Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Santa in The Man with the Bag

Arnold Schwarzenegger is Santa Claus in Prime Video’s The Man with the Bag, a holiday heist comedy with Alan Ritchson and Awkwafina from Disenchanted director Adam Shankman. It streams Dec. 2.

Santa Claus is getting a lot more muscle this year.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Santa in The Man with the Bag, and the new trailer is out now, ComicBook.com reported Monday, Nov. 2. The holiday heist comedy premieres Wednesday, Dec. 2, worldwide on Prime Video, according to Amazon.

What is The Man with the Bag about?

A rogue elf steals Santa’s magic red bag, putting Christmas in danger. To get it back, Santa recruits a thief from his Naughty List, according to Amazon.

The thief puts together a crew of skilled misfits, with help from elves and reindeer, to pull off a holiday heist. Amazon describes it as a comedy with action and heart about second chances and friendship.

Who is in The Man with the Bag cast?

Schwarzenegger stars as Santa Claus. Alan Ritchson plays the thief, and Awkwafina plays the rogue elf with a grudge, according to Amazon.

The cast also includes Jane Krakowski, Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Michael Cyril Creighton and Berkeley James.

Who directed The Man with the Bag?

Adam Shankman, who directed Disney’s Disenchanted, the 2022 sequel to Enchanted on Disney+. He also directed Disney’s 2005 comedy The Pacifier and the 2007 movie musical Hairspray.

Allan Rice wrote the script, according to Amazon.

Watch The Man with the Bag trailer

Prime Video released the official trailer on YouTube.

When does The Man with the Bag come out?

Wednesday, Dec. 2, on Prime Video around the world, Amazon said. Amazon hasn’t announced a theatrical release.

Has Arnold Schwarzenegger been in a Christmas movie before?

Yes. He starred in the 1996 holiday comedy Jingle All the Way, playing a dad racing to find a sold-out Turbo-Man toy on Christmas Eve. The movie came from 20th Century Fox, which is now part of Disney, and it streams on Disney+.

What other Santa movies are streaming this year?

Plenty of holiday favorites are back on streaming. Disney+ has The Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen, and ABC airs the original The Santa Clause on Wednesday, Dec. 23.

Is The Man with the Bag a family movie?

Amazon hasn’t announced a rating yet. The trailer leans into holiday comedy and action, with elves, reindeer and a heist to save Christmas, so check the rating closer to Dec. 2 before family movie night.

How do you watch Prime Video movies?

With an Amazon Prime membership or a standalone Prime Video subscription. Prime Video works on smart TVs, phones, tablets, game consoles and streaming devices.

Why are celebrities playing Santa?

It’s a holiday movie tradition. Stars like Tim Allen, Paul Giamatti, David Harbour and J.K. Simmons have all played Santa in recent years, giving the jolly old elf a different twist each time.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• ComicBook.com, Spencer Perry (Nov. 2, 2026), the trailer and cast roles

• Amazon (2026), the release date, director, writer, full cast and plot

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.