suburbs who started a biohazard removal/cleaning service. They are best friends, not sisters.
    • Goofs
      When Norah chases after the kitten, there is a small table and a cat statue on the porch. Later, when the house is burning at night, the table and statue are gone. A subsequent scene of the porch in flames has the table and cat statue back again.
    • Quotes

      Lynn: How'd she die?

      Norah: It was sorta a do-it-yourself thing?

    • Alternate versions
      Amy Adams brief topless scene has been censored in the US home video releases. Those frames are zoomed in slightly to omit the nudity where as the framing is left intact on releases outside of the US.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Miss March/Race to Witch Mountain/Sunshine Cleaning (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Cure for This
      Performed by Golden Smog

      Written by Marc Perlman

      Courtesy of Lost Highway Records

      under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews152

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Illuminating as sunshine, this film is a sharp, sweet look at the working class
    Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) was once a popular cheerleader and a person of envy, back in those high school years. However, she has made some questionable choices since then and now works as a home cleaner to support herself and her young son, Oscar. She does a have a back-up system in her wheeler-dealer father, Joe (Alan Arkin) and in her frequently out-of-work younger sister, Norah (Emily Blunt), if she needs babysitters. She calls upon the eccentric Norah often, especially so that she, Rose, can have a late-night tryst with a married policeman, Mac (Steve Zahn). Ouch, she is still going in the wrong direction, it seems. However, Mac does give her a work tip. If she could get into the "crime scene" cleaning business, she would be pulling in large bucks, as removing blood stains is big stuff. Receiving some leads, Rose does begin to get some assignments, like cleaning up after suicide victims and folks that die in their slovenly homes. Reluctantly, Norah agrees to help and "Sunshine Cleaners" is born. But, with Oscar still having trouble in school and with Mac continuing to string her along in the love department, will Rose really rise above her present circumstances? This is a fine film about people who work hard and get nowhere. First, the cast is great, with Adams, Blunt and Arkin delivering terrific performances, ones worthy of honors. Blunt, especially, is a treasure as the unconventional woman, haunted by past circumstances, and having trouble fitting into "modern" existence. The lesser actors are also nice, but Zahn is, unfortunately, given no chances to show off his comedic touch. The setting in New Mexico is also lovely, while the costumes and look of the film are likewise wonderful. That said, special mention should also go to the very fine, sharply worded script and the secure direction. This is a heart-grabbing story, with unusual elements and unsettling realities. If you love films that are not of the typical, churn-em-out variety, this one is definitely a worthy choice. It is as illuminating as sunshine and as touching as they come.
    helpful•35
    13
    • inkblot11
    • Apr 8, 2009

    FAQ3

    • Is "Sunshine Cleaning" based on a book?
    • What does the title mean?
    • Does the actor playing Winston really only have one arm?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Công Ty Lau Chùi
    • Filming locations
      • Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
    • Production companies
      • Overture Films
      • Big Beach Films
      • Back Lot Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,062,558
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $219,190
      • Mar 15, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,580,250
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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