Netflix Releases Documentary on 2012 Dutch Riot Caused by Viral Party

The Netflix documentary "Trainwreck: The Real Project X," directed by Alex Wood and releasing July 8, 2025, revisits the 2012 social media disaster in Haren, Netherlands, where a teenage girl's mistakenly public Facebook birthday invitation spiraled into a massive riot. Initially intended as a private celebration, the event's public setting allowed thousands to RSVP, amplified by copycat pages and online hype referencing the 2012 teen comedy "Project X," which depicted a wild house party. Despite warnings, local authorities underestimated the scale and failed to prepare adequate security, resulting in chaos, violence, and two deaths, though the documentary offers limited insight into the victims' stories. The film examines the volatile intersection of online actions and real-world consequences, highlighting the dangers of digital spectacle and social media's amplified impact. Critics note the documentary's focus on a chronological retelling rather than deeper analysis of Facebook's role or community responses, and it portrays the town's unpreparedness and missed opportunities to manage the influx more effectively. Available worldwide with subtitles and dubbed versions, the film contributes to Netflix's anthology series on public disasters, dramatizing how a seemingly small social media mistake led to a landmark digital-age tragedy.