Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Ritchson team up in Amazon MGM Studios’ holiday heist comedy The Man With the Bag. Santa recruits a reformed thief to recover his stolen magic sack before Christmas arrives on Prime Video this December.
Amazon MGM Studios has officially unveiled the high-energy first trailer for The Man With the Bag, an upcoming festive action-comedy led by screen icon Arnold Schwarzenegger and Reacher standout Alan Ritchson. The project marks a major return to family-friendly holiday comedy for Schwarzenegger, blending classic festive charm with modern, high-stakes caper mechanics.
Directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray, The Pacifier) from a screenplay penned by Allan Rice, the film turns standard holiday folklore on its head. The narrative kicks into gear when Santa Claus (Schwarzenegger) discovers that his most critical asset—his iconic, magic-infused red gift bag—has been brazenly stolen. The perpetrator behind the heist is a disgruntled rogue elf named Nora, played by Awkwafina, who holds a lingering personal grudge against the North Pole establishment.
With December 25 rapidly approaching and the magic of Christmas hanging in the balance, Santa realizes traditional workshop protocol will not suffice. To infiltrate high-security locations and recover his property, Santa turns directly to his notorious “Naughty List” to recruit Vance (Ritchson), a sharp-witted former master thief trying to stay on the straight and narrow. Reluctantly agreeing to aid the jolly gift-giver, Vance assembles an eccentric crew of criminally skilled misfits. Operating under Santa’s supervision, the ragtag crew—joined by a handful of resourceful North Pole elves and reindeer—must coordinate the most improbable heist of their lives across the bustling streets of New York City.
The ensemble cast features a dynamic mix of veteran comedic talents and rising performers. Alongside Schwarzenegger, Ritchson, and Awkwafina, the production features Berkeley James in a key role, joined by Michael Cyril Creighton (Only Murders in the Building), Liza Koshy (Players), Kyle Mooney (Saturday Night Live), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover).
Announcing the trailer rollout on social channels, Amazon MGM Studios revealed the official promotional tagline: “Naughty, meet Nice. #TheManWithTheBag premieres December 2 on @primevideo.”
Audience anticipation spiked swiftly following the digital preview, drawing widespread praise across social media platforms for the unexpected, muscle-bound pairing of Schwarzenegger and Ritchson. Fans expressed enthusiasm for the blend of holiday nostalgia and physical comedy, with viewers highlighting the natural comedic chemistry and heartwarming dynamic teased between the leads and young co-star Berkeley James.
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The film is produced under a joint creative banner by Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Reg Tigerman, Dan Spilo, and Alan Ritchson.
The Man With the Bag is scheduled to launch worldwide exclusively on Prime Video on December 2.
