Latest news with #Trainwreck:TheRealProjectX
Tom's Guide
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's latest 'Trainwreck' documentary about a party gone horribly wrong just hit No. 2 in the top 10
Netflix's "Trainwreck" documentary series has been anything but a trainwreck for the streaming service. Last week alone, two of its documentary films were in the Netflix Global Top 10 for movies, with a combined 14.9 million views. So maybe I shouldn't be surprised to see the latest film in the series — "Trainwreck: The Real Project X" — is already surging up the top 10 this week. After all, it was one of my top picks from all the new shows and movies on Netflix this week. Still, there's no denying that hitting the No. 2 spot after just one day is no mean feat, and it means that this documentary about a party from hell is officially a must-watch. Here's what you need to know about "Trainwreck: The Real Project X" and why you won't be able to turn away from this entertaining documentary. If you've never seen one of Netflix's "Trainwreck" documentaries before, the film series explores some of the more interesting moments in recent history where things went totally wrong. The most famous example to date might be "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise," which covered a 2013 incident on a Carnival cruise ship where an engine room fire turned the ship into a floating septic tank. In "Trainwreck: The Real Project X," the series examines the events of a 2012 party in the town of Haren in the Netherlands. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Dutch teenager Merthe Weusthuis originally was hoping for a small party with her family and friends for her Sweet 16. But when she accidentally set the Facebook event to public instead of private, the event went viral and thousands started accepting her invitation. Things got so out of hand that by the night of the party, she and her mother left town and watched the night's events unfold on TV. What they saw turned out to be the party from Hell. Despite its name, Weusthuis's hijacked Sweet 16 wasn't the inspiration for the 2012 movie "Project X" starring Miles Teller. That movie's inspiration has long been believed to be based on the 2008 party of 16-year-old Australian Corey Worthington, though people associated with the movie have never confirmed this. No, this party, dubbed "Project X Haren," instead drew inspiration from the film, and the results were nearly as disastrous. You'll have to watch "Trainwreck: The Real Project X" to get all the sordid details, but the party of thousands ultimately led to riots and police detained dozens, but not before the damage was already done. The good news for you is that this out-of-control party was 13 years ago, and by all accounts, those involved have had time to move on. So you can watch this "Trainwreck" without guilt. Watch "Trainwreck: The Real Project X" on Netflix now Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
What's Coming to Netflix in July 2025? Full List of New Movies, Shows
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Documentary obsessive are well-served this month with the highest amount of Netflix original reality stories seen on the streamer yet. Landing over the next 31 days are no less than five new feature-length Trainwreck docs - that's the name given to Netflix's in-house documentary team specialising in retelling viral phenomena of farce, chaos, and tragedy. Expect Trainwreck: The Real Project X, Trainwreck: Balloon Boy, Trainwreck: Storm Area 51, Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel, and Trainwreck: P.I. Moms. Adam Sandler stars in Happy Gilmore 2 Adam Sandler stars in Happy Gilmore 2 Netflix Netflix further morphs into the premier documentary destination with Attack on London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers, which delves into the fateful terrorist attacks on England's capital city in 2007, and WWE: Unreal, a new Netflix sports series shedding light on the world's biggest pro wrestling promotion. Of course, they're still releasing movies. Long-awaited legacy sequel Happy Gilmore 2 lands Adam Sandler back in the hole on July 25. For everything releasing on Netflix in July 2025, read on below. What's Coming to Netflix in July 2025? July 1 Attack on London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers — Netflix Documentary Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel — Netflix Documentary 17 Again Annie (1982) Blow Born on the Fourth of July Captain Phillips The Deer Hunter Friday Night Lights Here Comes the Boom The Hitman's Bodyguard & The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Horrible Bosses The Karate Kid trilogy (I–III) Mission: Impossible films (I, II, III, Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation) Mom: Seasons 1–8 The Notebook Pacific Rim PAW Patrol Seasons 2–3 Portlandia Seasons 1–8 The Sweetest Thing Tangerine V for Vendetta White Chicks Yellowjackets Season 2 Zathura: A Space Adventure July 2 The Old Guard 2 — Netflix Film Tour de France: Unchained Season 3 — Netflix Documentary July 3 Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano — Netflix Sports Series Mr. Robot Seasons 1–4 The Sandman Season 2 Volume 1 — Netflix Series July 4 All the Sharks — Netflix Documentary July 5 The Summer Hikaru Died — Netflix Anime July 8 A Star Is Born (2018) Better Late Than Single — Netflix Series Nate Jackson: Super Funny — Netflix Comedy Special Quarterback Season 2 — Netflix Sports Series Sullivan's Crossing Seasons 1–2 Trainwreck: The Real Project X — Netflix Documentary July 9 Building the Band — Netflix Series The Gringo Hunters — Netflix Series Mad Max: Fury Road Under a Dark Sun — Netflix Series Ziam — Netflix Film July 10 7 Bears — Netflix Family Brick — Netflix Film Leviathan — Netflix Anime Off Road — Netflix Series Sneaky Pete Seasons 1–3 Too Much — Netflix Series July 11 Aap Jaisa Koi — Netflix Film Almost Cops — Netflix Film Katie Taylor vs. Serrano III — Netflix Live Event Tyler Perry's Madea's Destination Wedding — Netflix Film July 14 Apocalypse in the Tropics — Netflix Documentary Sakamoto Days Season 1 Part 2 — Netflix Anime July 15 Entitled Season 1 Jaws I–IV Trainwreck: Balloon Boy — Netflix Documentary July 16 Amy Bradley Is Missing — Netflix Documentary Mamma Mia! Wanted July 17 Catalog — Netflix Series Community Squad Season 2 — Netflix Series Untamed — Netflix Series July 18 Almost Family — Netflix Film Delirium — Netflix Series I'm Still a Superstar — Netflix Documentary Superstar — Netflix Series Vir Das: Fool Volume — Netflix Comedy Special Wall to Wall — Netflix Film July 19 Eight for Silver — Netflix Release July 21 The Hunting Wives Season 1 — Netflix Series The Steve Harvey Show Seasons 1–6 July 22 Trainwreck: P.I. Moms — Netflix Documentary July 23 Critical: Between Life and Death — Netflix Documentary Hightown Seasons 1–3 House of Lies Seasons 1–5 Letters From the Past — Netflix Series July 24 A Normal Woman — Netflix Film Hitmakers — Netflix Series My Melody & Kuromi — Netflix Anime The Sandman Season 2 Volume 2 — Netflix Series July 25 Happy Gilmore 2 — Netflix Film Trigger — Netflix Series The Winning Try — Netflix K‑Drama Series July 28 The Lazarus Project Seasons 1–2 — Netflix Series July 29 Dusty Slay: Wet Heat — Netflix Comedy Special Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 — Netflix Documentary WWE: Unreal — Netflix Sports Series July 30 Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes — Netflix Documentary Unspeakable Sins — Netflix Series July 31
Cosmopolitan
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Netflix's Trainwreck: Where is Merthe Weusthuis of The Real Project X now?
While the days of Facebook events and good house parties seem like a lifetime ago, one woman who is probably (read: definitely) celebrating the end of this bygone era is Merthe Weusthuis. Merthe Weusthuis is at the centre of Netflix's latest documentary, The Real Project X, which tells the true story of how a small Sweet 16 party devolved into riots that took over a quaint Dutch town. If you've already taken a deep-dive into the true story behind Netflix's The Real Project X, here's everything you need to know about Merthe Weusthuis' life since then. To recap, Netflix's Trainwreck: The Real Project X follows the true life events of a private party that went viral on Facebook in 2012, resulting in 350,000 RSVPs and town-wide riots. Although the police were deployed to close off the streets and contain the party as much as possible, a riot broke out and people quickly began breaking car windows, setting public property alight, and looting from nearby stores. Luckily, no one died during the event, but at least 36 people were injured and, according to Netflix's documentary, 100 people were arrested after police reviewed footage from the night. Of those arrested, 17 were charged with "crimes related to the riots". Marije Weusthuis from Haren, Netherlands, created a Facebook event for her upcoming Sweet 16 birthday party. The teen intended to just invite her close family and friends, but mistakenly set the invite to public and it quickly went viral. After thousands RSVPd to her invite, Weusthuis removed the event from the social platform but by this point it was too late. Copycat events had sprung up across Facebook and as the day of the party drew closer, hundreds of thousands of partygoers planned to attend. On the night of the event, Weusthuis and her mother fled the family home and sought refuge with family – watching the party unfold via TV broadcast – while her father stayed to protect the property and support their neighbours. Since the events of 21 September 2012, Merthe Weusthuis has been reflecting on how her Sweet 16 devolved into a party that attracted worldwide attention. "When I turned 16, my birthday party was hijacked and blew up to what infamously became known as 'Project X Haren', named after the popular movie released that same year," she wrote in a post on Instagram ahead of the Netflix documentary's release. Going on to say how the story "rapidly captured" the world's attention, Weusthuis explains why after more than a decade, she's finally ready to share her side. "For 12 years, I declined every request for comments, interviews, talkshow performances, documentaries, podcasts, and more," she went on. "I preferred being able to finally move through the world anonymously again, writing my own story without others always filling in the blanks for me, defining me. It's easy to think you 'know' someone just because of a single story, and the internet is an unforgiving place." "I am 28 now and after all these years, I've decided to finally tell this story," she added. "This story does not define me. But it is still mine to tell. It is still a part of who I am. Despite the renewed scrutiny, harassment, and opinions I'm already preparing for, I'll at least have spoken in my own voice." Weusthuis has kept a very low profile since the events of 21 September 2012, only now going public with the release of Netflix's documentary. In it, she reveals she has rarely returned to her hometown, or the Netherlands at all, for fear of judgement and publicity. "Nowadays, I don't come home that much anymore," she says in the episode. "I don't think the Dutch have forgotten what happened." Weusthuis currently lives in Dubai, where she works for a firm specialising in AI, according to her LinkedIn. Further social media sleuthing also shows she recently married, with Instagram posts of her big day in 2024. You can stream Netflix's Trainwreck: The Real Project X on Netflix now.
