Director Derek Cianfrance is a filmmaker who is near and dear to my heart. His 2013 film The Place Beyond the Pines hit me on a deep emotional level with its themes of fatherhood and legacy. Even with its heavier topics, the film still applied a humane, delicate touch to its characters. It was the sort of film that made me seek out anything Cianfrance made. Years later, his 2025 film, Roofman, certainly had me excited, but oddly perplexed.
Channing Tatum as Jeffrey Manchester in Paramount Pictures’ ROOFMAN. © 2025 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a charismatic career criminal and divorced U.S Army Veteran living (and getting arrested) in North Carolina. After a risky prison escape, Jeff finds refuge in a hidden space of a Toys “R” Us. With the help of his former sergeant, Steve (LaKeith Stanfield), Jeff decides to try living in the world again. Under an alias, Jeff falls for a single mother and Toys “R” Us employee, Leigh (Kristen Dunst), who throws his world into a tailspin. This forces Jeff to decide if this is the second chance he’s been longing for.
What makes Roofman unique is that its premise promises one kind of movie. The theory promises a heist film when, in actuality, it is a quiet character study. Written by Cianfrance and co-writer Kirt Ginn (Lovely by Surprise), Jeff’s “heists” take a backseat in the broader goals of the story. Yes, they are shown, but the film prioritizes his quieter moments in an attempt build a new life. That leaves room for Tatum (Magic Mike series) to showcase more tools within his acting paintbox. Those tools may not be the ones audiences expect.
L-R: Actors Kirsten Dunst and Channing Tatum on the set of Paramount Pictures’ ROOFMAN. © 2025 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
In the Jump Street films (co-starring Jonah Hill), Tatum conveyed great comedic abilities. Roofman gives him a similar stage, particularly when his character is forced to create his fake identity. Those are often hilarious moments that certainly leave a mark. That said, the strongest moments of Roofman are within a more subdued register. This can largely be attributed to Jeffrey’s relationship with Leigh (Dunst). While the screenplay is designed in a “meet-cute” format, some could find that predictable. If some viewers feel that way, it is admittedly a hard factor to ignore while watching. Thankfully, the film offers something a bit more meaningful than that basic outline.
Both Dunst (the Power of the Dog) and Tatum play these characters as longing for one another. It’s tender, sweet, and sincere, with a soft touch, delivered in that way makes it difficult not swoon right along with them. It has enough charm to help me forgive the biggest flaw in the film altogether. The supporting cast all feel slightly underused. Actors like Peter Dinklage (The Toxic Avenger), Emory Cohen (The Place Behind the Pines), Uzo Aduba (Steven Universe: The Movie), and Ben Mendelsohn (The Place Behind the Pines), are highly capable. The problem is that they don’t get that much characterization. Instead, each one exists as a type with no humane touch. It exists as a weird contrast to both Tatum’s and Dunst’s performances, feeling like two different films altogether.
Even with that stark difference, Roofman still delivers the narrative goods. A strong cast, an engaging story, and charm appeal are hard to ignore. While the rewards can feel slight, the heart the film wears on its sleeve left me with a smile. With most of Cianfrance’s work being darker material, this change of pace solidifies why he is one of my favorite filmmakers working today. Since this is a review of the 4K Blu-ray, one question remains regarding Roofman.
Is the film something that should be a part of your collection? From a visual perspective, Roofman was shot on 35 mm film. Having that aesthetic in a 4K format is incredibly engaging to watch. In fact, it helps amplify the film’s warm, often cozy feeling. As a whole, this 4K Blu-ray contains six different featurettes. Admittedly, one featurette doesn’t stand out from the others, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As a whole, they all feed into the passion the cast and crew bring in portraying this story alongside the fun had on set. Add up that overall quality and noticeable joy in the creation, and Roofman in 4K is very much worth your time.
Roofman Special Features:
- Based on Actual Events and Terrible Decisions – Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew as they uncover the unbelievable story of Jeffrey Manchester.
- Chasing The Ghosts: The Director’s Method – Join director Derek Cianfrance for an in-depth exploration of his documentarian approach to crafting Roofman, offering a rare glimpse into his filmmaking process.
- A Good Place to Hide – Discover the playmakers who recreated an actual Toys “R” Us and brought the set to life.
- Driving Lesson – See Kirsten Dunst give her on-screen teenage daughter, Lily Collias, an actual driving lesson.
- Choir Practice – Watch Uzo Aduba lead a lively church choir rehearsal.
- Deleted and Alternate Scenes
Available on VOD and digital November 11th, 2025.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD January 20th, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Paramount Pictures Roofman webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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