Some holiday movies arrive with twinkly lights, warm cocoa, and gentle lessons about kindness. This one? Robbery, crime, Jack Reacher and The Terminator. So, slightly different vibe. After first turning heads with set photos of a very festive Arnold Schwarzenegger, the upcoming family comedy now has an official release date and a new first-look image, giving audiences a better sense of the chaotic holiday mission ahead.
The Man with the Bag will be released on Prime Video on December 5, 2026, with Schwarzenegger (The Terminator, Predator) starring as Santa Claus and Alan Ritchson (Reacher, Fast X) playing Vance, the former thief Santa recruits from his naughty list. The new first-look image shows Schwarzenegger in full Santa mode, complete with white beard and festive attire, confirming what earlier set photos had already strongly suggested: the Terminator is trading leather jackets and motorcycles for Christmas magic and emergency gift logistics. The logline reads:
“When Santa’s magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a former thief, to help him get it back. Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfit elves, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas.”
The cast also includes Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders in the Building, Spotlight), Liza Koshy (Players, Boo! A Madea Halloween), Kyle Mooney (Saturday Night Live, Brigsby Bear), Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Community), Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Stumptown), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Roger Bart (Hostel: Part II, Desperate Housewives).
Has Arnold Schwarzenegger Made a Christmas Movie Before?
Schwarzenegger previously shared his excitement about the movie on Instagram, praising Ritchson, Shankman, New York City, and Prime Video while filming. “It is fantastic to be shooting The Man with the Bag with @alanritchson,” he wrote. “Our director @adamshankman is one of the funniest directors I’ve worked with, New York City is an amazing host, working with @amazonmgmstudios is a joy, and I can’t wait to share all of this Christmas cheer with each and every one of you.”
And yes, Schwarzenegger has saved Christmas before. He starred in the 1996 holiday classic Jingle All the Way as Howard Langston, a busy father desperately trying to find a Turbo Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve. That movie involved mall Santas, toy-store warfare, Sinbad, and a level of ’90s holiday chaos that should probably be studied in schools. It’s always Turbo Time here.
The Man with the Bag premieres December 5, 2026, on Prime Video.
via Collider