Channing Tatum’s new movie, Roofman, has a ridiculous premise: After breaking out of prison, a man who famously robbed a series of McDonald’s restaurants hides out in a Toys “R” Us for months to evade the police. It’s silly, absurd, and intriguing. It is also based on a very true story.

Directed by Derek Cianfrance, Roofman largely covers the months-long stretch where Jeffrey Manchester (Tatum) made a home for himself in a local Toys “R” Us. The film depicts him adjusting the security cameras so he can stay unseen by the staff, filling out a nook behind a bicycle display with inflatable furniture and other pilfered items, and living almost entirely off of Peanut M&Ms.

Since it first premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Roofman has earned positive reviews. Tatum’s performance has sparked plenty of praise, but so too has Cianfrance’s handling of Manchester’s life. Though several unbelievable details within the film are actually true, others have, as expected for a movie, been altered to fit Roofman‘s version of the story.

How Roofman Changed Jeffrey Manchester’s Story

It’s probably near-impossible to find a movie based on a true story that doesn’t embellish and tweak some facts, and Roofman is no exception. There are quite a few elements that are complete fabrications, while in other instances, Cianfrance’s film omitted some details of Manchester’s story.

A major change to the story is through Leigh (Kirsten Dunst). In the film, she is an employee at the Toys “R” Us where Jeffrey is hiding out; he glimpses her through the cameras he sets up and becomes infatuated, though it isn’t until he visits her church that he actually meets her. However, in reality, Leigh didn’t work at the store, but they did still cross paths at church.

Another addition to the story is the character of Steve (Lakeith Stanfield), Jeffrey’s army buddy who works with him to secure his getaway. Per an interview Cianfrance did with TIME, Steve is based on someone Manchester did know who made falsified documents, but Manchester was unwilling to share his true idenтιтy.

Based on that, we can ᴀssume much of Steve’s role within the movie is a new addition to the story, or at least heavily altered from whatever happened in reality. This also paints Jeffrey’s climactic Toys “R” Us robbery in a new light. The real Manchester did attempt to rob the same store he’d been staying in, and it was the event that ultimately led the authorities back to him.

However, the movie shows him carrying this out so he can get the money he needs to pay Steve for his new documents. Manchester’s true motivations for robbing the store aren’t actually clear, though it’s been speculated that he simply wanted to obtain a large sum of money and skip the country.

Additionally, a key part of Manchester’s scheme is left out of Roofman. The movie only ever shows him hiding in the Toys “R” Us, but he also spent time in the Circuit City next door. The Seattle Times notes Manchester had created a secret door between the two stores and lived within the Circuit City.

By all accounts, the Circuit City was a major location for Manchester, but Roofman skips it entirely. This was likely for narrative and logistical ease, since requiring two different sets and covering how he inhabited both would’ve complicated the production. As it stands, the film effectively shows Manchester’s intelligence and ingenuity with just one store takeover.

The Wild Details In Roofman That Are Actually True

For all that Roofman changes, though, it does a pretty good job of retaining the wacky essence of Manchester’s exploits, from his general demeanor to the more outlandish facts. The credits even back this up; if you thought Jeffrey burning down a dentist’s office to cover his tracks was a bit too dramatic to be true, you’re ᴅᴇᴀᴅ wrong. He really did that!

While Leigh working at Toys “R” Us was a fictional addition, the movie’s depiction of her relationship with Jeffrey largely seems to follow real life. Jeffrey went by the name “John Zorn,” claimed he had a secretive government job, and became close with Leigh’s daughters, going so far as to bring them gifts. Leigh even had a hand in Jeffrey’s second arrest, which took place right outside her door.

Roofman makes a point to highlight Jeffrey’s kindhearted nature, best shown at the very beginning when he urges his McDonald’s hostages to put on coats before he locks them in a freezer. This, too, is a true aspect of his story; in a Los Angeles Times article from 2000, a spokesperson for the California Department of Justice, Mike Van Winkle, said, “Many of those he’s robbed have been struck by what a nice, decent guy he seems to be, a real gentleman.“

How Roofman’s Real-Life Subjects Are Involved With The Movie

Roofman‘s credits already cover a good chunk of what happened to Manchester after the end of the film, including the fact that he’s currently serving time at Central Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina — and he attempted to break out two more times. It’s also said that Leigh Wainscott, who has since married someone else, visited him in prison once after his deception was revealed.

Since then, though, things have changed a bit. Manchester spoke to Cianfrance and Roofman co-writer Kirt Gunn to share details of his life and ᴀssist with the making of the film. However, as TIME notes, his being in prison means he has not seen the finished product, though he did catch a clip on the news.

Roofman also gave Wainscott an opportunity to revisit a complicated period of her life with a fresh perspective. She has a small cameo in the film as a crossing guard and was present on set during some of Dunst’s key scenes. Additionally, she has started to visit Manchester in prison again, along with Pastor Ron Smith (played by Ben Mendelsohn in the movie).

Though there are many who still look unfavorably on Manchester for his crimes, it largely seems as though Roofman has had a positive impact on the people it depicts. Even with making the changes typical of a Hollywood production, it stays true to its subject and trusts reality to be wild enough to tell a great story, making for an entertaining journey.