Arnold Schwarzenegger Trades Turbo Man for the Red Suit in ‘The Man With the Bag’ Trailer

Every holiday season needs a new Christmas movie that everyone argues about, and Prime Video is aiming to claim that spot this year. The streamer has a big, funny, and slightly absurd swing on the way, one that leans on some of the most recognizable faces in action cinema. Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Santa Claus is exactly the sort of casting that sounds like a joke until you see it.

The idea has been a long time coming. It has been 30 years since he tore through toy stores chasing a Turbo-Man action figure in ‘Jingle All the Way’, so a return to the Christmas genre feels both surprising and oddly inevitable. Now the first footage has finally arrived.

On September 30, Many outlets posted the first trailer for ‘The Man With the Bag’ on X, and the response was huge. Replies were full of jokes, including one wondering whether the star would work a famous catchphrase into the hunt for the stolen sack.

The teaser runs 49 seconds and establishes the premise quickly. After Santa’s sack of presents is stolen, he enlists the help of a petty criminal to get it back. Prime Video is billing it as the biggest holiday heist of the year, and the film premieres globally on December 2.

According to Nerdtropolis, the culprit is a rogue elf with a grudge, played by Awkwafina. Alan Ritchson, best known for ‘Reacher’, plays Vance, a thief whose skills suddenly become useful when Santa digs through his Naughty List. Santa then sends him off to assemble a crew capable of stealing the bag back.

First trailer for ‘THE MAN WITH THE BAG’, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa. 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. https://t.co/lWLdAGIwll

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 30, 2026

The trailer doesn’t skimp on physical comedy either. MovieWeb noted that it shows Schwarzenegger’s Santa performing some incredible figure skating tricks on an ice rink in front of Ritchson. It is a very different image from the stoic action hero fans remember.

Prime Video describes the movie as a holiday heist adventure about second chances, unlikely friendships, and the idea that even Santa needs help delivering Christmas. That warmer tone suggests a family-friendly project rather than a gritty caper. Complex confirmed the film is rated PG.

Adam Shankman directs from a script by Allan Rice, with John Debney handling the score. The supporting cast includes Kyle Mooney, Berkeley James, Michael Cyril Creighton, Liza Koshy, Jane Krakowski, and Ken Jeong. Together they give the project a comedy-heavy ensemble to complement its 2 action leads.

First poster for ‘THE MAN WITH THE BAG’ has been unveiled.

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Santa Claus in the Christmas heist movie.

Premiering December 2 on Prime Video.#TheManWithTheBag #ArnoldSchwarzenegger #PrimeVideo #Christmas pic.twitter.com/ysQlMHP3jb

— FilmFrontline (@FilmFrontline) September 30, 2026

The movie was announced with its release date at the Prime Video Upfronts in New York earlier this year. Set footage from the production had previously shown Ritchson and the Santa-suited Schwarzenegger on the streets of New York, so anticipation has been building for a while. The trailer is the first proper look at how all of that comes together.

Part of the appeal is the contrast between the 2 leads. Ritchson 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’. Putting the original next to the heir apparent, with one of them in a red suit, is a smart bit of marketing.

For Schwarzenegger, the role is a playful late-career pivot. Instead of chasing Santa, he is Santa, and the film gives him a chance to poke fun at his own image. That self-aware approach could make the movie a seasonal favorite if the comedy lands.

Streaming holiday movies live or die on rewatchability, and this one has plenty of ingredients, from a heist premise to a big-name cast to an instantly quotable hook. Whether it becomes a tradition or just a fun December distraction will depend on how much charm it can pack into its runtime.

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