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Code Name: The Cleaner (2007) movie poster

Timeline

Code Name: The Cleaner (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 84 min · English
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Directed by
Les Mayfield
Starring
Cedric the Entertainer, Lucy Liu, Nicollette Sheridan
Budget
$20M

After suffering a blow to the head, Jake, played by Cedric the Entertainer, finds himself with amnesia and a confused identity. Caught in a web of mistaken identity, he becomes involved in a dangerous government conspiracy. Both the CIA and FBI believe he possesses vital information, leading to a high-stakes chase as he struggles to recover his memories and prevent a massive arms deal from taking place.

Action Comedy Crime Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Code Name: The Cleaner
  6. 6 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Code Name: The Cleaner Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Code Name: The Cleaner (2007) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Mysterious Awakening

    Jake wakes up in a hotel room next to a dead body, with a suitcase full of money beside him. He has a bruise on his head and struggles with amnesia, unable to recall any events from the previous night.

    Where
    Hotel Room

  2. Escape from the Hotel

    After leaving the hotel, Jake encounters a woman named Diane who claims to be his wife. Just as they drive away, FBI agents arrive at the hotel, trying to piece together what transpired.

    Where
    Outside Hotel

  3. Home or Hoax?

    Diane takes Jake to a large mansion, insisting it is their home. Jake starts to feel uneasy when he notices he doesn't appear in any photographs around the mansion.

    Where
    Mansion

  4. Seductive Manipulation

    Diane seduces Jake and questions him about a computer chip he supposedly had at the hotel. As fragmented memories surface, Jake recalls using guns and hints at a combat operation.

    Where
    Mansion

  5. The Doctor's Prescription

    A doctor examines Jake and suggests using Sodium Pentothal for questioning. Overhearing this, Jake panics and decides to escape the mansion with the suitcase in tow.

    Where
    Mansion

  6. Secret Identity Revealed

    While dining at a restaurant, Jake recognizes a waitress named Gina who reveals that he is a janitor at a Digital Arts video game company, not a secret agent as he had pondered.

    Where
    Restaurant

  7. Security Breach

    Diane informs Hauck, the head of DART, that Jake is a janitor who stole a crucial computer chip from their company. Hauck stresses the urgency of recovering the chip before it’s too late.

    Where
    DART Company

  8. The Airport Confrontation

    After a call from Riley, Jake heads to the airport. There, Riley interrogates him about the X-1 computer chip, only for FBI agents led by Shaw to arrive, resulting in a chaotic shootout.

    Where
    Airport

  9. Interrogation and Escape

    Jake is injected with Sodium Pentothal by Agent Shaw while Diane interrogates him about the hidden chip's location. Seizing the moment, Jake manages to escape with Gina.

    Where
    Airport

  10. Truth about Gina

    As they escape, Gina confesses she is also a Federal agent. She reaches out to her superior, Martin, but refuses to turn herself in, insisting she needs to gather evidence against Shaw.

    Where
    Car

  11. Video Game Revelation

    At a video game store, Jake discovers his alter ego, Colonel Bowman, in his favorite game. This sparks a realization about the X-1 chip's power and its significant worth.

    Where
    Video Game Store

  12. Hidden Chip Discovery

    Jake and Gina venture into a building armed with a gun, where they finally locate the X-1 chip hidden in a video game room. Just as they think they've secured it, FBI agents storm in, starting a firefight.

    Where
    Video Game Room

  13. Clarity and Confrontation

    During the chaos, Jake suddenly recalls how two FBI agents offered him a suitcase filled with money in exchange for the chip, leading to a struggle where one agent was shot.

    Where
    Video Game Room

  14. Janitorial Justice

    Jake and Gina manage to overpower both the FBI agents and Hauck using their wits and janitorial tools. Jake embraces his true identity as a janitor amidst the chaos.

