Roofman Review: Channing Tatum Shines In Absurd True Story

True stories that get turned into movies often seem unbelievable — hence why they make such good movies — but the tale behind Roofman is truly something that sounds so absurd, I myself might not have believed it all had the credits not featured actual news footage from the real event. The ridiculousness of the story is at least 50% of why this movie works.

The rest lies with its leading man, Channing Tatum, who gets to show off both his comedy chops and his dramatic side here. This role really highlights his strengths as an actor, and it could even result in some awards attention in the coming months. However, Roofman’s slightly bloated nature could hinder some efforts.

Directed by Derek Cianfrance, and recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie follows Tatum’s Jeffrey Manchester, a down-on-his-luck father who gets so desperate to provide for his family, he turns to robbing McDonald’s and other major chains. His preferred entry point of the roof earns him the eponymous nickname, and he soon becomes notorious for his exploits — and his surprisingly kind demeanor.

This stretch alone could fuel a movie all on its own, but it’s only the first ten-ish minutes or so. Jeff gets caught and goes to prison, but he isn’t there for too long before he breaks out, determined to get back to his kids when he feels they’re slipping away from him. When a manhunt ensues, he finds himself hiding in a surprising location: A Toys “R” Us.

Roofman Tells Every Detail Of Its Story – For Better Or Worse

It’s true: the real Jeffrey Manchester lived inside a Toys “R” Us for several months to evade capture, and that’s still only a part of his story. Cianfrance’s Roofman takes great care to lay out every detail of this twisty tale, which is both a strength and weakness here. On one hand, we get to really know Jeff and revel in the clever little ways he builds a home in a store. It provides ample comedy and some solid character beats.

On the other, it pushes the overall runtime to just over two hours, and inevitably drags at a few points. In addition to the broader tale of his illegal exploits, Roofman covers Jeff’s romance with Leigh Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst), a newly divorced employee at the Toys “R” Us that Jeff first glimpses from the safety of his little nest.

Jeff’s first meeting with Leigh could play as creepy, but Cianfrance manages to avoid that, and their love story begins to blossom. It’s a sweet arc, and Tatum and Dunst have chemistry, but it’s also unfortunately the source of the movie’s slowdown. Jeff gets to know Leigh’s daughters and becomes very invested in their lives.

Roofman Is Channing Tatum’s Show, And He Makes The Most Of It

Adding to the stuffed sensation is the overall Roofman ensemble, which is filled with incredible actors given very little to do. LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Peter Dinklage, Ben Mendelsohn, and Uzo Aduba all fill in supporting roles that add wonderful texture to the story, but still left me wanting to see more of them.

And yet, this is Jeffrey’s story, and Tatum makes the most of this very meaty part. He’s a strong presence from the moment he appears onscreen, but I was really sold on him early on when pure heartbreak spreads across his face as Jeff absorbs the full extent of his prison sentence. He’s devastating and charming in equal measure. It will surely go down as one of his strongest performances yet, and for that reason alone, Roofman could be deemed a success.

But even with its flaws, it’s largely an entertaining film with plenty of humor and a story that truly must be seen to be believed. Interestingly, it is at its most compelling when Jeff is inside the Toys “R” Us, making himself at home among the stuffed animals and Spider-Man merchandise.

The movie, which was written by Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn, is a great character study, one that takes its time with its subject and shows all of his strengths and flaws in great detail. It’s the kind of story that people can’t help but be entertained by, and even when it lags, you’ll want to stick around to see how it ends.

Roofman premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is now playing in theaters.

Release Date

October 10, 2025

Runtime

126 minutes

Director

Derek Cianfrance

Writers

Kirt Gunn, Derek Cianfrance

Producers

Alex Orlovsky, Dylan Sellers, Duncan Montgomery, Jamie Patricof, Lynette Howell Taylor

Pros & Cons

• Channing Tatum gives one of his best performances yet.
• The unbelievable true story is perfect for the movies, and it’s fun to see it all play out.
• The script is a strong character study that really digs into who Jeffrey Manchester is.

• Some parts of the movie drag, and not everyone in the cast gets a proper showcase.