Markiplier's Ground-Breaking Horror Movie Inches Toward Another Box Office Milestone

Nearly a month after its release, Mark Fischbach’s directorial debut Iron Lung has exceeded expectations, opening in more than 4,000 theaters worldwide without a distributor and outperforming box-office predictions in its opening weekend. The sci-fi horror film, adapted from the 2022 indie game, stars Markiplier as Simon, a convict chosen to pilot a submersible called "The Iron Lung" across a moon with an Ocean of Blood in a post-apocalyptic universe reshaped by the Quiet Rapture.

Audiences have responded strongly, giving the film a Verified Hot score of 88%, while critics’ approval sits at 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. Global revenue has reached $48 million, putting Iron Lung just shy of the $50 million mark. Those totals place the film among the top 40 highest-grossing independent films of all time alongside Midsommar and Nightcrawler, and at #8 for 2026 releases between Border 2 and Return to Silent Hill.

markiplier, iron lung, mark fischbach, horror film, indie game, box office, rotten tomatoes, verified hot, independent films, $48 million