Club Benefits
One of the big joys of paying such close attention to what's going on on Prime Video, Netflix, and all the best streaming services is getting to sing the praises of a new arrival that you think deserves more love, and I'm about to do exactly that for a 2025 comedy-drama that I think unfairly flew under the radar for most viewers.
Unless you keep a close eye on what's broken into Prime Video's top 10 movies list, you might have missed that Amazon's streamer just added Derek Cianfrance's based-on-a-true-story crime comedy, "Roofman." Despite landing solid reviews, it didn't make a huge splash at the box office, and I feel like would-be viewers may have overlooked it. If my hunch is true, moviegoers have missed out on a real treat.
Luckily, it seems like "Roofman" might be finding more fans. After arriving on Prime Video on Monday, March 16, the new arrival has clung to the No. 1 spot in the streamer's charts all week long. That's particularly impressive when you consider "Sinners" — one of the most acclaimed and talked-about films of 2025 — surged high into Prime Video's charts once more after its 2026 Oscars wins.
Article continues belowWhat is 'Roofman' about?
"Roofman" follows Jeffrey Manchester (Tatum), an Army veteran and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald's restaurants by following a very particular MO: cutting holes in the roofs of the identical establishments, thus earning him the "Roofman" nickname.
His crimes catch up to him, and he's put behind bars — though he eventually mounts his escape. The bulk of the film focuses on the six-month period of time he spent hiding out inside a Toys "R" Us store, trying to decide what his next move will be, though his plan starts to unravel once he falls for Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), one of the store's employees.
In addition to Tatum and Dunst, "Roofman" also stars Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Peter Dinklage, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias, and Jimmy O. Yang.
Should you stream 'Roofman' on Prime Video?
Aside from maybe thinking the movie runs a little long, I don't have much to say against "Roofman." It's a compelling, comedic take on a stranger-than-fiction true story, with some excellent performances.
Tonally, it's an impressive picture. Sure, "Roofman" revels in the daft side of this tale, with scenes of Jeffrey goofing off in the aisles of his temporary hideout, but I think it's a real achievement that still manages to be both suspenseful and sweet.
Channing Tatum shines in the lead role; he brings bags of charm to the picture and makes it easy to root for the friendly fugitive at the center of this unbelievable tale. He's matched by another winning turn from Kirsten Dunst. She brings emotional depth to "Roofman" as Leigh Wainscott, and I really do think the pair have brilliant on-screen chemistry together. Frankly, it's worth seeing just to see what plays out between them, and how Dunst captures the ups and downs of their ensuing entanglement.
You don't need to just take my word for it, though: "Roofman" comes well recommended. At the time of writing, the film holds an 87% approval rating from critics on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes, and that's derived from over 200 accredited reviews.
For The Independent (UK), Clarisse Loughrey gave the movie a 4-star rating, writing: "This true-life tale of a gentleman thief sees ‘Blue Valentine’ director Derek Cianfrance step away from the misery of his earlier films – but not the heart."
Empire's Sophie Butcher offered the same score, pitching "Roofman" as "a gritty but heartfelt big-screen adventure," adding: "Derek Cianfrance delivers a hugely empathetic, very entertaining depiction of an extraordinary life, featuring one of Channing Tatum’s best performances."
Finally, Variety critic Peter Debruge wrote: "In the end, it's the through-the-roof chemistry between the two leads that makes the film worthy of repeat viewing."
All in all, "Roofman" is definitely worthy of your attention. It's charming, fun, and frequently funny, and I'm glad to see it's maintained its position at the top of Prime Video's charts — it definitely deserves more attention than it got.
Stream "Roofman" on Prime Video now
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