Project X (2012)
Where to Watch
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Nima Nourizadeh's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- Nima Nourizadeh originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
Project X is a 2012 American found-footage comedy directed by Nima Nourizadeh. Three high school friends โ the birthday boy Thomas, his best friend Costa, and their friend JB โ throw a house party while Thomas's parents are away, filming the entire event. What begins as a modest gathering escalates catastrophically through social media virality into an apocalyptic 1,500-person riot involving a bouncing castle, a stolen garden gnome full of ecstasy, a flamethrower-wielding neighbor, and the eventual deployment of police riot squads.
The film's found-footage format gave the escalating chaos an immersive, experiential quality. Project X earned $100 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. The film sparked significant cultural debate about teenage party culture and social media's role in enabling reckless behavior, with some critics arguing it glorified destruction while others saw it as cautionary satire.
