This is an unexpected Thanksgiving gift. John Travolta has officially sleighed the holidays. In what may be the best holiday commercial of 2025, the screen legend returns as Santa Claus, and Travolta’s Santa breaks into a full-blown performance of Greased Lightnin’ for Capital One’s new Quicksilver campaign, created by GSD&M and directed by Bryan Buckley through Hungryman.
The spot, which debuted nationally during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, finds Travolta strolling into a Santa’s-garage set that looks unmistakably like the one from Grease. Only this time, the hot rod is a tricked-out sleigh with a 1950s front grill and enough chrome to blind Rudolph.
“Why, this sleigh could be frost-o-matic, tinsel-o-matic, one point five percent cash back-o-matic,” Travolta croons before the elves join him in a high-energy musical number. By the time he hits Go Greased Lightnin’, the entire workshop is rocking, and Santa Zuko slides under and over the vehicle like it’s 1978 all over again. Watch below. And watch again. Then dance and watch it:
The commercial is a follow-up to 2023’s hit spot in which Travolta’s Santa riffed on Saturday Night Fever. This year’s iteration leans even harder into nostalgia, giving fans the crossover they never knew they needed: Santa Claus meets Rydell High swagger.
Travolta, now seventy-one, throws himself into the choreography with the same charisma that made Danny Zuko iconic. By the end of the ad, he literally takes liftoff, flying the souped-up sleigh into the sky as the elves cheer him on.
Capital One teased his return earlier this week with the caption, “Guess who’s coming to sleigh the holidays,” and fans wasted no time calling Travolta the “greatest Santa ever.”
The campaign was developed by GSD&M, with production by Hungry Man, direction by Bryan Buckley, editorial by Mack Cut, and a rollicking soundscape by King Lear Music.
Given the perfect mix of nostalgia, humor, craft, and pure musical joy, don’t be surprised if this becomes the most talked-about holiday spot of the season. Travolta didn’t just don the red suit. He brought Santa a little grease, a little soul, and a whole lot of charm and the result is pure lightning.
CREDITS:
BRAND: Capital One
AGENCY: GSD&M
- Executive Creative Director: Ryan Carroll
- Sr. VP Group Creative Director; AD: Scott Brewer
- Creative Director; Writer: @brandoncurl
- Creative Director; AD: Dale Austin
- Associate Creative Director; Writer: Jack Rogosin
- Executive Producer: Jon Ellis
- Associate Creative Director; AD: Will Hammack
- Producer: Natalia Perez
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Hungryman
EDIT: Mackcut
VFX: @prlmt
- Founder / Partner: Phil Crowe
- Director, Creative Tech & Production Innovation: Krystina Wilson
- Producer: Mike Cimino
- VFX Supervisor: @telemason CG Supervisor: Brandon Thomas
Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360 News. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on Twitter at @colinthewriter1
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