Iron Lung, the breakout horror movie hit from YouTube sensation Markiplier, is new on streaming, two days ahead of its scheduled release.
Markiplier — whose real name is Mark Fischbach — stars in and directs Iron Lung, which he also self-distributed in theaters under his Markiplier Studios banner on Jan. 30. The prolific YouTube creator also adapted the screenplay for Iron Lung, which is based on the 2022 video game of the same name by David Szymanski.
Rated R, Iron Lung is set in a post-apocalyptic future known as “The Quiet Rapture.” Markiplier plays Simon, a convict tasked with a mission in an ocean of blood on a desolate moon in a small submarine called the “Iron Lung” after The Quiet Rapture mysteriously caused all stars and planets in the universe to disappear. With any luck, the expedition of the Iron Lung will yield desperately needed resources for survivors of The Quiet Rapture who are living on spaceships.
By the time Iron Lung wrapped up its domestic box office run, the film earned $41.1 million against a $3 million budget before marketing costs. Coupled with $10 million in international ticket sales, Iron Lung had a worldwide box office tally of $51 million.
Markiplier recently announced during a panel at the 2026 Cannes International Film Festival that Iron Lung would be available to purchase or rent via premium video-on-demand exclusively on YouTube Movies & TV on Sunday, May 31. In a move sure to pleasantly surprise Markiplier’s fans, however, Iron Lung quietly debuted on the streaming platform on Friday.
Iron Lung is available for purchase on PVOD for $9.99 or rent for $4.99. Once users rent films on YouTube Movies & TV, they will have 30 days to watch the film.
Markiplier’s ‘Iron Lung’ Gave ‘Send Help’ A Run For Its Money In Its Opening Weekend
Iron Lung shocked the box office in its opening weekend Jan. 30-Feb. 1, as it earned $18.1 million from 3,015 North American theaters. The film was neck-and-neck the entire weekend with director Sam Raimi’s survival horror movie Send Help, which eventually took the box office crown with a $19.1 million opening weekend take from 3,475 theaters domestically.
The overwhelming reception to Iron Lung stunned Markiplier, who in an emotional YouTube livestream noted that his film was originally supposed to debut in 50 theaters before it amassed a groundswell of support. He also recounted a conversation he had with a film student during the film’s opening weekend about how they were inspired by the film’s massive reception.
“They said how cool it was that this was done independently and this was really kind of an inspiration for people that wanted to get into making movies — that it was even possible … right now, it’s kind of a hero moment to showcase that indie filmmaking was possible,” Markiplier said.
Another person inspired by Markiplier’s grit and determination was Raimi’s longtime collaborator Bruce Campbell, who paired with the director and producer Rob Tapert to film the independent horror film classic The Evil Dead in 1981. Campbell noted in a Zoom interview that while Raimi’s Send Help won the box office over Iron Lung in its opening weekend, Markiplier was already a victor in a different type of battle.
“In that first weekend, I can guarantee you — he made $17-odd million — He’s in profit. He’s already in profit. In one weekend. Sam’s movie will have to be out for five, six weeks, then it’ll have to stream and get all kinds of numbers,” Campbell said, referring to Send Help. “It’ll have to do a little bit of a dance. This guy [Markiplier] has already danced.”
Also starring Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, Elle LaMont, Mick Lauer, Seán McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye), Isaac McKee and Alanah Pearce, Iron Lung is available for purchase or rent on YouTube Movies & TV.
