Project X

Project X is a 2012 "found footage" film 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 used in Project X include:

• 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.
• Because You Were Nice to Me: Dax is often seen as the creepy trenchcoat teen who may or may not have killed his parents. However when with Thomas, Costa and J.B., he seems to not only get along with them and video tape their party; but also stand up for them regarding Rob's attempt to shut the party down. He mentions in a recording of himself that Thomas' birthday party was the first party he's ever been to, so the fact that they invited him in the first place shows why he doesn't express too much creeper tendencies around them.
• 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? It was full of ecstasy. And T-Rick wants it back.
• The Danza: All of the characters share the same first names as their actors.
• Despair Event Horizon: Thomas seemingly loses it and decides to stop caring when the helicopter passes above his house. He flips off the camera and proceeds to jump from his roof... right into the bouncy castle.
• Determinator: T-Rick. When he finds out that the four stole his Garden Gnome, he goes after them. Breaking their windshield with his bare hand and clinging on to the hood of the Van. When Thomas manages to get him off the car and drive away, they think they gave him the slip until he runs up to their van from the next street. Thomas himself describing him like "The fucking Terminator." Later on, long after the gnome is trashed and the ecstasy is all consumed, T-Rick shows up dressed in body armor and a welder's mask armed with a flame-thrower demanding his Gnome back, while burning the Neighborhood down. Even after the cops burn him by exploding his tank, he's still alive, carted off to an ambulance, shouting Costa's name in revenge.

T-Rick: GIVE ME BACK MY FUCKING GNOME!!!

• 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: J.B.
• Flipping the Bird: The Santa statue does this perpetually, and Thomas does it to the helicopter.
• 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. He's still awaiting the results of three paternity tests, though.
• Kill It with Fire: T-Rick shows up at the party wearing body armor and carrying a flamethrower, looking for revenge against Thomas, Costa and J.B. for stealing his Santa statue full of ecstasy.
• 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. The last time, it's Kirby who walks in on him fondling Alexis' breasts, causing her to break up with him.
• 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 when the dwarf drives the car right in the pool. This time, even Costa understands that he just can't repair the damages anymore.
• One of the Boys: Kirby.
• Parental Abandonment: Dax, with the implication at the end that he's a Self-Made Orphan.
• 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: By T-Rick at the end.
• 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, and scored with at least three girls.
• 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 was indicted on six separate charges.
  • Costa got off the hook thanks to his expensive "Jew lawyer", but is still awaiting results on three separate paternity tests.
  • J.B. also got his charges dropped because his parents claimed that he was "special needs", but now he has to ride the short bus to school.
  • Dax is being investigated for the disappearance of his parents.
• Wild Teen Party: The Movie.
  • Exaggerated Trope, Deconstructed Trope, and reconstructed.
• Your Cheating Heart: Kirby is understandably upset when she sees Thomas and Alexis half-naked in bed right after the two of them (Kirby and Thomas) had kissed.