Directed by Derek Cianfrance.
Roofman (2025) was released in U.S. theaters on October 10, 2025.
Distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Movie Review
Roofman (2025) is a movie based on the real story of Jeffrey “Roofman” Manchester, a man who robbed stores and even hid out in a toy shop for months.
Instead of making it just a dark crime thriller, director Derek Cianfrance gives it a warmer, more human touch.
Channing Tatum plays Roofman with charm and emotion, making you see him as more than just a criminal.
Kirsten Dunst adds heart as a woman who becomes part of his story, and the rest of the cast, including Ben Mendelsohn and Peter Dinklage, make the film richer.
The movie is funny in places, sad in others, and always surprising.
Some parts feel a little slow, and not every side character gets enough time, but the performances keep it engaging.
In short, Roofman is an unusual but heartfelt crime movie that mixes humor, sadness, and humanity in a way that feels fresh.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
• Google Audience Score: 54% liked this movie.
Roofman (2025) Actors
Channing Tatum as Jeffrey “Roofman” Manchester
DOB: April 26, 1980.
Bio: American actor, producer, and former dancer who transitioned from modeling and dance into one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men.
He broke out with Step Up (2006) and went on to balance big-budget action (G.I. Joe), comedy hits (21 Jump Street), and more personal projects like Magic Mike, which he also co-produced and later helped adapt for stage.
Role: Jeffrey Manchester, the real-life “Roofman,” who became infamous for breaking into McDonald’s restaurants through their roofs and later hiding inside a Toys “R” Us.
The film explores him as a father and man caught between absurd criminal ingenuity and personal struggle.
What to Expect: A layered central performance that blends charisma with vulnerability.
Interesting facts: Tatum has called the project a major tonal departure, describing it as “devastating, emotional, and somehow hilarious.”
He immersed himself in the specificity of Manchester’s small-town story and its odd blend of crime and humanity.
Notable Works: Step Up, Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, The Lost City.
Kirsten Dunst as Leigh Wainscott
DOB: April 30, 1982.
Bio: American actress and producer whose career began in childhood with standout roles in Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Little Women (1994).
She grew into one of the most versatile performers of her generation, seamlessly moving between big studio projects like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.
Role: Leigh Wainscott, a single mother whose life unexpectedly intertwines with Jeffrey Manchester’s after his unusual hideout in a Toys “R” Us.
Leigh is grounded, pragmatic, and initially cautious, but her capacity for empathy and forgiveness makes her central to the story’s emotional pull.
What to Expect: A grounded, nuanced turn, Dunst brings humanity and specificity to what could have been a stock “love interest” part.
Interesting facts: Dunst has repeatedly said she’s drawn to roles that complicate audience sympathies; here she helps tilt a true-crime story toward tenderness.
Notable Works: Bring It On, Spider-Man (trilogy), Melancholia, The Power of the Dog.
Ben Mendelsohn as Ron Smith
DOB: April 3, 1969.
Bio: An award-winning Australian actor celebrated for his ability to disappear into complex, often morally ambiguous roles.
He first rose to international acclaim with Animal Kingdom (2010), which won him multiple awards and established him as one of Australia’s finest screen talents.
Role: Ron Smith, a pastor whose position in the small-town community puts him at the intersection of morality, judgment, and compassion.
As Jeffrey Manchester’s story unfolds, Ron embodies the community’s moral conscience, offering both comfort and scrutiny.
What to Expect: A layered supporting performance that supplies moral texture and tonal contrast.
Interesting facts: Mendelsohn often chooses morally ambiguous characters; his presence signals Cianfrance’s interest in character psychology.
Notable Works: Animal Kingdom, The Dark Knight Rises, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Peter Dinklage as Mitch (Toys “R” Us general manager)
DOB: June 11, 1969.
Bio: American actor and producer, widely respected for his sharp wit, commanding presence, and emotional depth.
