The Man with the Bag is a 2026 Christmas heist comedy directed by Adam Shankman. The screenplay is by Allan Rice. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Santa Claus, and Alan Ritchson plays a thief named Vance. Awkwafina, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney, Ken Jeong, Jane Krakowski, Michael Cyril Creighton and Berkeley James also star.
The story is set in New York, and the crew shot it on real streets in Manhattan. If you love finding the real places behind your favorite holiday films, you can browse more shoots in New York City.
Someone steals Santa’s magic bag of gifts, and Christmas is in danger. Santa cannot fix it alone, so he turns to his Naughty List and picks Vance, a thief who is trying to change his ways. Vance builds a crew of misfits, with help from his daughter and some elves, to pull off a big heist and save the holiday. Awkwafina plays the rogue elf behind the theft.
The Man with the Bag is set to arrive on December 2, 2026. The film is an Amazon MGM Studios movie and will stream worldwide on Prime Video. It is produced by Grey Matter Productions.
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When and Where Was The Man with the Bag Filmed?
| Film Name | The Man with the Bag |
|---|---|
| Genres | Comedy, Holiday, Heist |
| Filming Locations | Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA |
| Filming Dates | December 2024 to early 2025 (reported) |
| Cinematography by | Jonathan Sela |
| Release Date | December 2, 2026 |
Cameras started rolling in Manhattan in December 2024, and the first set photos came out on December 17, 2024. The team kept shooting around the city through January 2025 and into February 2025, when scenes were filmed in the snow. The main places seen on set were Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, the East Village and Central Park. We do not have an official wrap date yet.
📍Fifth Avenue at 50th Street, Midtown Manhattan
The first big set photos came from Fifth Avenue, near Saks Fifth Avenue, on December 17, 2024. Schwarzenegger was seen in his full Santa outfit, with a white beard and a red coat, crossing the street with Alan Ritchson. This part of Midtown is famous for its holiday windows and big crowds, so it is a perfect match for a story that needs the most Christmassy street in New York. You can see the photos in this local news report.
📍Rockefeller Center (The Rink at Rockefeller Plaza), Midtown Manhattan
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, United States
Just a few steps from Fifth Avenue, the crew also filmed at Rockefeller Center. A photo agency post shows Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Santa costume on the famous ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza, in a scene with Alan Ritchson. Instead of skating in the usual way, Santa was seen riding a cart on the ice, which sounds like a funny moment for the film.
You can see the picture in this photo agency post. We could not find the exact filming date, and the full scene has not been explained, so we will update this part when we know more. The rink is one of the most loved Christmas spots in New York, so it is a natural fit for a Santa story.
📍Grand Central Terminal, Midtown Manhattan
On December 18, 2024, the two stars filmed late-night scenes outside Grand Central Terminal. The station gave the film a busy, classic New York look after dark. We do not know yet which story moments were shot here. A set gallery from that night is on Just Jared. The area is also close to Pershing Square, which fans might remember from the thriller Verity.
📍East Village, Manhattan
In January 2025, the crew moved downtown to the East Village. On January 13, 2025, they filmed outside Veselka, the well-known Ukrainian diner at Second Avenue and Ninth Street, and the restaurant stayed closed for the day. Production trucks also lined up along Tompkins Square Park. Earlier street notices listed Avenue A, St. Marks Place and Tenth Street for the shoot as well. A neighborhood blog has the day-of details. The small streets and old buildings gave the story a more everyday, lived-in side of the city.
📍Central Park, Manhattan
In February 2025, the production filmed night scenes in Central Park during snowy weather. Schwarzenegger was seen as Santa on his sleigh, with Awkwafina, Alan Ritchson and Berkeley James nearby on February 21, 2025. The snow and the dark trees make the park feel like a true winter wonderland, which suits a film about Santa. An entertainment news item covers that night. If you want to see what else was shot in the same park, the crime series I Will Find You also used Central Park.
The Man with the Bag Behind the Scenes
When production started, Schwarzenegger shared photos on Instagram and said New York City is amazing. He also called director Adam Shankman one of the funniest directors he has worked with, and you can find that story in this first-look set photo report.
The film is his first movie in five years, since Terminator: Dark Fate in 2019. It also brings him back to a holiday story nearly 30 years after Jingle All the Way. Fans and neighbors watched much of the shoot from the sidewalk, which is why so many set photos exist. We will add cast and crew posts here when new ones are shared.
Is There Any Trailer Available for The Man with the Bag?
Yes, the official trailer for The Man with the Bag is available on Prime Video’s official channels. It came out on September 30, 2026, and it shows Schwarzenegger in his Santa suit and Awkwafina’s rogue elf.
The Man with the Bag is set to be released on December 2, 2026, by Prime Video.
FAQs
Q1: Where was The Man with the Bag filmed?
A1: The Man with the Bag was filmed in Manhattan, New York City. The main places seen on set were Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, the East Village and Central Park.
Q2: What scenes were filmed in Central Park?
A2: Night scenes with Santa’s sleigh were filmed in Central Park in February 2025, in snowy weather. The cast on set included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Awkwafina, Alan Ritchson and Berkeley James.
Q3: When did filming for The Man with the Bag begin?
A3: Filming for The Man with the Bag began in December 2024. The first set photos came out on December 17, 2024, and shooting went on into early 2025. An official wrap date has not been shared.
Q4: Can I visit the filming locations of The Man with the Bag?
A4: Yes. Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, Tompkins Square Park and Central Park are all public places in New York City. Veselka is a working restaurant, so you can visit it as a customer.
Q5: Who directed The Man with the Bag?
A5: The film was directed by Adam Shankman, known for Hairspray.
Q6: Where can I watch The Man with the Bag?
A6: The Man with the Bag will stream on Prime Video from December 2, 2026.
The Man with the Bag brings Santa to the real streets of Manhattan, from Fifth Avenue and Grand Central to the East Village and a snowy Central Park. Using real places gives this holiday heist a warm, true-to-life New York feel. If you want to keep exploring, check out more titles in our New York collection, and come back soon for more filming-location guides.
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