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Never has the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction” had more relevance than it does in Roofman, director Derek Cianfrance’s entertaining little crime comedy-drama. The film stars Channing Tatum as Jeffrey “Roofman” Manchester, a charming, blue-collar, ex-military whose secret life of cutting literal holes in the roofs of McDonald’s restaurants makes him one of the most likable and unbelievable felons on screen.

Yes, you read that right. Roofs. Holes. McDonald’s. Manchester is a kind burglar with a conscience. And here’s the kicker… it’s all true. However, one of the most untrue parts is that the real Jeffrey Manchester didn’t actually look anything like Channing Tatum, but, then again… who does?

Manchester, a real-life outlaw with a cartoonish sense of whimsy, earned his nickname the old-fashioned way: by breaking into fast-food joints from above, kindly herding employees into the freezer, before making off with the cash.

Cianfrance, known for such emotionally heavy hitters as The Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine, might seem like the last guy you’d expect to take on a story this bizarre. But he leans into the madness, finding something unexpectedly heartfelt amid the absurdity. The result is part heist movie, part romance, part urban legend… and completely irresistible.

After a short stint in the hoosegow, Manchester’s saga gets even more unbelievable. He escapes prison (yes, for real) by building a plywood platform and hitching a ride under a delivery truck. Then, as if inspired by a mid-2000s YouTube challenge, he secretly moves into a Toys “R” Us store where he lives for months, surviving on candy and baby food, while biking through the aisles at night for exercise, and constructing a cozy hideaway behind the shelves. You couldn’t make this stuff up — and thankfully, Cianfrance doesn’t try to.

Yes, all that actually happened! And that’s the best part of the film. After all, haven’t we all imagined what it would be like to live inside a store or a mall at night secretly? No? Just me? Regardless, Cianfrance finds a way to create something new and fresh, and totally uncharacteristic of his previous films. Here, he finds success in his characters and their breezy comedic moments.

Tatum, in what can be considered one of his most ingratiating performances, plays his Jeffrey as a man caught between desperation and dejection. He is half goofball and half ghost. A guy who just wants to start over, even if his version of starting over involves living amongst the Tickle Me Elmo’s and GI Joe action figures. It’s the kind of role Tatum was born to play, a blend of physical charm, sincerity, and a touch of absurdist optimism. You won’t be able take your eyes off him.

Kirsten Dunst, as Leigh—a single mom who falls for Jeffrey’s easy smile and mysterious calm—brings her trademark mix of warmth and heartbreak. She and Tatum share a chemistry that feels as worn-in as a five-year-old pair of house slippers, like two people meeting at the exact wrong time but trying to make it right anyway. Their scenes warm us with humor and quiet ache, giving the film a surprising emotional gravity.

And then there’s Peter Dinklage, delightfully unhinged as Mitch, the Toys “R” Us manager with a Napoleon complex and a sixth sense that something’s off. He’s hilarious, sharp, and perfectly Cianfrance-ian—simultaneously tragic and ridiculous. Even the smaller players, including Lily Collias and Kennedy Moyer as Leigh’s young girls, bring soul and spark to the story, grounding its stranger-than-fiction beats with genuine heart.

In the end, Roofman isn’t just about a burglar who lives in a toy store. It’s about second chances, misplaced dreams, and the weird, wonderful ways we try to build a home—even if it’s on someone else’s roof.

Roofman is the best kind of true story: one that makes you Google the real guy the second the credits roll. Speaking of credits, stay tuned for a post-credits scene that highlights some of events and people from the real crimes. 

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 129 mins
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writer: Derek Cianfrance
Cast: Channing Tatum; Kirsten Dunst; LaKeith Stanfield
Genre: Crime | Comedy
Tagline: Based on Actual Events and terrible Decisions.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I'm not a bad guy"
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: October 10, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: A charismatic criminal, while on the run from the police, hides in a hidden space of a toy store. There, he adopts a new identity and becomes involved with an employee, beginning a relationship as unlikely as it is risky.