Mark Fischbach, known online as Markiplier, surprised audiences with his directorial and starring debut in the new horror film Iron Lung. The movie has quickly become one of the most popular releases of 2026.
Mark Fischbach, also known as Markiplier, first gained popularity in 2012 by creating gaming videos online. He’s also created and starred in interactive series for YouTube, such as A Heist with Markiplier and In Space with Markiplier. Currently, his latest film project is a surprising box office success, performing well internationally even with a lower budget than many competing movies.
According to Deadline, Iron Lung earned $17.8 million in its opening weekend, with international sources reporting around $3.9 million in limited release in the UK and Ireland. This is a significant accomplishment for writer-director Ryan Fischbach’s first feature film, especially considering its tiny budget of under $3 million – the film has already made over six times its production cost. This is a huge success for any movie, but particularly impressive for an independent film like this one.
The movie is based on the 2022 video game of the same name and tells the story of Simon (played by Fischbach), a convict who must navigate a submarine through a sea of blood on a deserted moon. This takes place after a mysterious event called the Quiet Rapture suddenly made most of humanity and all the stars vanish.
Critics and audiences have had very different reactions to the film, as seen on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics gave it a 50% rating, while audiences scored it much higher at 89%. The movie stars Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Elle LaMont, and Mick Lauer.
Sam Raimi’s new horror film, Send Help, starring Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdams, is also proving to be a hit. The movie has earned over $28 million in its opening weekend and is receiving positive reviews from both critics (93%) and audiences (87%).
Iron Lung is available to watch in theaters now.
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2026-02-01 23:19