Cosmopolitan
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Netflix's Trainwreck: The wild true story behind The Real Project X's viral house party
Netflix has expanded its Trainwreck series, which already includes deep-dives into Woodstock '99 and Poop Cruise (IYKYK), with the latest instalment following a house party that took over the streets of a quaint Dutch town. Trainwreck: The Real Project X was released on the streaming platform this week (8 July) and speaks to those at the centre of the house party that became global news. Whether you've already binged the newest addition or you want to clue up before tuning in, here's everything you need to know about the true story behind Netflix's Trainwreck: The Real Project X... In 2012, a teenage girl – Marije Weusthuis – living in Haren, Netherlands, created a Facebook event for her upcoming Sweet 16 birthday party. Although she intended to just invite close family and friends, the teen accidentally set the invite to public and it was quickly shared amongst thousands of people. As her invite gained more attention, the teen realised her error but more than 17,000 people had RSVPd to the event before she had a chance to take it down. By this point, things had already gotten out of control, as other copycat invites were created in its place. One such copycat event was posted by 18-year-old Jorik Clarck who framed the invite as a surprise party for Weusthuis. His invite made several references to 'Project X', and the partygoers quickly adopted the phrase, with many even making merch branded with the slogan. Despite the best efforts of the Weusthuis family, who contacted Clarck to remove the event over fears for their safety, it soon became clear that partygoers would turn up even after both invites were removed from Facebook. Local authorities frantically planned ways to mitigate what they suspected would be a mass event in the streets of this quaint Dutch town, with Chris Garrit (a government official in charge of supervising local nightlife) explaining in the documentary that he wanted to set up a designated space for the party in an attempt to contain it. This plan was rejected by Haren's mayor, Rob Bats, who instead opted to broadcast that the party was cancelled, urging people not to attend. However at this point the horse had already bolted and, by the night of 21 September, 2012, 350,000 had RSVPd to the event. Weusthuis and her mother fled the family home, seeking refuge at a nearby relative's house, while her father stayed to protect the property and provide support for their neighbours. In the Netflix documentary, footage shows partygoers arriving in their thousands, alcohol and speakers in hand, chanting: "Where's the party? The party is here!" Although the police were deployed to close off the streets and contain the party as much as possible, a riot broke out and people quickly began breaking car windows, setting public property alight, and looting from nearby stores. Luckily, no one died during the event, but at least 36 people were injured and, according to Netflix's documentary, 100 people were arrested after police reviewed footage from the night. Of those arrested, 17 were charged with "crimes related to the riots". The next morning, the town was in somewhat of a ruin, prompting residents to create their own Facebook event: Project Clean-X Haren. Of the 350,000 people who RSVPd to the Project X party, over 3,000 actually showed up on the night. Here are a few of the key figures in Trainwreck: The Real Project X... Marije Weusthuis – the teenage girl who posted the first event on Facebook to celebrate her Sweet 16 Jorik Clarck – a different teen who created a copycat Facebook event, which he later removed at the request of the Weusthuis family Chris Garrit – a government official in charge of supervising local nightlife, who brainstormed ways to control the party before it took place Rob Bats – Haren's mayor, who was eventually forced to resign over his poor handling of Project X If you think all of this sounds familiar, then you're right! Weusthuis' party took place just months after the release of Project X was released in cinemas. The movie follows three high-schoolers who throw a wild party – which devolves into a free-for-all – in an attempt to make a name for themselves. The movie stars the likes of Miles Teller (Whiplash, Fantastic Four), Alexis Knapp (Pitch Perfect), and Dax Flame (21 Jump Street). Trainwreck: The Real Project X is available to stream now on Netflix, along with other instalments of the series: The Astroworld Tragedy, The Cult of American Apparel, Woodstock '99, Poop Cruise, and Mayor of Mayhem.
