Iron Lung soared to the top of the charts with its release in Jan. 2026. Produced by, funded by, and starring Mark Fischbach – better known as renowned YouTuber Markiplier – the movie had an impact that no one could have imagined.

Based on the hit horror game from 2022, Iron Lung takes place in an apocalyptic world. The survivors send a convict, Simon, played by Fischbach, in a small submarine to investigate a moon that is an ocean of blood. He’s promised his freedom upon his return, and the movie follows him as he fights for his life. 

The movie began production in early 2023, with an official teaser trailer being released on Fischbach’s channel in April of that same year. Filming concluded in that same month, and the movie was set to release in theaters in 2026. While it was originally meant to be a single-day showing, the movie sold out in almost every theater in which it premiered, causing many theaters to let the movie run through the end of February. Despite the movie being completely self-financed, it grossed over $21.7 million worldwide on opening weekend, greatly surpassing its $3 million budget.

Fischbach, while best known for being one of the most successful YouTubers in the world, did have previous acting experience before starring in this movie. With multiple YouTube original series, such as A Heist With Markiplier, In Space With Markiplier, and The Edge of Sleep on Amazon Prime, he made it apparent that he belonged in the entertainment industry by showing off his large array of ability and talents. Fischbach tells BBC that he plans to “lean in” to his love for film, and he believes that he’s come very far from the “solo guy” perspective he’s built up over his years in the public eye. 

Alongside the movie’s record-breaking run in theaters, it has  earned other achievements. It is among the top 40 highest-grossing independent films of all time. The film’s marketing campaign also worked closely with local donation centers for blood drives and set a record for blood donations. One of the most shocking records was the film used over 79,000 gallons of fake blood on the set. There was so much fake blood that Fischbach was hospitalized a couple of times due to getting the blood in his eye while filming. However, he’s made it clear that all of the hardship was worth it and he “loves seeing people reacting to [the movie].”

Notwithstanding the fact that the movie has shaken the entertainment industry and set a new record, the most admirable part to look back on is it paved a new path for those with creative spark to do what they love regardless of their background or the circumstances. Fischbach was extremely successful before the movie, but it was still difficult for him to find anyone to help him produce a movie he was passionate about. In spite of all that, he overcame these challenges and created something fans roared about for weeks after its release.

Fischbach leaves us with a powerful message and an outstanding story. He tells fans to “open yourself up to the skills of those around you at a much earlier age” in order to become as successful as possible. The story of this movie, as well as Fischbach’s personal journey, proves that dreams come true with the right work ethic and support system.