Christmas movies usually bring snow, family reunions and a little holiday magic. The Holiday Hitman (2026) brings all of that, plus assassins, ninjas and a hitman using Christmas decorations to survive a deadly Christmas Eve.
Starring Nick Sagar, the action-comedy follows a professional killer trying to save his marriage while keeping an army of holiday-themed assassins away from his family.
Originally announced as Jingle All the Slay, the film is directed by Bradley Stryker and features a reunion of several actors from Netflix’s The Princess Switch franchise.
But when does The Holiday Hitman come out? Who else is in the cast, where was it filmed, and where can you watch it? Here’s everything you need to know.
About The Holiday Hitman (2026)
Hank Carter is very good at his job. Unfortunately, his job is assassination, and it has quietly wrecked his marriage.
Now, Hank wants to make one last real attempt at fixing things with his wife Jenny and their daughter Hannah. He books the family a picture-perfect Christmas at a luxurious lakeside mansion. The plan is simple: no work, no secrets slipping out, just snow, lights and a family that still likes each other by New Year’s.
| Original title | Jingle All the Slay |
| Release date (US) | November 3, 2026 |
| Genre | Christmas action-comedy |
| Director | Bradley Stryker |
| Writers | Charley McDougall, Bradley Stryker, Nick Sagar |
| Producers | Jamie McLeod-Ross, Charley McDougall, Nick Sagar |
| Executive Producer | Arthur Corber |
| Production companies | Empire Studios, Stryke-Force Films, 8th Law Pictures, Everly Entertainment |
| Distributor | Saban Films (North America); Prestige International Pictures (international sales) |
| Runtime | 1 hr 38 min |
| Rating | Unrated |
| Countries | United States, United Kingdom, Canada |
The trouble starts when Hank turns down a Christmas Eve job from Mordecai, a crime lord who doesn’t take rejection well. Mordecai puts a bounty on Hank’s head. Suddenly a parade of holiday-themed killers is heading for the mansion, from elves to ninjas dressed in festive red.
That’s the whole reason the film exists. Hank has to fight off wave after wave of attackers using whatever the house offers, which mostly means Christmas decorations. All the while, he has to keep Jenny and Hannah convinced that nothing unusual is going on.
Think of it as a home-invasion action movie wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.
The ’90s DNA Behind the Film
The filmmakers have been open about their influences. Writer Charley McDougall called the project a love letter to ’90s movies, the kind families rewatch every December. His recipe mixes the festive chaos of Jingle All the Way with the action style of Rush Hour and John Wick.
You can also spot some Home Alone in the premise, with booby-trapped baubles standing in for paint cans. There’s a dash of True Lies too, in a hero hiding his real profession from his wife. The new title, The Holiday Hitman, is clearer than the pun it replaced, but the tone is exactly what the original name promised.
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The Holiday Hitman Cast
| Actor | Character | You may know them from |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Sagar | Hank Carter | The Princess Switch trilogy, Queen of the South, Shadowhunters |
| Montana Manning | Jenny Carter | Hollyoaks |
| Gabriela Ochoa Perez | Hannah Carter | CharlieBird |
| Julio Cesar Cedillo | Mordecai | Sicario, Queen of the South |
| Ricky Norwood | Clive | EastEnders, The Princess Switch |
| Eloise Lovell Anderson | Delilah | The Last Gunfight |
| Vas Blackwood | Reggie | Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels |
| Florence Hall | Jayney | The Princess Switch |
| Adam Korson | Bob | This Is Us, SurrealEstate |
| Mark Fleischmann | Father McDougall | The Princess Switch trilogy |
| Bradley Stryker | Paulie | Terrifier 3 |
| Tim Cullingworth-Hudson | Mike | Prize Fighter |
| Joshua Osei | Bunny | – |
| James McClelland | Lil Joey | – |
| Amber Doig-Thorne | The Red Ninja | – |
| Georgia Curtis | Sandy / Female Elf / Red Ninja #1 | – |
| Alexa Adeosun | Not yet disclosed | The Princess Switch |
Nick Sagar as Hank Carter
This is Sagar’s film in every sense. The London-born actor plays the lead, produced the film and is credited on the writing team. Netflix audiences know him from The Princess Switch films. TV viewers will remember him from Queen of the South, Shadowhunters and Supergirl. The Holiday Hitman lets him combine both sides of that résumé: the warmth of a Christmas romance lead and the physicality of an action star.
There’s a personal side too. Producer Jamie McLeod-Ross grew up with Sagar and has said the two always dreamed of making movies together. This film is that dream, with explosions.
Montana Manning as Jenny Carter
UK audiences know Manning best from Hollyoaks. She plays the wife Hank is trying to win back, and her role is the film’s emotional anchor. Every fight Hank wins outside matters only if he doesn’t lose her inside the house.
Julio Cesar Cedillo as Mordecai
Cedillo brings real cartel-thriller credentials from Sicario, and his casting is a small reunion. He and Sagar worked together before on USA Network’s Queen of the South. Cedillo has praised the script for honouring classic Christmas comedies. As Mordecai, he’s the man who sets the whole bloody sleigh ride in motion.
Ricky Norwood, Florence Hall, Mark Fleischmann and Alexa Adeosun
If the supporting cast feels familiar, there’s a reason. The Holiday Hitman is practically a Princess Switch reunion. Norwood, Hall, Fleischmann and Adeosun all appeared alongside Sagar in Netflix’s royal Christmas franchise. Norwood, a former EastEnders favourite, was one of the first names attached when the film was announced in November 2024.
Vas Blackwood, Adam Korson and the rest
Vas Blackwood, unforgettable in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, adds British crime-comedy pedigree as Reggie. Canadian actor Adam Korson, known for This Is Us, plays Bob. Eloise Lovell Anderson’s Delilah is one of the deadlier operatives chasing the bounty. Director Bradley Stryker also gives himself a role on screen as Paulie.
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Behind the Scenes
The film’s road to release reads like an advent calendar of deal announcements:
- November 2024: Empire Studios and Stryke-Force Films announced Jingle All the Slay ahead of the American Film Market, with Sagar, Norwood and Adeosun attached. Production was set to begin in late November.
- February 2025: Julio Cesar Cedillo, Adam Korson and Montana Manning joined the cast, and first-look images were released. The film was already in post-production by then, with Christmas 2025 as the first target.
- February 2026: Saban Films acquired North American rights ahead of the Berlin European Film Market, and the title officially became The Holiday Hitman.
- May 2026: Prestige International Pictures took the film to the Marché du Film at Cannes for international sales.
- October 2026: The official trailer was released, along with the November 3 US release date.
Missing Christmas 2025 turned out to be a blessing. Instead of a rushed release, the film landed a proper distributor and a full holiday season to find its audience.
A fun detail for trivia fans: the character Father McDougall shares a surname with the film’s writer and producer, Charley McDougall.
Where was The Holiday Hitman filmed?
The filmmakers have not publicly confirmed the exact filming locations, and no verified set reports have surfaced. Here’s what we do know:
- Production began in late November 2024, so the winter look on screen was mostly shot in real winter conditions.
- The film is credited as a US, UK and Canada production, built around a mostly British cast and British producers.
- Nearly all the action takes place at a single luxury lakeside mansion. Independent productions often work this way, locking down one large property and shooting most of the story there.
- The shoot was fast. Cameras rolled in late 2024, and the film was in post-production by February 2025.
We’ll update this section once the cast or crew reveal where the mansion really is. If you recognised the house from the trailer, let us know in the comments.
Where to watch The Holiday Hitman?
The Holiday Hitman is released in the United States on November 3, 2026, through Saban Films. Listings are already up on major digital storefronts, including Prime Video and Apple TV, where you’ll be able to rent or buy it once it’s out. In Canada, Mongrel Media is listed as the distributor.
International release dates depend on the territory deals Prestige International Pictures has been making since Cannes. Check your local digital stores and cinema listings through the season.
Is The Holiday Hitman based on a True Story?
No. Hank Carter, Mordecai and the holiday-themed hit squad are entirely fictional. The film is an original screenplay inspired by ’90s action and family comedies, not by real events.
Is The Holiday Hitman suitable for kids?
It’s sold as a Christmas comedy, but it’s still a movie about assassins fighting in a house. The film is listed as unrated, so parents may want to watch the trailer first. It’s best for teens and adults who like a little action with their eggnog.
Is there a Trailer?
Yes. The official trailer came out in early October 2026. It leans heavily into the decorations-as-weapons gags, the elf assassins, and Sagar’s straight-faced attempts to keep the family holiday on track.
Final Thoughts
The Holiday Hitman knows exactly what it is: a big, silly, warm-hearted action-comedy made for the moment after Christmas dinner when the family can’t agree on a movie. It has a Princess Switch reunion in its cast, a Sicario star as the villain, and a premise that turns fairy lights into weapons. That’s everything it needs to become someone’s new yearly tradition.
The film’s big question is whether Hank can save his marriage. Ours is whether you’ll ever look at a tree ornament the same way again.
FAQs
When does The Holiday Hitman come out?
November 3, 2026, in the United States.
Who plays the Holiday Hitman?
Nick Sagar plays Hank Carter, the hitman at the centre of the story.
What was The Holiday Hitman’s original title?
Jingle All the Slay.
Who directed The Holiday Hitman?
Bradley Stryker. He also co-wrote the screenplay and plays Paulie.
How long is The Holiday Hitman?
Retail listings put it at 1 hour 38 minutes. One sales catalogue lists 89 minutes, which may be a different cut.
Who is the villain in The Holiday Hitman?
Mordecai, the crime lord played by Julio Cesar Cedillo.
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