Time Magazine
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
The True Story Behind 'Trainwreck: The Real Project X'
For the people of Haren, a small town in the Netherlands, the 21st night of September is significant (and it has nothing to do with the music of Earth, Wind & Fire). Nearly 13 years ago, the town made international news when thousands of people showed up to celebrate a 16-year-old's birthday after the party invite went viral on Facebook. It was chaos: Rioting injured at least 36 people, and dozens were arrested. In Trainwreck: The Real Project X, out July 8, Netflix explores the making of the party as part of its series on disasters in recent history. It features the birthday girl, Merthe Marije Weusthuis, who is speaking about the party for the first time in 12 years, YouTubers who filmed the party, and local government officials who tried to prevent the party from getting out of hand. 'I am 28 now, and after all these years, I've finally decided to tell this story,' Weusthuis wrote on Instagram when she shared a trailer of the Netflix doc. 'Despite the renewed scrutiny, harassment, and opinions I'm already preparing for, I'll at least have spoken in my own voice.' Here's how the party went viral. A public Facebook event Weusthuis created a public Facebook event for her 16th birthday on Facebook and invited 78 people. As she invited friends, those friends also invited their friends, and it went viral. When 17,000 people RSVP-ed as attending, she deleted the event. But an 18-year-old man named Jorik Clarck created a copycat event, framed as a surprise birthday party for Weusthuis. It contained references to a popular 2012 movie Project X about a high school party that spun out of control. 'I made her Facebook famous,' Jorik brags in Trainwreck. A friend of Weusthuis who was connected to Jorik on Facebook gave her his number. Her father called Jorik and begged him to take down the event, saying he was concerned for his family's safety because people were climbing over their fence and taking pictures of their house. Jorik didn't want to jeopardize Weusthuis's safety so he deleted his event. Then, another copycat event came up. When Weusthuis reached out to the admins, urging them to delete the event, they blew her off. As it became clear that this party was going to happen no matter what, local officials started to brainstorm ways to keep it contained. Chris Garrit, the night in the nearby city of Groningen (actually a government official in charge of supervising the city's nightlife) tells Netflix that he wanted to designate space outside Haren for the party, complete with music and a stage, but Haren's mayor wouldn't allow it. He just wanted to broadcast that the party was cancelled. Weusthuis tells Netflix that she was worried that revelers would burn down her house like in the Project X movie. The day of the party By September 21, about 350,000 people had RSVP-ed as attending the event. Weusthuis sought refuge at an aunt's house outside of Haren. The doc contains lots of footage of the rowdy crowd. With booze in hand, they chanted 'Where's the party? The party is here!' Boomboxes blasted music on the street. Police were on high alert for any hijinx, and started closing off streets near the house. A riot broke out. Some footage in the doc shows officers clubbing unruly revelers. People broke car windows and shoplifted. In the film, a journalist covering the event recalls how he returned to his car to find footprints on the windshield, a window smashed, and a brick on the passenger seat. 'I've kept the brick as a souvenir,' he says. The mayor of Haren, Rob Bats, came under fire for his failure to contain the party, and he ended up resigning. Why so many people wanted to go to a stranger's party At a time when so much socializing was done on social media, people seemed to be excited about a chance to gather in person, and Project X, which was released in March 2012, resonated with and inspired teens. Project X did inspire other real-life parties that spun out of control, from a 2012 rave in Houston, Texas, that resulted in one death to a 2014 party in Canadian Lakes, Michigan, that resulted in several hospitalizations. Weusthuis says she thinks it's a very human instinct to want to go to the party. She totally understands that many teenagers eagerly await the moment when they can drink legally and go to parties. 'I don't think most people who came to the party were intending to riot or commit a crime,' Weusthuis says in the doc. 'I think a lot of people came because they wanted a party. I think it's a normal inherent thing in teenagers around that age, that they want to rebel, take their freedom, express their personalities.' The movie ends with her saying, 'I definitely would have gone if it wasn't my party.'