Best known for his Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, Dinklage has built a career on choosing roles that challenge stereotypes and highlight nuance.
Role: Mitch, the general manager of the Toys “R” Us where Jeffrey Manchester secretly hides out.
Mitch is a no-nonsense, pragmatic authority figure who becomes entangled in Jeffrey’s bizarre double life.
What to Expect: Sharp comic timing with emotional undercurrents, Dinklage laces authority with vulnerability.
Interesting facts: Dinklage often transforms seemingly small or supporting roles into scene-stealing turns.
His deadpan style is perfectly suited to Roofman’s blend of dark comedy and emotional drama, making Mitch both believable and memorable.
Notable Works: Game of Thrones, The Station Agent, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, The Toxic Avenger.
Uzo Aduba as Eileen
DOB: February 10, 1981.
Bio: American actress whose career spans stage, television, and film.
She rose to international fame as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orange Is the New Black, a role that earned her multiple Emmy Awards and made her one of only a handful of actors to win in both the comedy and drama categories for the same character.
Rolel: Eileen, the wife of Ron (Ben Mendelsohn) and an active figure in the town’s church and community life.
Through her, the film explores how families and ordinary people respond to Jeffrey Manchester’s unconventional choices and the ripple effects of his actions.
What to Expect: A performance that balances compassion and no-nonsense practicality; small scenes with big emotional resonance.
Interesting facts: Aduba is among the rare actors to win both comedy and drama Emmys for the same role (Orange Is the New Black).
Notable Works: Orange Is the New Black, Mrs. America, Broadway work.
Juno Temple as Michelle
DOB: July 21, 1989.
Bio: English actress celebrated for her fearless performances across independent cinema, studio films, and prestige television.
She began her career in childhood with roles in films like Notes on a Scandal (2006) and quickly became known for portraying eccentric, emotionally layered characters.
Role: Michelle, Steve’s girlfriend, whose presence illustrates the ripple effects of Jeffrey Manchester’s double life.
While a supporting role, Michelle embodies the collateral damage and personal cost of choices made by those closest to Jeffrey.
What to Expect: A lively, believable bit part that adds texture to the film’s interpersonal web.
Interesting facts: Temple comes from a filmmaking family, her father is director Julien Temple, and her mother is producer Amanda Temple.
Notable Works: Ted Lasso, Horns, The Dark Knight Rises.
Emory Cohen as Otis
DOB: March 13, 1990.
Bio: American actor known for his understated, naturalistic performances that often explore vulnerability beneath toughness.
Cohen broke through with Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), where his raw, authentic style caught critical attention.
Role: Otis, a Toys “R” Us employee whose run-ins with Jeffrey Manchester highlight the surreal collision between everyday working lives and Jeffrey’s hidden world inside the store.
What to Expect: Low-key but emotionally precise work, Cohen’s scenes are likely to feel lived-in and authentic.
Interesting facts: Cohen has often been cast by directors who favor vérité-style filmmaking, thanks to his ability to disappear into working-class, emotionally complex characters.
Notable Works: The Place Beyond the Pines, Brooklyn, The Birthday Cake.
LaKeith Stanfield as Steve
DOB: August 12, 1991.
Bio: American actor and musician celebrated for his ability to shift seamlessly between indie cinema, television, and studio films.
He first gained attention in Short Term 12 (2013), then became a sought-after talent for roles that balance charisma, fragility, and unpredictability.
Role: Steve, an army veteran and Jeffrey Manchester’s close friend.
Steve’s shared history with Jeffrey adds emotional weight to the story, shaping Jeffrey’s decisions and complicating his moral compass.
What to Expect: An intense, volatile presence, Stanfield brings unpredictability and depth to any scene.
Interesting facts: Stanfield has earned acclaim for playing conflicted, layered characters who blur the line between hero and antihero.
Notable Works: Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, Atlanta, Judas and the Black Messiah.
