Roofman has its flaws, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most entertaining films of 2025. If you want to continue the hopeful vibes – well, as hopeful as Jeffrey Manchester’s real-life story can be – I’ve got the perfect streaming recommendation for you.
In fact, this pick doesn’t actually come from me, but Channing Tatum himself. Shedding his Magic Mike and Marvel movie image, he plays Manchester in Roofman, a convicted felon who hid in a branch of Toys R Us for six months to evade recapture. I’ll avoid spoilers, but let’s just say the man has to eat a lot of peanut M&Ms.
I caught up with him at the London premiere of the new Paramount movie to ask what film would make the perfect double bill. His response? A prison break drama that dates back to 1967.
Channing Tatum thinks you should watch Cool Hand Luke after Roofman, and I agree
“I would say Cool Hand Luke,” Tatum tells me. “Not just because it’s another prison break film, but it’s one of my favorite movies of all time.”
You’ve got to hand it to him… the man has taste. Paul Newman plays petty criminal Luke Jackson, who is sentenced to two years jail time at a farm prison in Florida. Refusing to conform to the rules of the system, he quickly raises hell while becoming a symbol for defiance in the process.
It was a career defining performance for Newman, who is still remembered as one of cinema’s most iconic anti-heroes almost 60 years later. It’s not your typical gangster movie either, with its thoughtful plot and striking ensemble performances effortlessly feeding into the counterculture of the decade.
At its core, Cool Hand Luke is a humble tale of a man who refuses to quit, but the forward-thinking visuals and slick script laced with humor make it like something greater than it should be. I can’t imagine that anybody who saw it at the time would have expected the movie to be appreciated in the 21st century, but it’s not a stretch to label it a true American masterpiece.
Don’t just take our words for it, either – Cool Hand Luke is certified fresh with a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 100% at the time of writing. Do you know how hard it is to get us all to agree on the caliber of films gone by? That alone is how you know this one is special.
Cool Hand Luke can be rented or bought on Prime Video in the US, Apple TV in the US and UK and SBS on demand in Australia.
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