How Markiplier’s Indie Horror Movie Iron Lung Took The Box Office By Storm

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Horror filmmaking has recently seen a surge of creators who first gained popularity on YouTube. Films like Bring Her Back (by Danny and Michael Philippou) and Shelby Oaks (by Chris Stuckmann), both released in 2025, have been praised as original works from directors who started on the platform. In late January, Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) – a hugely popular creator – added to this trend with his film adaptation of the video game Iron Lung.

Fischbach’s first feature film, Iron Lung, was made possible through self-funding and their own direction, with Fischbach also starring in the movie. The film is based on the indie horror game Iron Lung by David Szymanski. It tells the story of a man navigating a tiny submarine through an ocean of blood on a remote moon after the sudden disappearance of all stars and planets.

Made with a tiny budget of around $3 million, Iron Lung wasn’t initially intended to be a blockbuster. It was more of a creative experiment and a test of online marketing. But surprisingly, after strong pre-ticket sales and a fantastic opening weekend, Iron Lung unexpectedly found itself competing for the number one spot in theaters, going head-to-head with the new horror film Send Help from acclaimed director Sam Raimi.

Wow, I’m genuinely shocked by the numbers coming in for Iron Lung! Before the weekend, even the most optimistic predictions didn’t come close to what it’s actually doing – we’re looking at over $17 million for its opening weekend! What began as a small, independent horror film has quickly become a really interesting example of how movies, particularly those made on a shoestring budget, can successfully reach an audience through clever marketing. It’s a fascinating case study, honestly.

Markiplier Promoted The Movie Directly To A Massive Audience

A major reason Iron Lung became so popular is the large audience of its creator. Markiplier is a hugely influential figure on YouTube, known for his streams of indie horror games. He’s built a massive following – over 38 million subscribers and more than 23 billion video views – which helped introduce the game to a wide audience.

The idea for an Iron Lung movie started in 2023 with the game’s creator, who quickly confirmed he was working on it. Over the past two years, he’s promoted the movie directly to his dedicated fans, choosing to focus on reaching the right audience instead of spending a lot on traditional marketing.

As a huge movie fan, I could see how Iron Lung had a real shot at making some money. It already had a built-in audience with horror fans who’d check it out just because of the genre, and there was a lot of initial support. But even with all that going for it, it’s tough for a small indie film to really break out without a major studio backing it and getting it wide distribution. Just having people want to see it isn’t always enough to translate into big numbers at the box office.

A Grassroots Campaign Expanded Iron Lung’s Theatrical Reach

David Fischbach unintentionally started a remarkably successful marketing campaign for his game, Iron Lung. He used clever promotions, like a gruesome 3D-printed popcorn bucket and interviews highlighting the game’s extreme gore, to get his dedicated fans excited and help spread the word.

Markiplier’s fans passionately requested that both independent and large movie theater chains show his film, strongly suggesting it would be profitable for them. While online excitement was high, it didn’t create more tickets. What was needed were actual screenings, and Markiplier’s fans, eager to see Iron Lung, made sure they happened.

Though not all independent filmmakers have the same level of impact as Fischbach, his success in rallying fans to expand the movie’s release offers a valuable model for others hoping to get their films seen. This online, grassroots promotion proved surprisingly effective – even better than traditional advertising – and shows that filmmakers don’t necessarily need a background in streaming to succeed.

Early Reviews For Iron Lung Were Excellent, Driving More Interest

While audiences generally liked Fischbach’s first film, critics were more mixed in their opinions. Many praised the movie’s ability to build suspense, but some felt it was too long and slow-paced, especially considering it runs for over two hours. It likely could have benefited from some trimming. Currently, Iron Lung has a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from 10 critics.

Viewers really liked the film, and for many, especially those interested in independent and genre movies, opinions from other moviegoers matter more than professional critic reviews. Fans of indie horror will be pleased with Iron Lung, which is currently “Certified Hot” on Rotten Tomatoes, with 90% of over 500 viewers recommending it.

It will be incredibly difficult for any film to match the instant success of Iron Lung, largely because Markiplier’s massive audience helped turn a $3 million investment into a huge hit. Still, the film offers valuable lessons on how independent movies can be successfully marketed, particularly by leveraging social media. Iron Lung could very well be remembered as one of the most impactful films of 2026.

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2026-02-01 05:32