A YouTuber’s Film Beat ‘Melania’ at the Box Office. Here’s How.

"Iron Lung," a horror film directed and self-funded by the YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, known as Markiplier, earned $22 million in its first weekend after fans across the country requested screenings. The film opened at No. 2 nationally, while the $74 million documentary "Melania" debuted at No.

3 with about $7 million. Fischbach spent less than $3 million to make the movie, which is based on a 2022 indie video game by David Szymanski. He cast fellow creators and some video game actors, and over three years kept his audience updated with behind-the-scenes posts and teaser trailers on his YouTube channel.

As presales climbed, theaters added showtimes to keep up with demand. When an independent booking company offered only three theaters, Fischbach rejected the plan, saying three would be "insulting to my audience," and went directly to fans.

mark fischbach, markiplier, iron lung, melania, box office, youtuber film, indie game, david szymanski, presales, self-funded