Arnold Schwarzenegger is, as often promised, back. But this time, he has traded his sunglasses and biker leathers for a red suit and white beard in Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming Christmas comedy The Man With the Bag.
While Christmas is still a few months away, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios have already released the first poster and teaser trailer for the holiday comedy.
He’ll be back….Hopefully with presents. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Santa in The Man with the Bag. Coming to @PrimeVideo December 2. pic.twitter.com/OBGKm2CiCM
— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) September 30, 2026
The poster reveals a smiling Schwarzenegger in a red jacket and knit scarf, his arms outstretched as if offering the audience a hug. Meanwhile, the trailer suggests a sugar rush of a Christmas adventure.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Santa Claus
The teaser opens with Schwarzenegger suiting up as Santa Claus and munching on cookies. At an ice rink, he introduces himself to Alan Ritchson’s Vance by running through a list of silly names he is known by, including the growl Vance’s dogs use for him.
He then cheerfully reveals that his bag was stolen by “a very naughty elf.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Man with the Bag teaser – Prime Video, YouTube
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An official synopsis explains that “with his biggest night of the year fast-approaching, Santa recruits a thief from his ‘Naughty List’ who quickly assembles a crew of criminally skilled misfits — with a little help from elves and reindeer — to pull off the most unexpected heist of their lives.”
It’s the most wonderful heist of the year. The Man With the Bag is coming to @PrimeVideo December 2. pic.twitter.com/qA8CuyxfXv
— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) September 30, 2026
The rogue elf is played by Awkwafina, while the supporting cast includes Ken Jeong, Jane Krakowski, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Berkeley James, and Michael Cyril Creighton. Hairspray director Adam Shankman helmed the movie from a screenplay by Allan Rice.
In a final tag, Schwarzenegger appears in full Santa getup, laughs, and proclaims, “I’m back!”
The Trailer Draws Mixed Reactions
Some users online expressed enthusiasm, with several recalling Schwarzenegger’s 1996 Christmas classic Jingle All the Way.
Others drew inevitable comparisons to 2024’s Red One, another action-heavy family Christmas film from Amazon MGM Studios. That movie starred J.K. Simmons as Santa Claus and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as his security chief, while Chris Evans co-starred as a hacker rather than a thief. It became 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 film debut.
Not everyone views The Man With the Bag as a gift, however.
Awkwafina in The Man with the Bag teaser – Prime Video, YouTube
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Several comments focused on Awkwafina, claiming that her distinctive voice would be off-putting to potential viewers. Simply knowing she was involved was enough for others to scratch the film off their lists.
Other comments focused on the increasingly outspoken Alan Ritchson. The Reacher star has recently sparked controversy with expletive-filled tirades against President Donald Trump and his administration.
even Arnold can’t negate the ritchson effect.
— camsterdam 🇺🇲 (@camsterdam) October 1, 2026
“Even Arnold can’t negate the ritchson effect,” one user wrote on X.
Schwarzenegger has also continued to receive backlash for his infamous 2021 “screw your freedom” remark while discussing people who refused to follow COVID-19 public health measures.
Schwarzenegger Returns to Christmas Movies
For Schwarzenegger, The Man With the Bag represents a return to Christmas comedy three decades after Jingle All the Way became a holiday favorite.
Alan Ritchson in The Man with the Bag teaser – Prime Video, YouTube
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Whether the new film can overcome the early skepticism remains to be seen. But Schwarzenegger appears to be having plenty of fun as Santa, and pairing the Terminator with Reacher gives The Man With the Bag an appropriately oversized duo to sell its ridiculous Christmas heist.
The Man With the Bag arrives on Prime Video on December 2.
What do you think of the poster and teaser for The Man with the Bag? Sound off and let us know!
