Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst earn standing ovation for Roofman at Toronto Film Festival

Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst received a standing ovation at TIFF for their true crime drama Roofman.

Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst took centre stage at the Toronto Film Festival with the premiere of Roofman, a true crime drama based on the life of Jeffrey Manchester, known as the “Rooftop Robber.” The film, directed by Derek Cianfrance, received a standing ovation following its first screening.

Roofman recounts Manchester’s story, from his string of McDonald’s robberies to his 45-year prison sentence, his subsequent escape, and his time living in a Toys “R” Us, where he formed a relationship with an employee played by Dunst.

Speaking during a Q&A, Cianfrance explained his motivation for taking on the project: “I just felt like I needed to find something that reignited my love of movies and what movies could do… I heard this story about this guy who robbed all these McDonald’s… I thought, well, that doesn’t sound so serious, but then I was thinking a lot about tragedy and comedy… maybe I can make a movie where you flip that coin up in the air and it spins between the two.”

The film balances moments of humour with the consequences of Manchester’s actions, giving Tatum and Dunst space to deliver layered performances. Reflecting on his role, Tatum said, “I remember yelling at the actual script… don’t do that. Like, just don’t. But he couldn’t stop committing crimes because he wanted so desperately to provide for his family.”

Both Tatum and Cianfrance consulted Manchester while developing the film, speaking to him in short phone calls from prison, where he remains until at least 2036.

Co-stars LaKeith Stanfield and Juno Temple joined Tatum and Dunst on stage, with Dunst remarking: “I don’t like when I see acting. I like it to feel like you’re not watching acting. I want to see people, and I think what Derek captures is real people.”

Roofman is set for release in cinemas on October 10.