Lionsgate has set a December release date for Bad Day, a new action-comedy starring Cameron Diaz, and unveiled the first official look at the project. The film, which has been in development quietly for months, will hit theaters and streaming simultaneously on December 18, 2026, according to the studio.

The announcement arrives with a single still showing Diaz in full FBI field gear, sprinting down a rain-slicked city street with a determined scowl - a sharp contrast to the glittering prom dress worn by her co-star, Laura Marano, in the same frame. The image teases the film’s central premise: a chaotic collision between a teenager’s worst night and a federal investigation gone sideways.

Bad Day centers on Monica Reeves, a high school senior who has pinned all her hopes on being crowned prom queen. But on the big night, her carefully styled hair rebels into an uncontrollable mess - the least of her problems, as it turns out. Monica unknowingly carries a stolen necklace, a piece of jewelry that a notorious jewel thief is desperate to recover. That puts her directly in the path of FBI agent Liz Morgan, played by Diaz, who is tracking the thief through the city.

What begins as a routine chase quickly spirals into a wild, citywide adventure, with Monica swept along whether she likes it or not. The film, directed by Érik Canuel, blends slapstick comedy with chase sequences and a family-friendly tone, aiming for the same broad appeal as Diaz’s earlier hits like The Other Woman or Charlie’s Angels. The 90-minute runtime keeps things tight, promising a brisk, self-contained story rather than a sprawling blockbuster.

The cast rounds out with Leigh-Allyn Baker as fellow agent Liz Morgan’s partner, Christian Campbell as a shady figure named Pierce Peters, and Kiana Madeira as Sierra, Monica’s best friend. Christian Paul, Alain Goulem, Jake Manley, and Zoé De Grand Maison fill out the supporting roles, with Marano’s Monica at the emotional center of the chaos.

The December release slot is notable. Historically, studios reserve that window for awards-season contenders or family-friendly holiday fare, and Bad Day clearly aims for the latter. With a PG-friendly tone and a premise built around teenage anxieties and slapstick action, the film positions itself as counter-programming against the typical late-year prestige dramas. The simultaneous streaming debut also suggests Lionsgate wants to capture both theatrical audiences and home viewers during the busy holiday travel season.

For Diaz, Bad Day marks another step in her carefully managed return to acting. After stepping away from Hollywood in 2018, she came back with the Netflix action-comedy Back in Action in 2025, which proved enough of a hit to re-open doors. This project, though distributed by Lionsgate rather than a streamer, carries a similar spirit: a high-concept, star-driven comedy with a physical performance at its core. Her role as Agent Liz Morgan leans into her knack for playing tough-but-flustered professionals, a type she’s perfected over decades.

The film’s origin, however, is a bit unusual. The story and cast actually date back to a 2015 television movie of the same name, directed by Canuel and starring Marano in the same lead role. That earlier version aired on Family Channel in Canada and earned a modest 6.4/10 rating on TMDb. The new Bad Day appears to be a reimagining or expanded take on that same concept, with Diaz’s star power elevating the material considerably and the production upgraded to a theatrical release.

Lionsgate has not confirmed whether the new version retains any footage or performances from the 2015 original, though the shared director and Marano’s presence suggest at least a loose continuity. The studio’s marketing materials emphasize the “first look” angle, implying this is a fresh production built around Diaz, not a re-release of the older film.

With production completed earlier this year and post-production wrapping over the summer, the December date gives the studio ample time to build a campaign. Expect trailers to lean heavily on Diaz’s comedic timing and the visual gag of a prom-obsessed teen dodging bullets and bad guys in heels. The promotional still released today hints at that dynamic: Marano’s character clutching her corsage while Diaz drags her through a fire escape landing.

The choice to release in December also avoids direct competition with the summer blockbuster season and the crowded November awards corridor, giving Bad Day a clear lane for family audiences looking for something light during the holidays. Whether it becomes a seasonal repeat favorite remains to be seen, but the ingredients - a likable star, a simple high-concept hook, and a compact runtime - suggest Lionsgate is betting on broad, repeatable appeal.

More details, including the full trailer and additional footage, are expected in the coming weeks.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter