Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies have many loyal fans. His memorable one-liners and iconic action scenes make his films unforgettable. Recently, Schwarzenegger joked that his ex-wife, Maria Shriver, has a unique way of reminding him about one of his classic movies — and it’s quite funny.
In Schwarzenegger’s upcoming film, The Man with the Bag, he teams up with Alan Ritchson, known for Reacher, to recover stolen Christmas presents. Fans might remember Schwarzenegger’s only previous Christmas movie, Jingle All the Way from 1996, which is currently streaming on Disney+. In that film, he plays a father trying to find a Turbo Man toy for his son during the holiday season. Maria Shriver clearly remembers that movie well.
At Amazon’s Upfront 2025 Presentation, Schwarzenegger joked (via People) that Shriver often reminds him of Jingle All the Way. He said that receiving a residual check when the movie airs on TV is her way of sending a reminder. Either that, or it happens when the Turbo Man toy returns to stores for the holidays.
Schwarzenegger and Shriver finalized their divorce in 2021 after nearly 35 years of marriage. They had been separated for ten years following news that Schwarzenegger fathered a child outside their marriage. Despite the split, Schwarzenegger revealed in his memoir that he still feels love for Shriver. He emphasized that the most important thing is for them to co-parent their four children without conflict. This, he said, is the best way to keep the family connected after a separation.
Like Shriver, many fans enjoy Jingle All the Way. The movie is a classic Christmas film that humorously shows the commercial side of the holidays. It also features exciting action scenes that are hard to forget. Schwarzenegger’s character, Howard Langston, is the ideal movie dad who would face any challenge — even angry criminal elves — to get his son the best Christmas gift. Just be careful not to eat Howard’s Christmas cookies, or he might react more strongly than expected!
According to Schwarzenegger’s joke, the holiday season is marked by Jingle All the Way airing on TV and the residual checks that come with it. If The Man with the Bag starts playing regularly on TV, Shriver might receive another check as well. Keep an eye on the 2025 movie releases to see if the Amazon MGM Studios film makes it to television.
