Sunshine Cleaning

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2:25

Sunshine Cleaning

R

2009

1h 42m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

177 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Though they once seemed to have a bright future, life seems to be passing by the Norkowski sisters. Rose (Amy Adams), once the most popular girl in high school, is a single mom and works as a maid. Norah (Emily Blunt) still lives at home with their father (Alan Arkin), and parties all the time. When Rose's married lover tells her about the lucrative field of crime-scene cleanup, she pours all her remaining resources into her new business, and recruits the squeamish Norah to help.

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Critics Consensus

Despite a sometimes overly familiar plot, Sunshine Cleaning benefits from the lively performances of its two stars.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

B+

Filled with touching moments and relatable agony in the midst of financial and personal meltdowns, Blunt and Adams effortlessly portray two characters on the verge of a breakthrough...

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Keith Uhlich

Time Out

Nov 16, 2011

1/6

[B]leach this one fully out of sight and mind.

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Jordan Hoffman

UGO

Aug 14, 2009

C-

There's close to nothing about this film that isn't contrived, forced and reminiscent of movies that twist themselves into knots to achieve Harold and Maude-like quirky charm.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Dec 1, 2023

2.5/4

Relying on a contrast between the bright leads working in grim situations, the story never quite comes together.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jan 18, 2023

4/5

Sunshine Cleaning succeeds because Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin are so good at their jobs.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 29, 2020

7/10

Oddly whimsical for a dark foray into the humorous side of crime-scene clean-up.

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Carlos I

@carlosFibarra May 12, 2026

Sunshine Cleaning manages to be a charming, offbeat indie that navigates the grime of its subject matter with a surprisingly light touch. While the film is fairly weightless in its narrative stakes, it thrives as a piece of quirky fun that relies heavily on the chemistry of its central duo. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt deliver performances that elevate the material, grounding the whimsical premise with some actual moving moments.

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Troy R

@Grim16 May 6, 2026

Not as funny as I hoped but has a few good laughs. More of a drama and story about finding what you love rather than worrying about what society expects from you. Overall very well acted and felt very realistic.

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Jeffrey P

@vanillavoodoo1 Mar 21, 2026

Well performed and constructed around a subject most people don’t think about which give it uniqueness that sets it apart until an ending that leaves things not amounting to much.

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Faiz D

@RT95588871 May 13, 2025

Although it ended abruptly, Sunshine Cleaning is a decent movie thanks to the wonderful performances by Amy and Emily.

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David H

@RT60765788 Apr 5, 2025

Adams and Blunt make this movie great

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ira m

@Montyson Dec 21, 2024

I saw this for a second or fourth time after seeing it year/ decades ago. Heart felt and humanistic. Sensitive with understated sense of humor. Can't go wrong watching this.. unless you want an everything blows up movie.

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Christine Jeffs

Director

Amy Adams

Rose

Emily Blunt

Norah

Alan Arkin

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Synopsis

Though they once seemed to have a bright future, life seems to be passing by the Norkowski sisters. Rose (Amy Adams), once the most popular girl in high school, is a single mom and works as a maid. Norah (Emily Blunt) still lives at home with their father (Alan Arkin), and parties all the time. When Rose's married lover tells her about the lucrative field of crime-scene cleanup, she pours all her remaining resources into her new business, and recruits the squeamish Norah to help.

Director: Christine Jeffs
Producer: Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub, Jeb Brody, Glenn Williamson
Screenwriter: Megan Holly
Distributor: Overture Films
Production Co: Big Beach, Back Lot Pictures
Rating: R (Drug Use|Disturbing Images|Language|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 27, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m

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