Made for just a few million, the blood-soaked thriller earned $17 million domestically in its opening weekend.
Does internet popularity translate to commercial success at the theatrical box office? That's what Hollywood is still trying to figure out. Iron Lung, an independent feature from YouTuber Markiplier, is the latest project driving that conversation.
The claustrophobic horror film, made for under $3 million, raked in roughly $17 million domestically in its opening weekend. This is all the more impressive considering Markiplier, whose real name is Mark Fischbach, financed it himself and eschewed a traditional marketing push, getting the film on roughly 2,500 screens without the help of a traditional studio, per IndieWire.
It's been interesting to contrast the project with Chris Stuckmann's Shelby Oaks, another horror movie made by a popular YouTuber. Despite the backing of Neon and executive producer Mike Flanagan, Shelby Oaks earned just a fraction of Iron Lung's haul in its first weekend.
Fischbach has some thoughts as to why his gambit paid off, but first, learn a bit about him and the movie itself.
What is Iron Lung about?
Iron Lung is an adaptation of the 2022 video game of the same name, created by David Szymanski. The game, like the movie, is set entirely inside a rusty submarine as it navigates the crimson waters of a distant moon following an apocalyptic event.
The official synopsis reads: "Set in a post-apocalyptic future where an event known as the 'The Quiet Rapture' caused all known stars and habitable planets in the universe to disappear, a convict is sent to search an ocean of blood discovered on a desolate moon, using a small submarine nicknamed the 'Iron Lung.'"
In addition to writing and directing the movie, Fischbach also stars alongside Caroline Rose Kaplan and Troy Baker, the latter of whom is one of the most acclaimed actors in the realm of video games.
"I've played a lot of indie horror games, and this one stood out as being different," Fischbach said of the movie's origins on a Jan. 30 episode of The Town With Matt Belloni. "So, given that it had a lot of unique facets, I was interested what the universe was trying to be... I could see there being more here."
Is there an Iron Lung trailer?
The trailer for Iron Lung highlights the stark, punishing interior of the titular submarine, as well as the ocean of blood it traverses.
Fischbach's protagonist is surrounded by disembodied voices in the clip, his only company until the red waters begin flooding the vessel.
Who is Markiplier?
Fischbach has been making content on YouTube since 2012, and found early success with "Let's Play" videos of indie horror games heavy on jump scares, stuff like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Five Nights at Freddy's.
"From quality content to meme-able garbage, from scary games to full-on interactive movies you'll find it all," reads the description on his YouTube page, which currently has over 38 million followers. "Maybe you like horror games, or funny games, or comedy sketches, or animations, or compilations, or reactions, or reviews, or challenges, or cryptic lore, or mind-crippling ennui, or stuff-that-is-guaranteed-to-probably-make-you-cry? Whatever you're into I'm sure there's something for you down in the briny deep of my video page."
Over time, he grew his budding empire with live shows and interactive specials like A Heist With Markiplier (2019), which essentially function like Choose Your Own Adventure books with multiple endings. He also started a clothing line, Cloak, and hosts a handful of podcasts, including Distractable and Go! My Favorite Sports Team.
As a performer, Fischbach has lent his voice to the Cartoon Network's Villainous (2017-present) and acted in the miniseries The Edge of Sleep (2024), on which he is also an executive producer.
Iron Lung is his feature directorial debut.
How was Iron Lung released on so many screens?
As Fischbach noted on The Town, he put "a few million" of his own money into making Iron Lung, and opted out of traditional distribution and marketing routes by leaning on his fanbase. The only studio involved in Iron Lung is his own, Markiplier Studios.
Initially, he envisioned his movie opening in only 50 to 60 theaters with the help of Centurion Film Service. After launching a website and sharing a trailer to his socials, that number quickly ballooned. Fischbach credits the passion of his fanbase with spreading the word by calling, emailing, and even showing up in person to their local theaters to ask that they show it.
With the ball rolling, "the FOMO starts to build," he said. It wasn't long before he was taking calls with major theater chains like Cinemark and Regal.
What makes his fanbase so devoted? For Fischbach, it's not just about numbers, but how engaged they are with him as a creator. "I've been talking about this movie and people knew how much work I was putting into it because of the close relationship I have with my audience," he said on The Town. "So they knew what I was doing for years leading up to this."
He continued, "I have consistently made my channel about my journey as a creator and my skill-building as a filmmaker or whatever you want to say... Every aspect of it has been me building my skills and people see that journey."
What are critics saying about Iron Lung?
Critics are mixed on Iron Lung, with the film currently holding a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Variety describes it as an "overlong, murky sci-fi suspense effort," adding that those "previously unacquainted with the game are likely to make little sense" of its story.
The Guardian echoed similar criticisms, adding that the movie is "sunk by the depressive tone, leaden pacing, and near-total absence of spectacle." The review continues, "This is basically a radio-play script that insistently has to tell, because this barebones production has nothing much to show."
"Audacious and at times astonishingly boring," is how IndieWire describes the film, but the outlet also notes that it's "far from a failure."
It continues, "Measured against the graveyard of other video game adaptations... this deeply flawed attempt still stands as a testament to what happens when actual gamers make video game movies. Its imperfections are heartfelt, not cynical, and it's clear that significant effort was put into acquiring the right team for this production."
Many critics agree that while the movie isn't a stunner on its face, the fact that it exists at all (and made a splash at the box office) is a net positive. "It's a success story that should cheer those who fear our era of corporate mergers and dwindling resources could spell an end to independent filmmaking," reads Variety's review.
IndieWire, meanwhile, celebrates how "the film opens space for more daring, messy attempts to follow."
Where can I watch Iron Lung?
Iron Lung is now playing in theaters.
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