Arnold Schwarzenegger is best known for action movies such as Terminator, sparking a trend for the prolific actor. However, Schwarzenegger often broke this genre trend and starred in comedies. This includes the 1996 Christmas classic Jingle All the Way. The film centers around two rival fathers, Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, desperately trying to purchase a popular action figure called Turbo-Man for their sons in a last-minute shopping dash on Christmas Eve.
Despite Jingle All The Way being regarded as a festive classic now, the Arnold Schwarzenegger will team up with Reacher’s Alan Ritchson for a new Christmas movie called The Man With The Bag, breaking the Terminator actor’s hiatus with his first movie in five years. The movie could also make up for Jingle All The Way 2’s disappointment.
The Man With The Bag Will Be Schwarzenegger’s First Christmas Film Since Jingle All The Way
Schwarzenegger Last Appeared In A Christmas Film Nearly 30 Years Ago
The Man With The Bag will be Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first Christmas movie since Jingle All The Way was released in 1996, a surprising move for the actor. Arnold Schwarzenegger has released 22 movies since Jingle All The Way, yet most of these films are within the action genre. Therefore, for Schwarzenegger to release another Christmas movie nearly thirty years after his last is a strange decision. However, the reason for his involvement in The Man With The Bag probably stems from the family comedy’s concept, as the logline describes a heist element.
When Santa’s magic bag is stolen, he turns to his naughty list to find Vance, a former thief, to help him get it back. Along with his daughter, Santa, and a group of misfit elves, Vance will have to pull off the greatest heist of his life to save Christmas.
Alan Ritchson, who is set to star alongside Schwarzenegger, has also featured in action movies and TV shows, such as Reacher, Titans, and Fast X, so The Man With The Bag may have more action elements than its family comedy premise hints at. On 17 December 2024, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Ritchson released The Man With The Bag’s first set image, all but confirming that Schwarzenegger will be assuming the role of Santa Claus in the movie. Directed by Adam Shankman, The Man With The Bag has begun shooting, which means it will be ready for Christmas 2025.
Jingle All The Way 2 Didn’t Include Schwarzenegger And Was Hardly A Sequel To The 1996 Film
Schwarzenegger's Christmas Classic Sequel Has A Bad Reputation
Jingle All The Way became popular after its box office flop and has become one of those classic Christmas movies to watch over the holiday season. However, most people might not realize that a sequel to the 1996 Christmas movie exists. Jingle All The Way 2 was released by WWE Studios and 20th Century Fox in 2014 and does not star Arnold Schwarzenegger at all, with Larry the Cable Guy and Santino Marella playing the lead roles. In fact, the Christmas film is only a sequel in name only, as it has no real connection to the original movie.
Jingle All The Way 2 follows a truck driver competing with the husband of his ex-wife for his daughter’s affection in a similar note to Schwarzenegger’s movie. Produced on a $5 million budget, the direct-to-video family comedy has been hailed as one of the worst Christmas movies of all time for failing to capture the humor or emotions of the original film. Jingle All The Way 2 is a forgettable sequel, and its lack of tie-ins to Schwarzenegger doesn’t help.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Christmas Classic Did What That None Of His Other Hit Movies Could
Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in the Christmas movie Jingle All The Way, which allowed him to do something big that his most successful movies didn't.
Therefore, The Man With The Bag can be Schwarzenegger's Jingle All The Way follow-up that never really happened. While a proper Jingle All the Way sequel may not have been a great idea in the first place, seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger in another Christmas film sounds incredibly exciting. How The Man With The Bag will compare to Jingle All The Way remains to be seen.
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Jingle All the Way
- Release Date
- November 22, 1996
- Runtime
- 89 Minutes
- Director
- Brian Levant
Cast
Sinbad
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYJingle All The Way is a Christmas-themed comedy film by director Brian Levant, released in 1996. After a business-focused father fails to procure a wildly popular toy for his son before Christmas, he must head on a city-wide hunt to find one. His hunt is complicated further when he's forced to go head-to-head with a postal worker on the same quest, leading to a series of ever-escalating events during the holiday season.
- Writers
- Randy Kornfield
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Jingle All the Way 2
- Release Date
- December 2, 2014
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Director
- Alex Zamm
Cast
Brian StepanekVictor Baxter
Larry the Cable GuyLarry-
Lauren K. RobekTrish
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Lindsay MaxwellAttractive Employee
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYJingle All the Way 2 is a holiday comedy released in 2014, featuring Larry the Cable Guy as a determined father on a quest to secure the perfect Christmas gift for his daughter—a much-coveted talking bear. His efforts are complicated by his daughter's stepfather, who is eager to outdo him.
- Writers
- Stephen Mazur
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