Project X

Project X is a 2012 Found Footage Films produced by Todd Phillips (of The Hangover fame) and Joel Silver. It is about three teenage boys, Thomas, Costa and J.B., who decide to celebrate the former's 17th birthday with the most epic party in the school's history, after promising Thomas' parents that nothing crazy would happen to their house while they were gone for the weekend. Unfortunately for them, as the partygoers pour in, the situation quickly gets out of their control.

The filmmakers made a point of keeping many of the film's details secret so as to increase the mystery and hype surrounding it, seeking out unknown actors and using what was originally meant as a placeholder title as the film's actual name. It has mostly gotten negative reviews from critics, though it turned out to be very profitable.

Not to be confused with the 1987 movie of the same name, which was about Matthew Broderick and a bunch of chimpanzees in the Air Force.

Tropes:

 * The Alleged Car: The minivan at the end of the film, which is missing two doors and has had most of its paint scorched off. Thomas' parents force him to drive it to school as punishment, though his friends think it looks Badass.
 * Based on a True Story: More specifically, based on this guy. Compare the ending of the film to that video, particularly the way that Costa is dressed. The opening of the film also claims that the events of the film actually happened in Pasadena, though the film itself is a work of fiction.
 * Big Man on Campus: Thomas becomes this at the end.
 * Chekhov's Gun: Remember the Santa statue that the main characters stole from T-Rick?
 * The Danza: All of the characters share the same first names as their actors.
 * Despair Event Horizon:
 * Enforced Method Acting: The three lead actors were sent to Disneyland together and spent a weekend up at a cabin in Big Bear City so as to make a more believable friendship between them. Also, during filming of the party scenes, the music kept playing even when cameras weren't rolling so as to maintain the party atmosphere among the extras.
 * The Faceless: Averted early on -- while the movie's camera-based POV would normally leave the cameraman Dax as an example, he takes a brief shot of a mirror so the audience gets a clear view of him.
 * Fan Service
 * Fingore:
 * Flipping the Bird: The Santa statue does this perpetually,.
 * Gamer Chick: Kirby is seen kicking Costa's ass at Mortal Kombat 9 on the 360.
 * Godwin's Law: While Thomas' dad is going over the many rules for when he and his wife are away, Costa is seen doing a finger mustache and a straight-armed salute.
 * Informed Judaism: J.B.
 * Karma Houdini: Costa, the one who planned the entire party, gets his charges dropped because his family can afford a good lawyer.
 * Kill It with Fire: shows up at the party wearing body armor and carrying a flamethrower,.
 * Leno Device: At the end of the film, Jimmy Kimmel is talking about the party on his show, along with several real-life LA-area DJs.
 * Moment Killer: Happens numerous time to Thomas. Anytime he's about to get some action, an incident happens, prompting him to leave the girl.
 * Oh Crap: Thomas has this reaction every time something goes a little wrong, which is to say, for about half the movie. The most notable one would be . This time, even Costa understands that he just can't repair the damages anymore.
 * One of the Boys: Kirby.
 * Parental Abandonment:
 * A Party - Also Known as an Orgy
 * The Precious Precious Car: Thomas' dad tells him not to touch the Mercedes or let anybody else use it. Predictably, it winds up at the bottom of the pool.
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge:
 * Running Gag: Costa seems to have a cousin for everything.
 * Small Name, Big Ego: Costa. He thinks he's cool, and is quick to blame the two other boys for his loser reputation and lack of girlfriend, but the scenes showing him inviting people to the party indicates that it's probably just in his head. He's also fond of talking about his life in Queens, where he supposedly was one of the coolest boys ever. On the other hand, he did organize the wildest party ever without suffering any lasting consequences, managed to gather a very large crowd for his friend's birthday, became one of the coolest kids in school,.
 * Tempting Fate: Basically the first quarter of the movie. Any Genre Savvy viewer can guess that any of the rules laid out by Thomas or his father will end up broken.
 * The Voiceless: Dax, the main cameraman, rarely speaks until the very end. Given what we learn about him later, this makes him a lot scarier. Even the main characters are freaked out by him.
 * Was It Really Worth It?
 * What Could Possibly Go Wrong?: Of course Thomas will never do anything too serious, he's a "loser".
 * Where Are They Now? Epilogue:
 * Thomas.
 * Costa.
 * J.B..
 * Dax.
 * Wild Teen Party: The Movie.
 * Exaggerated Trope, Deconstructed Trope, and reconstructed.
 * Your Cheating Heart: