John Travolta is a disco-dancing Santa in Capital One’s holiday nod to ‘Saturday Night Fever’

Bryan Buckley directed the minute-long spot, which also features a cameo from Donna Pescow

Published On
Oct 31, 2023
John Travolta as Santa Claus in the new Capital One commercial

Editor's Pick

It’s November tomorrow, which means the holiday advertising is about to become an avalanche. Here’s one of the first spots out of the gate—Capital One’s new “Saturday Night Fever” homage with John Travolta as a boogeying Santa Claus.

Bryan Buckley of Hungry Man directed the minute-long spot from agency GSD&M, which begins with a shot of Travolta’s walking shoes, just as the iconic 1977 disco film did. Wherever Travolta Claus goes, he spreads cheer—with help from a can of “glitter paint” and his Capital One Quicksilver card.

The whole thing is set to “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, and there’s even a cameo by Donna Pescow, who played Annette in “Saturday Night Fever.” 

 

This isn’t the first time Travolta travolta has played Santa in a Capital One commercial opposite a co-star from a classic film—he did it back in 2020 with Samuel L. Jackson, in a callback to “Pulp Fiction.”

The campaign continues the “What’s in your wallet?” tagline, introduced in 2000.

Credits

Date
Oct 31, 2023
Client :
Capital One
Agency :
GSD&M
EVP Chief Creative Officer :
Jay Russell
Chief Brand Officer :
Marc Mentry
MVP Advertising & Media :
Daniel McCaskey
VP Brand Advertising :
Malcolm Simpson
Director Brand Advertising :
Kim Bock
Senior Manager Brand Advertising :
Annalee Barkstrom
Manager Brand Advertising :
Colin Geoghegan
VP Brand Content & Social Marketing :
Ben Freidson
Director Brand Social Media & Content :
Sherry Roper
Senior Manager Social & Content Strategy :
Bridgette Beyer
Principal Associate Social & Content Strategy :
Erika Bush
SVP Group Creative Director :
Ryan Carroll
SVP Group Creative Director :
Scott Brewer
Creative Director/Writer :
Brandon Curl
Creative Director/ Art Director :
Dale Austin
EP :
Jon Ellis
SVP Managing Director :
Nancy Ryan
VP Account Director :
Jodi Bucciarelli
Account Supervisor :
Ben Weber
Account Manager :
Kendall Heath
Production :
Hungry Man
Director :
Bryan Buckley
Managing Partner/ EP :
Caleb Dewart
Partner/Executive Producer :
Kim Dellara
Head of Production :
Marian Harkness
Line Producer :
Matt Lefebvre
Production Supervisor :
Will Vudmaska
Assistant Production Supervisor :
Dahly McCormick
Talent Coordinator :
Teresa Mendoza
1st AD :
Craig Owens
2nd AD :
Jimmy Ramirez
2nd AD :
Michael Dudley
Director's Assistant :
Tate Kuelling
DOP :
Scott Henriksen
Steady Camera :
Chris Cunningham
1st AC - A Cam :
Dennis Lynch
2nd AC - A Cam :
Jay Hardie
1st AC - B Cam :
Scott Garrison
2nd AC - B Cam :
Emily Zenk
Production Designer :
David Skinner
Art Director :
Ivan Fraser
Art Dept Coordinator :
Shaun Viola
Set Decorator :
Ashley Campanella
Prop Master :
Jon Moberg
Assistant Props :
Tony Alexander
Lead Set Dresser :
Larry Azarva
On-Set Dresser :
Brian Tenzca
Editorial :
Cabin Edit
EP :
Adam Becht
Senior Producer :
Mary Stasilli
Editor :
Andrew Ratzlaff
VFX :
The Mill
Creative Director :
John Leonti
Senior Producer :
Heather Johann
Senior Producer :
Kayli Ennis

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