Streaming platform Prime Video has released the official trailer for the comedy action movie The Man With The Bag, in which 79-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger takes on an unusual role — Santa Claus himself. The film, scheduled for release on December 2, 2026, promises to be one of the major winter holiday releases on the streaming service.
Plot: The Greatest Heist to Save the Holiday
The plot revolves around the theft of the magical bag of gifts, a key element of Christmas night. Deprived of this artifact, Santa Claus is forced to turn for help to Vance, a former thief played by Alan Ritchson, known to viewers from the series Reacher. Together with Santa's daughter (also named Santa) and a team of unusual assistants, Ritchson's character must pull off "the greatest heist of his life" to recover the bag and save Christmas for children worldwide.
Antagonist and Unusual Cast
Standing in the heroes' path is a naughty elf portrayed by Awkwafina. According to the creators, this character poses the main threat to the plan of retrieving the bag. The ensemble cast also features Berkley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong — a blend of comedy and drama stars that emphasizes the film's hybrid nature, combining elements of a heist movie, family comedy, and Christmas fantasy.
Return to the Christmas Genre After Three Decades
For Arnold Schwarzenegger, participation in The Man With The Bag marks a return to the Christmas comedy genre exactly 30 years later. In 1996, he starred in Jingle All the Way, playing a father trying to get a hard-to-find toy for his son on Christmas Eve. Back then, Schwarzenegger was "just" a father looking for a gift; now he has transformed into the one who delivers the gifts. This contrast will likely become one of the central themes of the film's marketing campaign.
Context and Expectations
The trailer's release in early November 2026 coincides with the traditional period when streaming services launch active promotional campaigns ahead of the Christmas holidays. Prime Video, for which The Man With The Bag will be an exclusive release, is banking on Schwarzenegger's recognizable name and a family audience. The December 2, 2026 premiere allows the film to claim the "pre-holiday" viewing niche a month before Christmas, aligning with the platform's seasonal content strategy.
