Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Santa goes on an unexpected crime spree in The Man with the Bag trailer

Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to play Santa in the upcoming Prime Video film, The Man with the Bag. The teaser trailer of the film, which has just been released, shows Santa on a crime spree after his bag is stolen.

Santa relies on his big red bag to be who he is and thus will go on a heist to get his bag back.

Santa will go on a heist in The Man with the Bag this holiday season

The teaser trailer for The Man with the Bag opens with the introduction to Santa Claus (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger). While it is evident he is Santa, he initially introduces himself as Chris Kindle to a thief played by Reacher star Alan Ritchson. While Ritchson's character is confused as to what this random man wants with him, Santa soon reveals that he needs help.

The teaser then reveals that an elf (played by Awkwafina) who holds a grudge against Santa has stolen his big red bag. It is crucial that Santa gets his bag back but he can't do that alone. He thus recruits Ritchson's character and a few more criminals and elves to go on a heist to get his bag back.

The premise of the film according to Amazon is as follows:

When Santa’s (Schwarzenegger) iconic red bag is stolen by a rogue elf with a grudge (Awkwafina), Christmas is suddenly at risk. With his biggest night of the year fast approaching, Santa recruits a thief (Ritchson) 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.

While Santa is known for rewarding the good and giving coal to the naughty, this time he has to team up with ones from the naughty list and go on an unexpected crime spree to get his bag back. The synopsis continues:

Packed with holiday magic, big laughs, and plenty of heart, The Man with the Bag is a holiday heist adventure about second chances, unlikely friendships, and discovering that sometimes even Santa needs a little help delivering Christmas.

The film will thus humanize Santa a little, allowing viewers to experience a holiday film that not only spreads joy but also features an adventure that gives a second chance to the naughty ones as they help Santa.

Besides Schwarzenegger, Ritchson, and Awkwafina, The Man with the Bag also stars Kyle Mooney, Ken Jeong, Adrian Martinez, Berkeley James, Jane Krakowski, Roger Bart, Michael Cyril Creighton, Karren Karagulian, Murray Hill, Gabi Samels, Jameson Flynn Lopez, Jesmille Darbouze, and Matty Cardarople.

The Man with the Bag is directed by Adam Shankman and written by Allan Rice. The film is produced by Lawrence Grey, Ben Everard, Reg Tigerman, Dan Spilo, and Alan Ritchson. The production company behind the film is Grey Matter Productions, and Amazon MGM Studios is the distributor.

The Man with the Bag will be released on Prime Video on December 2, 2026.