Hark to the tale of Jeffrey Manchester, a real-life spree criminal nicknamed “The Roofman,” who reads like a hapless Coen brothers character, but was lucky enough to be born looking like Channing Tatum.
How to watch Roofman in New Zealand
Roofman is screening exclusively in New Zealand cinemas from October 16. 2025.
What is Roofman about?
Directed and co-written by Derek Cianfrance, whose previous work, including Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines, and The Light Between Oceans, did not hint at a gift for comedy, Roofman tells the true story of the aforementioned Jeffrey Manchester. His modus operandi as a petty criminal involved drilling through the roofs of McDonalds restaurants to rob them after hours—hence the nickname.
On the lam, he holes up in an abandoned electronics store next to a Toys “R” Us store, and finds un an unexpected romance blooming with Kirsten Dunst’s put upon retail worker. It is a comedy, but it’s worth noting the real guy is currently in prison until at least 2036.
The cast of Roofman
Channing Tatum is Jeffrey Manchester, former Army Reservist turned criminal; Kirsten Dunst is single mum and Toys “R” Us wage slave Leigh Wainscott; Mendo is pastor Ron Smith; Peter Dinklage is Toys “R” Us general manager Mitch; Uzo Aduba is Eileen, Ron’s wife; LaKeith Stanfield is Steve, Jeff’s old army buddy; Juno Temple is Michelle, Steve’s girlfriend; with Emory Cohen, Melonie Diaz, Tony Revolori, and Jimmy O. Yang in support.
Roofman trailer
Why we’re excited about Roofman
Well, it certainly looks like fun, and that cast is nothing to sneeze at. This kind of breezy, quirky crime comedy really had its heyday in the ’90s during the immediate post-Pulp Fiction indie boom, and it feels like it’s been that long since Channing Tatum headlined a hit film. So hopefully this one will do some numbers!
