So, I finally sat down and watched Roofman. Honestly, if you’re expecting another Magic Mike or a high-octane 21 Jump Street reboot, you might want to adjust your expectations right now. This isn't that. It’s weird, it’s kinda melancholic, and it’s easily the most interesting thing Channing Tatum has done in years.
While the internet was busy arguing about his Gambit cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, Tatum was quietly filming a story about a guy who lived in a Toys "R" Us. Yeah, for real.
The Absolute Absurdity of Roofman
The movie is based on the life of Jeffrey Manchester. He was a real-life Army veteran who, after hitting a rough patch, decided the best way to support his family was by drilling holes in the roofs of McDonald's restaurants. Hence the nickname. But the movie doesn't spend much time on the heists themselves. Instead, it focuses on what happened after he escaped from prison and moved into a shopping center.
Basically, he lived in the backrooms of a Toys "R" Us. He ate baby food. He rode bicycles around the aisles at 3:00 AM. It sounds like a premise for a goofy 90s comedy, but director Derek Cianfrance—the guy who gave us the emotional wreckage of Blue Valentine—treats it like a high-stakes character study.
You’ve got Tatum playing Manchester with this desperate, puppy-dog charm that makes you forget he’s actually a convicted felon. It's a "disarmingly sweet tonal gearshift," as most critics are calling it. Tatum isn't playing a "cool" criminal; he’s playing a lonely man who just wants to belong somewhere, even if that somewhere is behind a stack of LEGO boxes.
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Why the Critics Are Obsessed (and Audiences Are Confused)
The movie hit theaters in October 2025 and honestly? It didn't light the box office on fire. It made about $34 million worldwide. Not a disaster for a $19 million budget, but not a blockbuster either. But now that it's streaming on Paramount+ as of December 2025, it’s suddenly the number one movie in the country.
People are finally "getting" it.
The chemistry between Tatum and Kirsten Dunst (who plays Leigh, the single mom he falls for while hiding out) is what keeps the whole thing from falling apart. Dunst plays a woman who has been burned by life, and her vulnerability matches Tatum’s note for note. There's a scene where they’re just talking in her car, and you totally forget you’re watching two of the biggest stars on the planet. It feels raw.
What Most People Get Wrong About the True Story
Social media is full of people saying the movie "beautifies" a criminal. I get that. But if you look at the actual history of Jeffrey Manchester, he was famously polite. During his robberies, he was known for being cordial. He didn't want to hurt people; he just wanted the cash.
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- The Toys "R" Us Era: He actually lived there for six months.
- The Circuit City Move: When things got too hot, he moved into an abandoned Circuit City next door.
- The Catch: He was eventually caught because his fingerprint was found on a DVD of Catch Me If You Can. You literally couldn't write a more ironic ending if you tried.
Derek Cianfrance actually went as far as casting real people from Manchester’s life. The guy who drove the getaway truck in real life? He’s in the movie. The officer who arrested him? She has a cameo. This adds a layer of "weirdly true" energy that most Hollywood biopersons lack.
The Supporting Cast is Secretly Stacked
It’s not just the Channing Tatum show.
Peter Dinklage shows up as the manager of the Toys "R" Us, and he brings this weary, blue-collar energy that grounds the more "out-there" parts of the script. LaKeith Stanfield plays a guy from Manchester’s past who helps him set up a fake identity, and Ben Mendelsohn is there as a local pastor. It's a wild collection of talent for a mid-budget crime caper.
Channing Tatum's 2026 and Beyond
If you think Roofman is a one-off, think again. Tatum is currently transitioning into a much grittier phase of his career. He’s set to premiere a thriller called Josephine at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2026.
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That movie, directed by Beth de Araújo, features him alongside Gemma Chan. It’s rumored to be even darker than Blink Twice (the Zoe Kravitz-directed thriller from 2024 where he played a billionaire creep). Between Roofman, Blink Twice, and the upcoming Josephine, Tatum is effectively killing off his "action hero" persona in favor of something way more complex.
And yeah, for the Marvel fans: Avengers: Doomsday is coming in 2026. He’s almost certainly going to be there as Gambit again. But it feels like his heart is currently in these smaller, weirder projects.
Actionable Insights for Movie Fans
If you're planning to dive into the latest Channing Tatum era, here is how to handle it:
- Watch Roofman on Paramount+ First: Don't go in expecting Ocean's Eleven. Go in expecting a romance that happens to involve a guy hiding in a toy store.
- Look for the Physical Release: Paramount is dropping the 4K UHD and Blu-ray on January 20, 2026. It includes a featurette called A Good Place to Hide which shows how they painstakingly recreated a vintage Toys "R" Us.
- Follow the Sundance News: Keep an eye on the reviews for Josephine later this month. If the buzz is good, it’ll be the next big "prestige" Tatum role to watch for later this year.
- Fact-Check the Story: If you find the movie unbelievable, look up the Charlotte Observer archives from the early 2000s regarding the "Roofman" robberies. The truth is actually weirder than the film.
Roofman is currently available for streaming in the US. The physical 4K UHD release arrives on January 20, 2026.