©Netflix - NetflixTold from their perspective, the Trainwreck series and films will explore everything from disastrous festivals, political scandals and fake news in the media, to cult-like corporations and reality TV disasters. The first installment, released in 2022, explored the infamous Woodstock '99 festival, and starting Tuesday, June 10, Trainwreck will examine eight other moments from recent history each week - from the devastating Astroworld tragedy to the cult surrounding American Apparel.
Read more about the true stories featured in upcoming documentary series and films below.
Tuesday, June 10: Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy
In November 2021, some 50,000 music fans will gather at Houston’s NRG Park for Travis Scott’s third Astroworld music festival—the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. But the event’s security staff struggles to manage the large crowd, and events take a tragic turn as the crowd surges toward the stage for the headliner, resulting in a deadly crowd that becomes the subject of fevered speculation and condemnation in the media. In 2023, a Houston grand jury found no one criminally responsible for the deaths at Astroworld. All 10 wrongful death lawsuits have been settled out of court by Live Nation, Travis Scott, and other defendants for undisclosed amounts.
Tuesday, June 17: Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem
During the 2010 Toronto mayoral election, fiery city councillor Rob Ford unexpectedly announces his candidacy. Often dismissed as a joke by other politicians and the media, he defies critics with a shocking victory. But his reign quickly turns into a slow-burn disaster when an avalanche of scandals and allegations of hard drug use lead to an international media frenzy.
©Netflix - NetflixTuesday, June 24: Trainwreck: Poop Cruise
It was supposed to be a luxury cruise: a four-day roundtrip from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel, Mexico. But for the 4,000-plus passengers and crew on board, the reality proves catastrophically different. After a fire in the engine room destroys the electrical cables that power the entire ship, the boat drifts without power for propulsion, refrigeration, lighting, air conditioning, or worse, without flushing toilets.
Soon, raw sewage is leaking all over the ship, food supplies are dwindling, and passengers are rioting. The cruise line tries to contain the fallout, but the damage has been done: the media can't get enough of the "poo cruise."
©Netflix - NetflixTuesday, July 1: Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel
In the mid-2000s, American Apparel is becoming one of the most successful fashion brands in the United States, known for its colorful casual clothing, ethical manufacturing, and sexually provocative advertising campaigns. For young employees, it’s an exciting time: a chance to be part of a cult-like company that’s revolutionizing the fashion industry, and a chance to learn from American Apparel’s charismatic CEO and founder, Dov Charney.
But as the brand rapidly grows, the young employees begin to realize that American Apparel’s glossy surface hides a dark reality. Charney’s chaotic management begins to affect the company’s finances, and he is accused of sexual harassment by female employees. As the problems mount and the company begins to implode, employees are forced to confront the toxic work environment Charney has created. Charney has denied the allegations and has not been found guilty of or liable for any crimes. The lawsuits against him have been settled or have gone to arbitration.
Tuesday, July 8: Trainwreck: The Real Project X
In 2012, a teenage girl in the small Dutch town of Haren creates a Facebook event for her sixteenth birthday, but makes the page public instead of private. Inspired by her love for the Hollywood film Project X, Dutch teens make the event go viral and soon thousands of people have signed up.
Despite warnings, the police and local authorities seem to expect that no one will show up. No provisions are made to entertain the masses of young people who come to Haren, and the party quickly degenerates into a full-blown riot.
©Netflix - NetflixTuesday, July 15: Trainwreck: Balloon Boy
On October 15, 2009, a father in Fort Collins, Colorado, speaks to a 911 operator and claims that his homemade airship has escaped from the family's backyard, with his six-year-old son inside. This stranger-than-fiction claim is supported by footage from a news helicopter catching up with the balloon and televising the chase. What begins as a local emergency quickly escalates into a national emergency, as everyone from the local sheriff to the National Guard scrambles to come up with a plan to safely rescue "Balloon Boy."
As the balloon gently lands, a captivated nation prays for a miraculous reunion—only to learn that there is no boy inside. But what seems like a tragedy takes a sharp turn. Public sympathy quickly turns to righteous outrage, as Balloon Boy quickly becomes one of America’s most infamous—and bizarre—news stories.
Tuesday, July 22: Trainwreck: P.I. Moms
In 2010, Lifetime orders a reality series about a private investigation agency that employs soccer moms. Everyone is convinced they have the next big hit on their hands, until the production crew realizes something is amiss. The moms’ investigations continue to fail, leading to accusations of sabotage. At the same time, a mysterious informant accuses the agency’s boss of running an illegal drug business on the side, aided by a corrupt cop. For both the show and the criminals who deal drugs, it’s only a matter of time before things fall apart disastrously.
Tuesday, July 29: Trainwreck: Storm Area 51
This is the story of the biggest sh*tpost ever. When 20-year-old Matty Roberts creates a Facebook event inviting people to storm the heavily guarded Area 51 Air Force base in the Nevada desert, the post quickly goes viral. Hundreds, then thousands, of people say they will join the event. The announcement read: "They can't stop us all."
This prompted the U.S. Air Force, FBI, and Federal Aviation Administration to strongly discourage anyone attempting to gain illegal access to the base. Despite official warnings, the post continued to go viral, and soon millions had signed up: meme lords, military commanders, UFO hunters, sexy aliens, and YouTubers, all part of the ultimate internet-invaded-real-world story.
