Arnold Schwarzenegger is trading his action-hero persona for a Santa suit in “The Man with the Bag,” an upcoming holiday heist comedy from Amazon MGM Studios. The first full trailer for the film has been released, giving viewers a look at Schwarzenegger as Santa Claus and Alan Ritchson as a career criminal recruited to help recover his stolen sack of presents. Directed by Adam Shankman, the movie will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on December 2, 2026.
The film marks Schwarzenegger’s return to Christmas comedy nearly three decades after “Jingle All the Way” (1996). This time, however, he is not a desperate father racing through the holiday season to find a sold-out toy. Instead, he plays Santa himself, whose Christmas delivery operation is thrown into disarray when an elf makes off with his enchanted sack.
Joining Schwarzenegger and Ritchson is Awkwafina, who plays the mischievous elf responsible for the theft. The supporting cast also includes Berkeley James as Emma, the daughter of Ritchson’s character. With a combination of action, comedy, and a holiday rescue mission, “The Man with the Bag” brings a heist storyline to the Christmas movie lineup.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Returns to Christmas Comedy After 30 Years
Schwarzenegger’s casting is one of the film’s biggest talking points, particularly given his history with holiday comedies. His last major Christmas-themed comedy was “Jingle All the Way,” in which he played Howard Langston, a father caught in a frantic Christmas Eve search for the season’s most coveted action figure.
Nearly 30 years later, the actor returns to the genre with a different kind of holiday assignment. Rather than competing with other parents for a popular toy, his Santa Claus must enlist the help of a criminal to retrieve the presents that keep Christmas running.
The role also draws on a comedic side of Schwarzenegger’s career that audiences have seen in films such as “Twins” (1988) and “Kindergarten Cop” (1990). His ability to combine physical comedy with the commanding presence that defined his action roles gives the film a familiar but different take on the traditional Santa character.
“The Man with the Bag” Centers on a Christmas Eve Heist
The story begins when Nadia Nice, played by Awkwafina, steals Santa’s enchanted sack of presents. A disgruntled elf with an appetite for luxury, Nadia takes the bag and retreats to a high-end hotel in New York City, leaving Santa with little time to recover it before Christmas.
In need of someone with experience navigating the criminal underworld, Santa approaches Vince, played by Ritchson. A career criminal recently released after serving a four-year prison sentence, Vince is attempting to rebuild his relationship with his daughter, Emma. Santa offers him an opportunity to help save Christmas, setting the stage for an unlikely partnership.
Together, the pair devise a high-stakes hotel heist to retrieve the stolen sack. Their motivations, however, extend beyond the immediate mission. While Santa is determined to prevent Christmas from being ruined, Vince sees the operation as an opportunity to reconnect with his daughter and earn back her trust.
The premise gives the film room to balance traditional holiday storytelling with the conventions of a crime comedy. Its combination of a stolen package, a hotel infiltration, and a ticking Christmas deadline also puts a different spin on familiar seasonal movie territory.
Alan Ritchson and Awkwafina Lead a Supporting Cast
Ritchson brings considerable action experience to the production, having gained wider recognition through his portrayal of Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s “Reacher,” based on the novels by Lee Child. He also appeared in the action comedy “Playdate.” His role as Vince gives him an opportunity to bring that physical presence into a more comedic setting, opposite Schwarzenegger’s Santa.
Awkwafina takes on the role of Nadia Nice, whose decision to steal Santa’s sack sets the entire story in motion. The actress has previously appeared in “Crazy Rich Asians” and “The Farewell,” demonstrating a range that extends across comedy and drama.
Berkeley James plays Emma, whose relationship with Vince provides the film with an emotional storyline alongside its central heist. The father-daughter dynamic adds another dimension to the Christmas adventure, giving Vince a personal reason to see the mission through.
Adam Shankman Directs the Prime Video Holiday Release
Shankman takes the director’s chair for “The Man with the Bag.” His previous credits include “Hairspray” and “The Pacifier,” both of which combine broad comedy with family-oriented storytelling. His experience with the genre positions him well for a production that brings together action, humor, and Christmas themes.
The film was shot on location across New York City, using the city’s streets and real-world settings as the backdrop for its holiday adventure. The approach gives the hotel heist and surrounding Christmas scenes a recognizable urban setting.
“The Man with the Bag” will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on December 2, 2026. The release adds another major holiday title to the streaming platform’s December lineup, with Schwarzenegger and Ritchson leading a Christmas comedy built around an unusual partnership between Santa Claus and a career criminal.
Featured image: Amazon Prime
