Markiplier’s Horror Film Iron Lung Heading Exclusively to YouTube This Month
YouTube megastar Mark Fischbach, globally recognized by his digital alias Markiplier, has announced that his debut feature film, Iron Lung, will officially arrive for home viewing on May 31.
Fischbach broke the news during a Cannes panel discussion moderated by Deadline, confirming that the sci-fi horror movie will be available for purchase as a YouTube exclusive. The choice of platform was deeply personal for Fischbach, who referred to YouTube as his home.
“I’m pretty loyal to it,” he said.
The journey of Iron Lung is an underdog story for modern cinema. Fischbach completely self-financed the project after major Hollywood studios either rejected it or demanded too much creative control. He took on nearly every major role behind the scenes, serving as the film's producer, writer, director, and editor, while also starring as the lead character, Simon.
Despite operating on a modest production budget of just $3 - 4 million and carrying practically zero traditional marketing expenses, the movie relied on Fischbach’s massive social media footprint to find its audience. It opened in cinemas on January 30th and became a massive commercial hit, generating over $50 million globally and famously outperforming high-profile theatrical competitors like Amazon's Melania Trump biopic.
The film's theatrical success has already sent ripples through the digital creator community, seemingly inspiring fellow gaming YouTuber Sean “JackSepticEye” McLoughlin to produce an upcoming animated Bloodborne movie.
The feature film is a direct adaptation of the popular 2022 indie horror video game with the same name created by developer David Szymanski. The plot takes place in a bleak, post-apocalyptic future following an unexplained galactic catastrophe known as "The Quiet Rapture", where every star and habitable planet in the universe vanished, leaving only the humans who were already aboard spacecraft or isolated space stations left alive.
According to the official synopsis:
“A desperate attempt to explore an ocean of blood on a desolate moon unfolds when a convicted individual is sealed inside a decaying submarine nicknamed the Iron Lung — a descent into dread that becomes as psychological as it is physical”.
The movie features a supporting cast that includes Caroline Rose Kaplan, Elsie Lovelock, and prolific voice actor Troy Baker. While Fischbach handled the American theatrical release independently, he teamed up with Piece of Magic Entertainment to distribute the claustrophobic thriller across numerous European and Baltic territories.
While the movie was an undeniable financial win, reviews from critics were ultimately mixed. An IGN review pointed out that while Fischbach clearly holds a deep affection for the source material, "his sluggish movie adaption of the game feels interminable rather than serving as a compelling interpretation of this world.”
Though specific pricing details for the digital YouTube release have yet to be disclosed, fans holding out for a physical copy can remain hopeful; Fischbach previously mentioned in February that a Blu-Ray edition is also in the pipeline.
As for what's next, Markiplier joked at Cannes that he won't be jumping into another movie anytime soon, and is instead planning to focus on his personal life. He said that he plans to step away from filmmaking for “at least one year” to spend time with his wife, adding, “Next year I’ll be working on something.”
Image: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
