At the recent Prime Video upfront, Amazon MGM Studios announced the release date for The Man with the Bag, a Christmas action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa and Alan Ritchson. The project was first announced in April 2023, with director Adam Shankman and Ritchson attached. Schwarzenegger officially signed on in March 2024.
Awkwafina joined the cast in January 2025.
Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
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According to Deadline, the film will combine elements of action, comedy, and heist movies. Schwarzenegger plays Santa, whose magical bag is stolen. After consulting his naughty list, Santa recruits a thief to help recover it. Ritchson co-stars as Vance, a thief who, alongside his daughter, must orchestrate a heist to retrieve the bag and—naturally—save Christmas.
Many are already drawing comparisons to 2023’s Red One, another action-heavy family Christmas film from Prime Video.
The Red One Comparison
Red One was a major hit for Prime Video, reportedly drawing 50 million worldwide viewers in its first four days and setting a record for the platform’s most-watched debut (but the less said about its theatrical release, the better). The film starred J.K. Simmons as Santa Claus and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as his elf bodyguard. Chris Evans co-starred as a computer hacker who must help find Santa after he is kidnapped and—naturally—save Christmas.
J.K. Simmons as Santa in Red One – Amazon MGM Studios, YouTube
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The film currently holds a 54% “Decent” score on Criticless based on 97 voters.
There does not appear to be any direct creative overlap between the two projects aside from sharing the same studio. However, the fact that The Man with the Bag was greenlit so quickly after the success of Red One has raised some eyebrows. Studios often attempt to replicate the success of a popular film by reusing a proven formula. In this case, Amazon MGM Studios appears to be applying a very similar approach with an entirely different cast.
Chris Evans in Red One – Amazon MGM Studios, YouTube
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Still, many fans may be pleased to see Arnold Schwarzenegger return to holiday films following Jingle All the Way. He joins a growing list of action stars to portray Santa Claus, including Mel Gibson in Fatman and Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles. Meanwhile, Ritchson already has a strong presence on Prime Video as the lead of Reacher, which is expected to return for its fourth season later this year. A fifth season has already been confirmed.
Can The Man with the Bag Stand Out?
Whether or not The Man with the Bag can draw the same audience as Red One remains to be seen. However, the similarities between the two films are difficult to ignore. Both projects center on action-oriented versions of Santa Claus, pair holiday mythology with blockbuster-style spectacle, and rely on recognizable stars to appeal to broad streaming audiences. Even the basic structure—a Christmas crisis requiring an unlikely hero to save the holiday—feels intentionally familiar.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way – Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers, YouTube
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The main draw for The Man with the Bag will likely be Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa. For families looking for something to pass the time this holiday season, a streaming movie on Prime Video may be enough. Yet the Christmas cookie-cutter approach suggests it may not become an enduring classic even on the level of Jingle All the Way.
Families will be able to decide for themselves when The Man with the Bag arrives on Prime Video December 2.
Will you be watching The Man with the Bag this Christmas? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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