    Where
    Video Game Room

  15. New Beginnings

    In the aftermath, Martin offers Jake a spot in the FBI training program, but Jake opts to pursue a career as a video game developer instead. As he leaves with Gina, he grabs the suitcase full of money, hinting at exciting new possibilities.

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:03

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Timeline questions answered

Code Name: The Cleaner Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Code Name: The Cleaner (2007): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jake think he's a secret agent when he wakes up with amnesia?

Jake suffers from complete amnesia after being hit on the head. Fragmented memories surface during his encounter with Diane, where he recalls using guns and hints at combat operations. These false memories, combined with the dangerous situation involving the dead body and suitcase of money, lead him to believe he is Colonel Bowman, a secret agent he later discovers is actually a video game character.

  • amnesia
  • jake
  • colonel bowman
  • memories
  • secret agent
Q2

What is the X-1 chip and why do so many people want it?

The X-1 is a computer chip stolen from DART, a video game company. Its critical feature is the ability to transfer information without detection, making it extremely valuable on the black market. Both the CIA, FBI, and criminals want it because it could enable undetectable data transmission for espionage or criminal operations.

  • x1 chip
  • computer chip
  • dart
  • black market
  • information transfer
Q3

Why does Diane pretend to be Jake's wife and lure him to the mansion?

Diane works with Hauck at DART and is tasked with retrieving the stolen X-1 chip. She uses the pretense of being Jake's wife to gain his trust and extract information about where he hid the chip. Her seduction and questioning are all part of a coordinated effort by DART to recover their proprietary technology before the company suffers major losses.

  • diane
  • hauck
  • dart
  • conspiracy
  • chip retrieval
Q4

How does Jake find out he is actually a janitor and not a spy?

At a restaurant, waitress Gina reveals that Jake works as a janitor at DART, a video game company. She shows him his janitor's uniform and explains that his memories of being a secret agent are imaginary. This contradicts Diane's claims and sets Jake on the path to discovering his true identity.

  • gina
  • jake janitor
  • dart video game company
  • janitor uniform
Q5

Who is Colonel Bowman and what is his connection to Jake?

Colonel Bowman is a character in Jake's favorite video game at DART. When Jake and Gina visit a video game store, he sees the character and realizes his imagined memories of being a Special Forces colonel were actually inspired by this fictional game character. This revelation helps Jake understand why he had false memories of being a secret agent.

  • colonel bowman
  • video game
  • dart
  • fictional character
  • false memories
Q6

What does Boca Raton mean and how does it help Jake find the chip?

Boca Raton literally translates to 'mouth of the rat' in Spanish. When Jake realizes this, he connects it to the video game setting and leads Gina to search a building where they discover the X-1 chip hidden inside a rat figurine in a video game room. The clue was embedded in the game's design.

  • boca raton
  • mouth of rat
  • rat figurine
  • chip location
  • video game room
Q7

Why does Gina admit to being a federal agent during the car escape?

During their escape from Shaw's agents, Gina confesses she is also a federal agent working undercover. She explains she defied her superior Martin's orders to turn herself in because she wants to gather evidence against Shaw, who she believes is corrupt. This revelation builds trust between her and Jake.

  • gina
  • federal agent
  • shaw
  • martin
  • undercover
  • corruption
Q8

How does Jake escape after being injected with Sodium Pentothal?

While under the influence of Sodium Pentothal (truth serum), Jake experiences a flashback that triggers his survival instincts. He manages to break free from his restraints and escape with Gina during the chaos. The drug actually helps unlock his buried memories about the FBI agents and the chip exchange.

  • sodium pentothal
  • truth serum
  • escape
  • flashback
  • jake memories
Q9

Why do FBI agents offer Jake money in exchange for the chip?

Two FBI agents approach Jake before the main events of the movie and offer him a suitcase full of money in exchange for the X-1 chip. This corrupt faction within the FBI intends to sell the chip on the black market. The deal goes wrong, leading to a struggle where one agent is shot and Jake ends up with both the chip and the money.

