“Roofman” A Humorous And Surprisingly Emotional Film

After escaping from prison, former soldier and professional thief Jeffrey Manchester finds a hideout inside a Toys “R” Us, surviving undetected for months while planning his next move.

However, when Jeffrey falls for a divorced mom, his double life starts to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.

“Roofman” is one of those movies where you can’t actually believe that this is based on a true story. The movie delivers great performances (especially from Channing Tatum), some emotional moments and a surprising blend of comedy and drama. This crowd-pleasing story can also be slightly nostalgic for those who grew up with Toys “R” Us.

One of the aspects that really drew me to “Roofman” is the “stranger-than-fiction” true story of Jeffrey Manchester, a man who famously robbed several McDonalds restaurants and then lived undetected in a Toys “R” Us while being on the run. The story’s blend of real life characters and unbelievable events is a major highlight of this movie.

There’s an entire sequence where Manchester (Tatum) acts almost like a kid in the candy store, roaming around the aisles, eating M&M’s and messing around with the store’s merchandise - after he figures out how to work around the camera system. This whole series of sequences can be rather humorous and also captures the bizarre but also charming premise of the true story.

The unlikely and tender romance between Jeffrey and Leigh is also a core component of the movie. Their scenes together are charming and also heartbreaking, with the romance progressing against the ticking clock of his inevitable capture. In all their moments together, Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst have great on-screen chemistry together.

Even though I thought the movie’s redemption arc of Tatum’s character was fine, some people felt the movie was too focused on Manchester’s charm and didn't provide enough examination into why an intelligent person would turn into a life of crime.

Overall, “Roofman” is a compelling and entertaining dramedy that’s anchored by strong performances. Even though the movie has likely glossed over some events of the true story, I’m a little curious to see what other events didn’t make it to this movie’s overall story.

Cast: Channing Tatum (Jeffrey Manchester); Kirsten Dunst (Leigh Weinscott); Ben Mendelsohn (Ron Smith); Peter Dinklage (Mitch); Ueo Aduba (Eileen); Lakeith Stanfield (Steve); Emory Cohen (Otis); Juno Temple (Michelle)

Writer/director: Kirt Gunn (writer); Derek Cianfrance (co-writer/director) (Sound of Metal; Blue Valentine; The Place Beyond the Pines)

Trivia: Cinematographer Andrij Parekh used 35 mm film to add to the feeling of viewing the events that took place in the 1990s and early 2000s. “Roofman” had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025. Jeffrey Manchester is currently housed at Central Prison in Raleigh, NC and is expected to be released in December 2036.

MPA: Rated R for language, nudity and brief sexuality   (runtime 126 minutes)

• The truck driver Jeffrey Manchester befriends is played by Charles Cummings, the true-life truck driver who unwittingly assisted Manchester's escape. Cummings is seen also in an interview clip during the end credits.

• Cinematographer Andrij Parekh used 35mm film to add to the feel of viewing the events that took place in the 1990s and early 2000s.

• Many of the law enforcement officers seen in the film participated in the capture of the real Jeffrey Manchester, a notable exception being Sergeant Katherine Scheimreif, who is portrayed by Molly Price. The real Scheimreif is seen in an interview clip shown during end credits.

• The script is based on the true story of Jeffrey Manchester, an escaped convict who lived on the loading dock of a Toys R Us in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also became a regular at nearby Crossroads Presbyterian Church, befriending parishioners and minister Ron Smith.

• Director Derek Cianfrance interviewed Jeffrey Manchester four days a week for four years getting as much information as possible. He was blown away by the stories he heard and simply could not believe them. When asking the arresting officers if the stories were true they said "Yeah, that's what happened".

• Jeffrey Manchester is currently housed at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina. His expected release date is December 4, 2036.

• One divergence between the film and the true-life case is the location of Jeffrey Manchester's in-store hideout at the time of his capture. In advance of the Toys 'R' Us robbery, he relocated his hideout to an abandoned Circuit City adjacent to the toy store in the same building. When it was discovered by police, the only fingerprints of Manchester's were found on a DVD of Catch Me If You Can (2002). Both films revolve around resourceful criminals who elude law enforcement for a significant amount of time. In addition, the trailers for Roofman use graphics reminiscent of the title sequence of Catch Me If You Can.