Roofman: The true story of a polite robber who hid Inside a Toys “R” Us

Thekabarnews.com—The film Roofman, which comes out on October 10, 2025, tells one of the strangest true crime stories you have heard in a long time. The film was directed by Derek Cianfrance. He also made the movies Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines. It is a 2-hour and 6-minute character study. It combines crime, romance, drama, and dark comedy in a way that is both strange and real.

Channing Tatum portrays the main character, Jeffrey Manchester. After his marriage ended, Manchester, who used to be in the US Army, moved back to North Carolina. He wanted to be closer to his three kids. But he turned to crime because he was having financial and emotional problems.

People called him “Roofman” because he would break into fast food places at night, hide inside, and steal money in the morning. People knew him for being quiet, which isn’t something most criminals do. The victims later said he was kind and polite. For example, during a robbery, he gave his coat to a cold manager.

After Manchester’s capture and imprisonment, the situation became even more bizarre. He didn’t change his ways; instead, he bravely escaped and lived in secret in a Toys “R” Us store in Charlotte. He lived there for months. During that time, he quietly put hidden cameras among the toys on the shelf.

Under a different name, he began to learn more about Kirsten Dunst’s character, Leigh. Leigh, a single mother who was having trouble at work, felt a strange connection with “John,” even though she didn’t know who he was. Manchester seemed to have finally found what he had been looking for for a long time. He wanted a home and a family.

But eventually, he couldn’t handle either of his lives. As the police got closer, he had to make one last choice. He could keep lying to himself to stay calm or deal with what he had done in the past.

Roofman is more than just a crime story; it is also about making mistakes, finding redemption, and needing to connect with other people. LaKeith Stanfield and Peter Dinklage are two of the best supporting actors in the film, which makes it very tense and emotional.

Roofman isn’t just a story about a robbery. It also talks about how people who seem to lack love, a place to call home, or meaning in their lives actually need these things.