  • fbi agents
  • bribed
  • chip exchange
  • money suitcase
  • corrupt fbi
Q10

How does Jake use his janitor skills to defeat the agents at the end?

Drawing on his experience as a janitor, Jake and Gina use cleaning tools and their knowledge of buildings to outmaneuver both the FBI agents and Hauck. They trap their pursuers and successfully retrieve the chip. Jake fully embraces his identity as a janitor, using his everyday skills to save the day instead of relying on imaginary spy abilities.

  • janitor skills
  • cleaning tools
  • hauck
  • fbi agents
  • outsmarting
Q11

Why does Jake turn down the FBI offer to become a video game developer?

After the chaos resolves, Martin offers Jake a position in the FBI training program. However, Jake decides instead to pursue a career as a video game developer under Riley's guidance. Having discovered his love for the game and his true identity as an ordinary person, Jake chooses a path that aligns with his actual skills and interests rather than a dangerous life of espionage.

  • fbi training program
  • riley
  • video game developer
  • jake career choice

Movie threads

More Movies Like Code Name: The Cleaner, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Code Name: The Cleaner tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Funny Amnesia Movies like Code Name: The Cleaner

Humorous mysteries where the hero must piece together their own identity. If you enjoyed the chaotic fun of Code Name: The Cleaner, you'll like these movies where characters with memory loss stumble through dangerous and silly situations. Discover other comedies and action films that use amnesia as a springboard for mistaken identity, frantic chases, and lighthearted mystery.

  • confused
  • silly
  • mistaken identity
  • lighthearted
  • chaotic
  • escapade
  • Tone: light, silly
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread begin with a character who has lost their memory, creating an immediate personal mystery. The plot unfolds as they react to external pressures—often from villains or allies who believe them to be someone else—while trying to uncover the truth about their own past, leading to a series of comedic misadventures and reveals.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared premise of amnesia used for comedic effect, blending mystery with lighthearted action. They typically feature a fast pace, low emotional stakes, and a tone that prioritizes silly situations and character-based humor over genuine tension.

Code Name: The Cleaner movie poster

Code Name: The Cleaner

2007
American Dreamer movie poster

American Dreamer

1984
Endgame movie poster

Endgame

2021
Once Upon a Crime... movie poster

Once Upon a Crime...

1992
Excess Baggage movie poster

Excess Baggage

1997
Mr. Accident movie poster

Mr. Accident

2000
A-Haunting We Will Go movie poster

A-Haunting We Will Go

1942
Another You movie poster

Another You

1991

Mistaken Identity Spy Comedies like Code Name: The Cleaner

Ordinary people mistaken for secret agents in over-the-top adventures. Find more movies like Code Name: The Cleaner where regular folks are caught in spy conspiracies. These films blend action and comedy with a fish-out-of-water premise, offering a lighthearted and energetic take on the spy genre without the heavy drama or intense violence.

  • action-packed
  • fish out of water
  • spoof
  • energetic
  • silly
  • improvised hero
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows an ordinary protagonist who, through a case of mistaken identity, is forced to play the role of a secret agent. The story is driven by a series of improbable escapes, comedic action sequences, and the protagonist using their unremarkable skills in unexpectedly clever ways to survive and triumph.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific comedic subversion of the spy genre. The core similarity is the fish-out-of-water dynamic, a light tone that pokes fun at spy tropes, and action that is presented as chaotic and fun rather than gritty and realistic.

Spy Hard movie poster

Spy Hard

1996
Spy movie poster

Spy

2015
One Spy Too Many movie poster

One Spy Too Many

1966
Spies Like Us movie poster

Spies Like Us

1985
Carry On Spying movie poster

Carry On Spying

1964
I Spy movie poster

I Spy

2002
Don’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title movie poster

Don’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title

1966
Get Smart movie poster

Get Smart

2008

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Every angle

Code Name: The Cleaner (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Code Name: The Cleaner in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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