What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRoofman
Derek Cianfrance · Film · 2025
If you loved Roofman, start with Your Friends & Neighbors (Jonathan Tropper, 2025) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Roofman across media.
If Roofman captivated you, it is because you are drawn to the precarious boundary where desperate criminality meets the longing for domestic normalcy.
Books on the same thread
Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, 1970s urban decay, criminal underworld.
Like the protagonist of Roofman, the characters here navigate the harsh reality of the criminal underworld while attempting to balance their personal survival against systemic pressures and external threats.
The Hunter
Tana French · Book
Explores: Outsider status, Protecting family, Hidden pasts.
Much like the protagonist in Roofman, this story examines the tension between a man protecting a fragile, hidden life and the inevitable intrusion of his complicated, inescapable past.
Reminders of Him
Colleen Hoover · Book · 2022
Explores: Mother-daughter reconciliation, Social stigma, Forgiveness.
This narrative mirrors the emotional weight of Roofman by focusing on the painful process of seeking redemption and attempting to reclaim a lost family connection after prison time.
Remain
Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan · Book
Explores: unsettling secrets, new beginnings, emotional ambiguity.
You will recognize the unsettling atmosphere of Roofman here, as a character’s new beginning is complicated by a relationship built on secrets and profound, lingering questions about his true nature.
Series on the same thread
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Explores: wealth inequality, midlife crisis, moral decay.
This show captures the same dark, satirical edge found in Roofman, following a man who turns to unconventional theft as a desperate, exhilarating solution to his crumbling personal life.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
If the moral ambiguity of Roofman kept you watching, this podcast provides a deeper, nuanced look at the complex lives of people caught between their crimes and their humanity.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
This podcast shares the dark comedic perspective of Roofman, finding the humor in the legal absurdities and scandalous behavior of people whose lives have spiraled out of control.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Roofman based on a true story?
The film Roofman depicts the life of a former Army Ranger who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting through roofs. While the movie explores his time living undetected inside a Toys R Us, the narrative focuses on his complex double life and his relationship with a divorced mother.
Does Roofman feature a romance?
Yes, the plot of Roofman centers on the protagonist falling for a divorced mother who is drawn to his charm. This romantic connection complicates his double life and contributes to his eventual unraveling as he attempts to maintain his secret existence while planning his next move.
How long does the protagonist live in the store in Roofman?
In Roofman, the main character escapes prison and successfully lives inside a Toys R Us for six months. During this time, he remains undetected by staff and shoppers while he continues to plan his next criminal moves before his life begins to fall apart.
What is the primary criminal activity in Roofman?
The protagonist in Roofman is a former Army Ranger who earns his nickname by robbing McDonald’s restaurants. He gains access to these locations by cutting holes in their roofs, a signature method that defines his criminal career before he eventually hides in a toy store following a prison escape.