At the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman premiered to strong praise: the film reimagines the strange true story of Jeff Manchester — the so-called “Roofman” — and follows his late-1990s crime spree, 2004 escape and six-month concealment inside a Toys “R” Us. Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst lead a cast that gives the story heart, and Paramount has scheduled a wide release for October 10, 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Roofman dramatizes the real-life crimes of Jeff Manchester, who robbed more than 45 McDonald’s locations in the 1990s.
- Manchester was sentenced to 45 years in 1999 and escaped prison in 2004, later hiding in a Toys “R” Us for roughly six months.
- Director Derek Cianfrance co-wrote the script with Kirt Gunn and grounds the film in interviews and research with the real man.
- Channing Tatum delivers a career-highlight performance; Kirsten Dunst matches him as the woman who becomes his unexpected connection.
- Strong supporting turns include Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn and Uzo Aduba.
- Production design recreates an abandoned Toys “R” Us near Charlotte to convincingly evoke the setting.
- Running time is 2 hr 6 mins; distributor Paramount Pictures sets release for October 10, 2025.
Verified Facts
The film is based on Jeff Manchester’s criminal history. According to court records and widely reported accounts, Manchester carried out more than 45 after-hours robberies of McDonald’s restaurants by drilling through weak roof sections, was arrested and in 1999 received a 45-year sentence on felony armed robbery and kidnapping counts.
Manchester escaped custody in 2004 by concealing himself beneath a truck that regularly serviced the prison. He later returned to the Charlotte area and lived undetected inside a shuttered Toys “R” Us for about six months, subsisting on store merchandise and avoiding cameras until his recapture.
Derek Cianfrance directed and co-wrote Roofman with Kirt Gunn. The production includes footage and testimony from some people portrayed in the film; the director reportedly conducted years of conversations with the real Jeff Manchester within prison visit constraints, and portions of those exchanges inform the narration.
Cast and crew credits include Channing Tatum (lead), Kirsten Dunst (lead), LaKeith Stanfield, Peter Dinklage, Ben Mendelsohn, Juno Temple, Uzo Aduba and others. Producers listed for the project are Jamie Patricof, Lynette Howell Taylor, Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery and Dylan Sellers. Distributor: Paramount Pictures; running time: 2 hr 6 mins; release date: October 10, 2025.
Context & Impact
Cianfrance is known for intimate, emotionally raw films such as Blue Valentine (2010) and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012). With Roofman he broadens his reach, blending crime, comedy and romance in a story that feels both odd and deeply human. The film’s empathy for working-class struggles reframes a sensational headline into a character study.
Roofman arrives at a moment when studios rarely bankroll mid-budget, character-driven dramas with broad appeal. Its success at TIFF could encourage more mainstream investment in films that mix genre elements with grounded performances. Early reviews single out the leads’ chemistry as a major factor in the film’s emotional core.
For awards consideration, Roofman’s strengths are likely to be performance-based: Tatum’s layered portrayal and Dunst’s steady, believable turn could attract attention from critics and guild voters. The production’s meticulous design and sound work also bolster its awards prospects in technical categories.
Potential Industry Effects
- Renewed interest in true-crime adaptations that prioritize character over spectacle.
- Greater studio willingness to back mid-range adult dramas if Roofman performs well commercially.
- Boost to the profiles of cast members in awards season and festival circuits.
Official Statements
Cianfrance and producers have emphasized that the film grew from extensive interviews and archival material, and that the production aimed to respect the real people involved while dramatizing the story for the screen.
Derek Cianfrance / Production Notes
Unconfirmed
- Whether any corporate decisions by McDonald’s influenced the chain’s public response to the robberies is not documented in available sources.
- Specific on-screen adaptations of private conversations between Manchester and filmmakers are dramatized and not verbatim records.
Bottom Line
Roofman is a rare studio film that combines a striking true story with strong, nuanced performances and careful filmmaking. Channing Tatum gives one of his best screen turns while Kirsten Dunst lends emotional honesty; together they make an unlikely, affecting romance at the heart of a crime drama. The film should appeal to festival audiences and mainstream viewers alike when it opens on October 10, 2025.