Roofman

 

“It's been six months and still no leads on the whereabouts of the escaped convict known as the Roofman.”

Charming, wholesome yet bittersweet, Roofman tells a deeply human story amidst its situational frivolity, with a charismatic Channing Tatum and kind Kirsten Dunst at its core, in a film full of found family, criminal capers and deep empathy for those misjudged by society.

Discussion Points:

A new personal comfort film just dropped and another entry into Channing Tatum playing guys named Jeff in film. But seriously, Roofman absolutely stole my heart. Such a fun, heartfelt, wholesome, charming yet deeply sad, longing and unfortunate predicament. Channing Tatum gives one of his best performances as Jeffrey Manchester, the titular Roofman, an ex-army ranger who turns to theft to support his family. Despite his best intentions, his criminal conduct lands him in the hands of the law, until he escapes and sets up shop in a local Toys ‘R Us. What follows is a story about found family, community and second chances, that’s also tinged with sadness despite the charm as we see a man on the run who can only avoid re-arrest for so long. Kirsten Dunst’s Leigh is kind yet tragic, as she falls for a criminal conman with a heart of gold. Derek Cianfrance directs and writes with great energy, heart and humour, whilst anchoring everything in bittersweet emotion, and balancing chase scenes and break-ins, with church lunches and family dinners. Overall, Roofman is one of 2025’s most pleasant surprises, full of heart, humour and heists, that takes a real life story and grounds it in Cianfrance’s trademark humanist atmosphere.