Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Santa Claus opposite Alan Ritchson as the small-time thief he recruits after his sack of presents gets stolen: “The Man with the Bag” is one of the odder holiday-comedy pairings of the year, and it lands on Prime Video December 2, 2026. Unlike most Christmas movies that fake their setting in Canada, this one actually filmed on the New York City streets its story is set in, which means you can trace a real route through Manhattan to follow it.
The Man with the Bag at a Glance (TL;DR)
- Release date: December 2, 2026, on Prime Video
- Director: Adam Shankman
- Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alan Ritchson, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, Jane Krakowski, Liza Koshy
- Setting: New York City
- Filming locations: Midtown Manhattan, Central Park, and the East Village
- Production dates: December 2024 – March 2025
Fifth Avenue at 50th Street
On December 17, 2024, Schwarzenegger in full Santa costume was filmed crossing Fifth Avenue at 50th Street, right by Saks Fifth Avenue, according to NBC New York and Hoodline. This is about as iconic an NYC Christmas backdrop as exists: it’s a two-minute walk from the Rockefeller Center tree and ice rink, and Saks itself runs one of the city’s most famous holiday light shows and window displays every winter.
Photo: Rockefeller Center Christmas tree at night / Pexels
Can you visit? Yes, and you don’t need a reason to. This stretch of Fifth Avenue is one of the most visited holiday spots in the world every December, free to walk through any time.
Central Park, Mid-Snowstorm
The following February, Schwarzenegger and Ritchson filmed snowy scenes in Central Park alongside costar Berkeley James, catching an actual snowstorm on camera, with sightings reported at least on February 20, 2025, per Cheat Sheet and Just Jared, which also mentions a sleigh scene filmed around February 21.
Photo: Central Park covered in snow with the Manhattan skyline behind it / Pexels
Can you visit? Always, it’s a public park, though the exact spot used within the park hasn’t been narrowed down beyond “Central Park” in the reporting.
East Village: Veselka and Tompkins Square Park
On January 13, 2025, filming moved downtown to the East Village. Crews shot outside Veselka, the neighborhood’s beloved 24-hour Ukrainian diner at 2nd Avenue and 9th Street, which closed for the shoot, and set up production trucks along Tompkins Square Park. Closure notices were also posted for Avenue A between 7th and 10th Streets, St. Marks Place, and both 9th and 10th Streets between 1st and 2nd Avenues. This comes from two detailed reports by the hyperlocal outlet EV Grieve, which covered the shoot both before and during filming — the Veselka closure and Tompkins Square production trucks are both confirmed in the second, day-of report.
Can you visit? Yes. Veselka is a real, still-operating restaurant, and Tompkins Square Park is open to the public year-round. If you want a genuinely New York moment, grab pierogi at Veselka and then walk the same blocks the crew closed for filming.
Grand Central Terminal
On the night of December 18, 2024, the production filmed late-night scenes outside Grand Central Terminal, according to Just Jared. This report hasn’t been independently corroborated by a second outlet, so treat it as likely but not fully confirmed.
Can you visit? Yes, Grand Central is a working transit hub open to the public around the clock.
Earlier that same day, Schwarzenegger and costar Kyle Mooney also filmed a shopping scene at an unnamed holiday market, per the same report. Given the timing and Midtown-heavy shoot schedule, Bryant Park’s or Union Square’s holiday markets are reasonable guesses, but neither is confirmed in the source, so this article won’t assert one over the other.
FAQ
Where was The Man with the Bag filmed?
In New York City, with confirmed scenes on Fifth Avenue at 50th Street, in Central Park, around Veselka and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, and reportedly outside Grand Central Terminal.
Is The Man with the Bag actually set in New York?
Yes, and unlike most Christmas movies filmed in Canada, this one was shot on location in the real city it’s set in.
Who stars in The Man with the Bag?
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Santa Claus, with Alan Ritchson as the thief he recruits, alongside Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, and Jane Krakowski.
When does The Man with the Bag come out?
December 2, 2026, on Prime Video.
