Channing Tatum has voiced his concerns about the current landscape of moviegoing, drawing attention to the struggle of getting films like his latest project, Roofman, into movie theaters. Discussing the matter during a virtual interview, Tatum addressed the growing issue of audiences staying home rather than supporting diverse films on the big screen, placing a spotlight on the changing habits surrounding the Channing Tatum movie theaters experience.
Challenges in Bringing Unique Films to Theaters
Roofman features Channing Tatum in the role of Jeffrey, a well-intentioned thief who escapes prison and seeks refuge inside a North Carolina Toys R Us. While in hiding, he forms a connection with an employee, portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, and faces his own family struggles. The movie, inspired by real events, combines drama and comedy in a style often seen in theaters two decades ago, but such character-driven stories now have difficulty securing theatrical releases.
Channing Tatum highlighted the challenge, remarking,
“If I had that answer, I think I’d have a lot of money coming to me,”
—Channing Tatum. He added,
“We just need to figure out how to change that narrative.”
—Channing Tatum.
The Changing Dynamics of Moviegoing
Kirsten Dunst and Channing Tatum both acknowledged that behavioral shifts and technological advancements have changed the way people consume films. Dunst explained,
“I think COVID and iPhones really have made us a little lazy. It’s also expensive to go to the movies, so I understand.”
—Kirsten Dunst. Tatum, openly passionate about the cinema experience, admitted his own bias:
“I just love seeing movies in the theater. But it’s hard to convince people who don’t want to leave their house, much less go pay $60 for a movie experience if they don’t go, ‘All right, this is a giant movie. It’s a world-building movie that I need to see on the big screen.’”
—Channing Tatum.
Tatum Criticizes the Perception of a Decline in Film Quality
Tatum expressed frustration with the common complaint that Hollywood isn’t producing compelling films outside of blockbuster franchises. He referenced the tendency to overlook movies that do not fit the superhero formula, emphasizing,
“You guys don’t make any good movies anymore.”
—unnamed. Tatum argued that by focusing only on major Marvel releases, audiences are missing out on quality films.
“There’s a lot of good movies being made,”
—Channing Tatum. He pointedly stated,
“You’re just not going to see them in the theaters.”
—Channing Tatum.
He recalled confronting this issue with moviegoers in 2022, remarking to someone,
“Have you seen Tár? And they’re like, ‘No, I don’t know what that movie is.’ And I’m like, ‘Go see it. It’s in the theater now. It’s a great movie.’”
—Channing Tatum.
Marketing Dilemmas and the Identity of Roofman
Tatum discussed the complications of promoting a film that defies easy categorization. He shared,
“I can’t generalize the movie. I love movies like that, where I don’t know what I’m going to get, but the trailer doesn’t just give you everything: It kind of gives you a little piece.”
—Channing Tatum. Reflecting on the early promotional strategy, he said,
“I personally thought they were selling this movie too much as a comedy in the beginning. But I was like, ‘Okay, but I want people to go see it.’ It has beautiful themes in it, as well as some real crazy scenes where you’re just like, ‘Whoa, like that really happened?’ So what do you sell it as, then? Like, a romance?”
—Channing Tatum.
Kirsten Dunst’s Perspective on the Film’s Family Appeal
Kirsten Dunst indicated that Roofman, in her view, is reminiscent of a holiday classic that offers meaningful, relatable content for a wide audience:
“a classic holiday movie that you want to see with your family. Gather around, everyone will enjoy it. And there’s a lot of life positivity to it. It feels like, ‘Oh, I’m seeing human beings and what they’re actually struggling with.’”
—Kirsten Dunst. She further stated,
“I do believe in our film and I feel like it has a lot of genuine emotions. We’re not trying to spoon-feed you — it doesn’t feel phony or manipulative. I think people react to that when they feel genuinely moved by something. This honestly is a movie that your whole family can go see together.”
—Kirsten Dunst.
Where to Watch Roofman and What Lies Ahead
Roofman is now accessible for audiences on multiple video-on-demand platforms, including Apple TV and Amazon. Beginning December 9th, it will also be available through Paramount+. As trends in film consumption continue to evolve, the fates of movies like Roofman and the future of diverse storytelling in Channing Tatum movie theaters will be shaped by whether audiences return to theaters in support of films that challenge conventions and offer heartfelt experiences. The ongoing conversation, involving Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, and their peers, may encourage more viewers to reconsider how they choose to engage with new cinematic releases.
