Arnold Schwarzenegger Suits Up as Santa in the First ‘The Man With the Bag’ Trailer
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s last big Christmas movie saw him tearing through stores in search of the season’s hottest toy. That was ‘Jingle All the Way’, and it has been a holiday staple for decades. Now, roughly 30 years later, he is trading the toy aisle for the red suit itself.
The project has been a long time coming. ‘The Man with the Bag’ was first announced in June 2023, with ‘Reacher’ star Alan Ritchson attached to star and Adam Shankman set to direct. Photos of Schwarzenegger in costume on the streets of Midtown Manhattan began circulating in December 2024, making it his first feature film in 5 years.
It is also his first movie released since 2019’s ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’. All of that has made the first look at the film a big deal, and Prime Video has now delivered it. The streamer unveiled the first ‘The Man With the Bag’ trailer and poster, and the film premieres globally on Prime Video on December 2.
First trailer for ‘THE MAN WITH THE BAG’, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 30, 2026
The film follows Santa Claus as he enlists the help of a petty criminal after his sack of presents is stolen.
Releasing December 2 on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/lWLdAGIwll
In the trailer, which runs 49 seconds, Schwarzenegger’s Santa recruits the help of a petty criminal after his sack of presents is stolen. Prime Video is billing the movie as the biggest holiday heist of the year.
The official synopsis has Santa’s iconic red bag stolen by a rogue elf with a grudge, putting Christmas at risk. With his biggest night of the year approaching, Santa recruits a thief from his Naughty List, who quickly assembles a crew of criminally skilled misfits, with a little help from elves and reindeer, to pull off the most unexpected heist of their lives.
Prime Video describes the film as a holiday heist adventure about second chances, unlikely friendships and discovering that even Santa sometimes needs help delivering Christmas.
Ritchson plays Vance, the thief, and Awkwafina plays the rogue elf who steals the bag. Santa’s daughter also joins the mission, alongside the group of misfits.
The supporting cast includes Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski and Ken Jeong. It is a comedy-heavy ensemble for a holiday action story.
Shankman directs from a screenplay by Allan Rice. He is best known for ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Rock of Ages’ on the big screen and ‘Modern Family’ and ‘Only Murders in the Building’ on TV.
The film comes from Amazon MGM Studios, with producers including Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Reg Tigerman, Dan Spilo and Ritchson himself. John Debney composes the score, and Jonathan Sela handles the cinematography.
The film marks Schwarzenegger’s return to the Christmas genre after ‘Jingle All the Way’, and some fans have said it would make a perfect double bill with that film. It is a very different role for him, since instead of chasing down Santa, he is Santa.
The film’s set photos and behind-the-scenes clips have already drawn attention, and the trailer confirms that it leans into a lighter tone than his action roles.
For Ritchson, the film is another step in a busy run. He has become one of Prime Video’s biggest action stars through ‘Reacher’, and some outlets have even dubbed him the new Arnold Schwarzenegger, thanks to his physique and his upcoming revenge thriller ‘Motor City’.
Pairing him with the original action icon is an obvious hook. It also lets both of them show off their comedic side.
‘The Man with the Bag’ arrives on Prime Video worldwide on December 2, with the streamer positioning it as a holiday event. The film was announced with its release date at the Prime Video upfronts in New York earlier this year.
For fans of action comedies, Santa’s biggest heist could become a new festive favorite.
What do you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Santa in The Man With the Bag?
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