Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier, shook up the film industry with his directorial debut, the sci-fi horror movie Iron Lung. The indie sensation grossed over $50 million globally and played in more than 4,000 theaters without a traditional distributor—a feat that set a new benchmark for independent cinema. But as the YouTuber gears up for the physical release, he's hit an unexpected snag with digital distribution.
Iron Lung is based on the 2022 video game of the same name. The story follows Simon (Fischbach), a convict chosen to pilot a submersible called the Iron Lung through an ocean of blood in search of resources. Humanity has retreated to space stations after an apocalyptic event known as "The Quiet Rapture," which caused all stars and habitable planets to vanish. The film's success was fueled in part by Markiplier's dedicated fanbase, who launched an email campaign to bring the movie to their local theaters. Originally slated for just 60 venues in North America, the release expanded to Europe, Oceania, and Asia.
Now that the theatrical run has concluded, Fischbach is turning his attention to physical and digital releases. During a recent livestream, he shared potential disc art, asked fans about preferred formats, and revealed he'd have to handle distribution himself. But the digital side is proving trickier. One of his plans was to sell the movie on YouTube, given his massive following on the platform and the ease of access for fans. However, selling a movie on YouTube is "more complicated than you might think," he admitted.
Fischbach explained that he spoke with YouTube's Head of Movies about bringing Iron Lung to the platform for purchase. The issue lies in the requirement for an aggregator—or a studio for bigger players—to facilitate the process. Fischbach proposed a solution: "I have this success on this movie. It's kind of like a moment here. Maybe we can use it to capitalize on this, and you can make me an aggregator, right? I can do the aggregation."
Fortunately, after what he described as a "lengthy legal conversation" where he remained "very agreeable," Fischbach is now in the "final phases" of setting up an arrangement that would allow him to act as an aggregator. This would not only clear the way for Iron Lung to be sold on YouTube but also help other independent filmmakers release their movies and earn revenue on the platform with less red tape.
For those wondering if Iron Lung is worth watching, the critical reception has been mixed but audience scores are strong. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave it a 62% rating, while audiences awarded it an 87% on the Popcornmeter. Polygon called it an "immersive experience" with a "sense of terror is palpable and thrilling." However, some critics noted flaws, with Collider's Nate Richard giving it a 6/10, praising its cinematic quality despite the low budget but criticizing its slow pacing. Many believe it could become a cult classic.
If you're in the mood for more horror, check out our list of The 10 Most Terrifying Final Shots in Horror Movie History, Ranked or explore Beyond Hereditary: 3 Horror Films That Deliver Even Deeper Dread. For sci-fi horror fans, we've also ranked The 10 Most Masterfully Directed Sci-Fi Horror Films Ever Made.
A physical and digital release date for Iron Lung has yet to be announced. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for updates.
