"Roofman" is the most Charlotte movie ever
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Recent films and television shows have shot in Charlotte, using the city as east Texas, West Virginia and Daytona Beach. But in "Roofman," Charlotte gets to finally be itself.
Why it matters: The star-studded film — which includes Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage — chronicles one of the wackiest stories in Charlotte's history.
- The movie could have been shot elsewhere, but the film's director and co-writer Derek Cianfrance wouldn't hear of it.
What they're saying: "I didn't ever consider taking it anywhere else," Cianfrance tells Axios. "I had pressure [to], because, for instance, the tax credit in New Jersey is better than the North Carolina tax credit."
- For Cianfrance, a Brooklyn resident, that would've meant a shorter commute than coming down to North Carolina.
- People also tried to persuade him to film in Bulgaria or South Africa because it's cheaper to film overseas, according to Cianfrance.
- Instead, Cianfrance followed his instinct to film where the events of the film took place more than 20 years ago.
Context: The film stars Tatum as Jeffrey Manchester and Kirsten Dunst as his love interest, Leigh Wainscott. Manchester, an Army veteran, robbed dozens of fast food restaurants by entering through the roof, earning himself the name Roofman.
- Manchester was arrested in 2000, and employees described him as "polite," even though they were being robbed at gunpoint, the Charlotte Observer reported on Nov. 3, 2000. He would make sure people had their coats before locking them in the restaurant freezer, according to reports.
- Manchester was sentenced to 32-45 years in prison for armed robberies at two McDonald's in Gaston County. In June 2004, he escaped Brown Creek Correctional Institution about an hour southeast of Charlotte, and hid in a Toys "R" Us and an empty Circuit City off Independence in Charlotte.
- He attended Crossroads Presbyterian Church on Monroe Road and dated Wainscott under the alias John. Ultimately, Manchester was caught in early January 2005 and is still serving time in prison.
Zoom in: It's been more than two decades since Manchester walked the streets of Charlotte. The city looks different now, and Toys "R" Us is gone, but the church remains. The people remain.
- On the opening night of Charlotte Film Festival, 886 people packed Carolina Theatre to watch Tatum portray the infamous "polite" thief, including the real-life Leigh (Wainscott) Moore and former Crossroads Pastor Ron Smith.
- Several people who lived these events make cameos in the film, including Leigh and Pastor Ron. Charles Cummings, the driver on whose truck Manchester was a stowaway, played himself.
- "I couldn't make a whole movie about Charlotte in another place," Cianfrance says.
Zoom out: Hosting the screening at the historic Carolina Theatre was significant.
- The theater, which reopened earlier this year after a $90 million renovation, had been closed since 1978. Now it's packed for community events, concerts, family films, and milestone events like Tuesday night's screening.
By the numbers: "Roofman" was approved for an up to $4.8 million rebate from the N.C. Film & Entertainment Grant fund.
- It also provided jobs for roughly 200 local cast and crew members on the film, between 50-60 of whom were part of the production and design team that helped create a 25,000-square-foot Toys "R" US, "Roofman" producer Jamie Patricof and the film's production designer Inbal Weinberg tell Axios.
- The film spent 37 total days shooting here between October and December 2024.
The big picture: North Carolina has been having a moment on the small screen. Now, Charlotte returns to the big screen with a star-studded cast.
- Keep an eye out for familiar spots like Freedom Park, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Red Lobster in Pineville, and the Dillard's exterior at Carolina Place Mall. Familiar faces like WSOC reporters Joe Bruno and Erika Jackson have cameos, too.
What's next: Charlotte Film Festival runs through Sept. 28. There will be another screening of the film at the Independent Picture House, but it is sold out. See the full festival lineup here.
- "Roofman" hits theaters Oct. 10.