Melonie Diaz as Talana (Jeff’s ex-wife)
DOB: April 25, 1984.
Bio: American actress best known for her work in independent films and character-driven dramas.
Raised in New York City, she trained at the Professional Performing Arts School and pursued film production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Role: Talana is Jeff’s ex-wife, her relationship to Jeffrey helps the film explore the personal pressures that underlie his crimes and choices.
What to Expect: A compact, emotionally honest supporting turn that anchors Jeffrey’s outside life.
Interesting facts: Diaz began her career in New York’s vibrant independent film scene and has remained loyal to projects with strong social or personal themes.
Notable Works: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fruitvale Station, Gringo.
Molly Price as Officer Scheimreif
DOB: December 15, 1966.
Bio: American actress with a long career in both television and film.
Born in North Plainfield, New Jersey, she trained at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts before building a career defined by strong, authoritative character roles.
Role: As Officer Scheimreif Price plays one of the police figures who inevitably gets pulled into the investigation and the town’s response to the robberies and the later discovery of Jeff’s hideout.
What to Expect: Reliable, scene-stealing law-enforcement presence, Price brings credibility to procedural moments.
Interesting facts: Price’s long run on Third Watch honed her ability to play working cops with nuance and long memory.
Notable Works: Third Watch, The Knick, Bloodline.
Tony Revolori as Duane (McDonald’s manager)
DOB: April 28, 1996.
Bio: American actor who gained international recognition as Zero Moustafa in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).
He is especially known for his sharp comedic instincts and understated dramatic timing.
Role: Duane is a McDonald’s manager directly affected by the string of robberies, Revolori’s presence gives the robbery scenes a human face and a dash of comic specificity.
What to Expect: A small but vivid supporting beat, Revolori can make the most of brief scenes.
Interesting facts: Revolori continues to take varied roles that stretch his range beyond the early “quirky” work.
Notable Works: The Grand Budapest Hotel, Spider-Man: Homecoming (Flash Thompson variant).
Jimmy O. Yang as Used-car salesman
DOB: June 11, 1987.
Bio: Chinese-American comedian, actor, and writer who first gained recognition for his role as Jian-Yang on HBO’s Silicon Valley.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Los Angeles, Yang began his career in stand-up before transitioning to television and film.
Role: Yang plays a used-car salesman who briefly crosses paths with Jeffrey Manchester during his attempt to build a new life in hiding.
What to Expect: Funny, fast, and slightly off-kilter, Yang’s beats lighten tense moments without undercutting stakes.
Interesting facts: Beyond acting, Yang has released a bestselling memoir (How to American) and stand-up specials.
Notable Works: Silicon Valley, stand-up specials, Crazy Rich Asians (cameo), Interior Chinatown.
More Actors
• Kirana Kuic as Jade.
• Gabriella Cila as Joselyn.
• Lily Collias as Lindsay.
• Javier Molina as Warren.
• Gabe Fazio as Randy.
FAQ – Roofman (2025) Movie
What is Roofman the movie about?
Roofman (2025) is about Jeffrey “Roofman” Manchester, a robber who cut through roofs and hid in a toy store, blending crime, drama, and quirky humor.
Is Roofman based on a true story?
Yes, it dramatizes the real events around Jeffrey Manchester’s robberies, escape, and time hiding in a Toys “R” Us. More on Guardians
How long is the movie?
Runtime is about 126 minutes (2 hours 6 minutes).
What is the content rating?
Rated R by the MPAA for language, nudity and brief sexuality (parental guidance advised).
Conclusion
Roofman (2025) is more than just a crime movie, it’s a heartfelt look at a man whose life is both tragic and strangely touching.
Channing Tatum delivers one of his most emotional performances, supported by a strong cast that makes the story shine.
While the film sometimes slows down and leaves questions unanswered, its mix of humor, sadness, and humanity makes it stand out from typical true-crime dramas.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with a quirky edge, Roofman is definitely worth the watch.