Roofman (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A former soldier becomes a local legend by robbing fast-food restaurants through their roofs before finding himself hiding in a toy store.
The story
In 1998, Jeffrey Manchester, a divorced U.S. Army veteran in North Carolina, begins using his keen sense of observation to rob McDonald's locations by breaking in through the roof. His unique methods earn him the nickname "Roofman" and draw significant media attention. After being sentenced to 45 years in prison, Jeffrey manages to escape and seeks refuge in a Toys "R" Us store. There, he begins to observe the employees and eventually forms a connection with a woman named Leigh, leading to a complicated situation as he attempts to navigate his new reality while hiding from the law.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being dubbed the 'Roofman' for his series of roof-entry robberies, Jeffrey Manchester is sentenced to 45 years in prison. Following an escape, he hides in a Toys "R" Us store, where he meets Leigh, a single mother. He begins a double life, posing as 'John Zorn' and building a relationship with Leigh and her daughters. However, his desperation for a new identity leads him to rob the toy store at gunpoint. During the heist, Leigh recognizes him. He manages to escape and get the money for a new identity, but upon hearing a heartfelt call from Leigh, he returns to her door only to be ambushed by police. He is sentenced to an additional 32 years. The film concludes with a montage of the real Jeffrey Manchester's life, showing his actual history and his continued incarceration.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 126
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Derek Cianfrance
- Cast and characters
- Channing Tatum · Jeffrey Manchester / "John Zorn"; Kirsten Dunst · Leigh Wainscott; LaKeith Stanfield · Steve; Juno Temple · Michelle; Peter Dinklage · Mitch; Ben Mendelsohn · Ron Smith; Uzo Aduba · Eileen Smith; Jimmy O. Yang · used-car salesman
- Genres
- crime; comedy
- Themes
- identity; consequences of crime; fatherhood
- Tone and mood
- comedy; tense
- Setting
- North Carolina, USA, spanning from 1998 to 2004.
- Premise and plot tags
- based on true events; prison escape; military veteran
- Source material / true-story basis
- The life of Jeffrey Manchester
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was well-received by audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 37; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film features several cameos from people involved in the real-life story of Jeffrey Manchester.; The film was shot on 35mm film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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