It’s been over a decade. Honestly, that’s a terrifying thought if you remember the absolute chaos that erupted when Project X hit theaters in 2012. It wasn't just a movie; it was a cultural flashpoint that caused actual, real-life police departments to issue warnings about copycat parties. But while the house in the movie was burned to the ground and the dog ended up attached to balloons, the actual actors of Project X had to figure out what comes next after starring in the most infamous party movie of a generation.
Most people thought they were just random kids. They weren't.
Director Nima Nourizadeh and producer Todd Phillips—the guy behind The Hangover—deliberately went looking for fresh faces to make the "found footage" vibe feel authentic. They didn't want recognizable Disney stars. They wanted people who looked like they actually went to a public high school in Pasadena. This gave the actors of Project X a unique level of anonymity that worked for the film but made the "post-fame" transition a bit of a weird ride.
Thomas Mann: The Professional High Schooler Who Grew Up
Thomas Mann played Thomas, the birthday boy. He was the "responsible" one, if you can even use that word for someone who let a dealer with a flamethrower torch his neighborhood. Thomas Mann was actually 17 when he started the process, and unlike a lot of his co-stars, he already had a couple of small credits. But this was the big one.
What’s wild is how he pivoted. Usually, after a massive R-rated comedy, you get pigeonholed into doing Project X 2 or some generic slasher. Thomas didn't. He went the indie route. If you haven't seen Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, you're missing out on his best work. It’s the polar opposite of Project X. It’s quiet, it’s devastating, and it proved he could actually act without a beer bong in his hand.
He’s worked with legendary names since then. We’re talking Martin Scorsese in Project Blue Book (the podcast series) and appearing in Kong: Skull Island. He’s become a reliable character actor. It's funny—he still has that youthful face, but he’s managed to distance himself from the "Thomas" persona by choosing roles that require way more emotional heavy lifting than just looking stressed while a Mercedes-Benz sinks into a swimming pool.
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Oliver Cooper: The Mouth That Roared
Then there’s Oliver. Costa. The guy everyone loved to hate. Oliver Cooper basically carried the energy of the movie on his back. His character was loud, obnoxious, and arguably the most realistic depiction of that one friend we all had who pushed things way too far.
Cooper was actually working at a mall when he got the part. The story goes that his audition tape was so naturally chaotic that they just had to cast him. For a while, he was everywhere in the comedy scene. He showed up in Californication alongside David Duchovny and had a memorable turn in The Hangover Part III.
But here’s the thing: Oliver Cooper is a lot smarter about the industry than people give him credit for. He’s moved into writing and producing. He’s also done some surprisingly dark work, like playing serial killer David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) in Netflix’s Mindhunter. If you want to talk about range, going from "guy who invited the entire city to a party" to "notorious serial killer" is a pretty massive leap. He’s unrecognizable in that role. It’s chilling.
Jonathan Daniel Brown: The Quiet One
The third member of the trio, JB, played by Jonathan Daniel Brown, was the most "average" of the group. In the years following the film, Brown stayed in the industry but often behind the scenes or in very specific niches. He directed a film called Horseshoe Theory and has been vocal on social media about the industry.
JB was the character everyone related to because he just wanted to fit in. In real life, Brown has focused heavily on stand-up comedy and podcasting. He hasn’t chased the blockbuster dragon as hard as some of the others, seemingly more interested in the creative control that comes with independent projects and the LA comedy circuit.
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The Supporting Cast and the "Drake" Factor
You can't talk about the actors of Project X without mentioning the people on the fringes who became massive.
- Kirby Bliss Blanton: She played Kirby, the girl next door. She’s continued to work steadily, appearing in horror films like The Green Inferno and various TV guest spots. She’s maintained a solid career without the "party girl" stigma.
- Miles Teller: Wait, what? Yeah. A lot of people forget Miles Teller is in Project X. He plays... Miles. He’s the guy who shows up and basically says "this party is legendary." This was right before he blew up with Whiplash and Top Gun: Maverick. He’s easily the most successful "alum" of the film, though his role was relatively small.
- Dax Flame: If you were on YouTube in 2007, you knew Dax Flame. He was one of the first "viral" vloggers. Casting him as the kid filming the party was a stroke of genius. He’s still active on YouTube and recently had a bit of a career resurgence through collaborations with creators like Ididntknow and appearing in 21 Jump Street.
Why We Still Care About These Actors
The movie worked because it felt like a home video. It captured a very specific moment in the early 2010s—the transition from Blackberrys to iPhones, the peak of LMFAO and Steve Aoki, and the last gasp of the "found footage" craze. The actors of Project X weren't just playing roles; they were avatars for every teenager’s suburban boredom.
The legacy of the cast is defined by their survival. Most "teen movie" casts burn out. They end up in reality TV or just disappear. This group didn't. They leveraged the massive, somewhat controversial success of a $100 million-grossing R-rated comedy into legitimate, long-term careers.
Real-World Impact: The "Project X" Curse?
There was a lot of talk back in 2012 about whether the movie was "dangerous." There were real parties in Houston, Brazil, and Alberta that tried to recreate the film. Some ended in arrests; some ended in tragedies. For the actors, this was a weird weight to carry. They were the faces of a "movement" of teenage rebellion that they didn't actually lead—they were just following a script in a controlled environment with craft services and stunt coordinators.
Thomas Mann has mentioned in interviews that people still come up to him expecting him to be a massive partier. In reality, he’s pretty low-key. The gap between the screen persona and the real person is wider here than in almost any other "teen" movie.
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What to Watch if You Want to See Their Range
If you want to see what the actors of Project X are actually capable of, skip the rewatch of the party and check these out instead:
- Thomas Mann in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. It will break your heart.
- Oliver Cooper in Mindhunter Season 2. He is legitimately terrifying as Son of Sam.
- Miles Teller in Whiplash. If you want to see the "Project X jock" turn into a disciplined, obsessed musician.
- Kirby Bliss Blanton in The Green Inferno for a total 180-degree turn into gritty survival horror.
The transition from "overnight sensation" to "working actor" is the hardest trick to pull off in Hollywood. Most of the Project X crew managed it by leaning into the weirdness of their fame rather than running away from it. They accepted that they’d always be the "party kids" to a certain demographic, but they used that foot in the door to build something that actually lasted.
If you’re looking to follow their current projects, the best bet is to track their production credits. Both Cooper and Brown have shifted significantly toward development, proving that while the party in the movie ended in a disaster, their actual careers were just getting started.
To keep up with the latest from the Project X alum, check out the upcoming indie circuit schedules or look into the latest Netflix character drama casting calls. You’ll usually find at least one of them popping up in the places you’d least expect.