Roofman is one of those movies that you just cannot look away from because you are somehow drawn to everything that is happening on the screen. It tells an extremely interesting and entertaining true story, boasts a stellar cast delivering great performances, and somehow will make you root for a guy who, honestly, isn’t a great dude.

Channing Tatum stars in Paramount Pictures’ “ROOFMAN.”

As a big fan of Channing Tatum and Peter Dinklage, I was excited for Roofman from the moment I knew they were in it. Then, the more I heard about it, the more excited I got about it. I love true crime and while this is not as dark as they come, the story is an intriguing one. A man robs a bunch of McDonalds locations, goes to prison, breaks out and then lives in a Toys R Us for six months as he hides from the law? Talk about interesting! 

How could someone get away with that and what was his eventual downfall? I opted not to do my own research before watching so that I could discover Jeffrey Manchester’s fate through Roofman. 

Peter Dinklage stars in Paramount Pictures’ “ROOFMAN.”

It only takes about ten minutes before you feel connected to Manchester, rooting for him to get away with all of the (not great) things he is doing. This is largely in part due to the way that Channing Tatum portrays him. We find out that he is a charming and manipulative man. He is about to get as far as he does because he knows how to make people like him. Somehow, I found myself feeling bad for him, so it made me chuckle to hear real-life accounts of those who interacted with him during the credits, stating that he came off as a nice guy, but at the core, really wasn’t.

His connection with Leigh Wainscott (played by Kirsten Dunst) also helps to humanize him. Viewers will be wishing the two of them a happy ending, knowing full well that he is a thief and a criminal. Dunst and Tatum have undeniable chemistry, which really helps this point be driven home for those watching. She deserves love after all she has been through, and it is hard not to want the same for him. We are shown the way the world has seemed to turn its back on him and, true or not, we cannot help but wish him the best. 

Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst star in Paramount Pictures’ “ROOFMAN.”

Roofman tells this story in just over two hours, which might sound long, but it never feels that way. There is always something interesting going on, with just enough humor mixed in to keep you laughing and feeling good. Peter Dinklage is a great casting choice as Leigh’s boss, Mitch. He is a complete jerk, and it comes off that Dinklage is having way too much fun playing him. 

At times, the story feels exaggerated, but not in a bad way. More like in a way that you will be thinking to yourself, “There is no way this man went THIS far in his quest for freedom.” But then, during the credits when all of the actual news reports are played, you realize that he did, in fact, do just that. Making the movie that much more accurate, even though the story is so insane at times. 

Other notable performances, even though they are small parts, include Emory Cohen, Ben Mendelsohn, Juno Temple, and Lakeith Stanfield. The cast as a whole is fantastic. They have great chemistry and each bring something special to the table, making Roofman one of the most entertaining movies of the year.

Roofman comes to theaters on October 10th, 2025. 

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