Markiplier's (aka Mark Fischbach) directorial debut feature, Iron Lung, will be released in over 2,500 theaters worldwide without a distributor, thanks to a fan campaign to bring the film to their region. Since tickets were released in December 2025, they have sold out in some U.S. theaters. Meanwhile, fans in other continents began contacting major and indie cinema chains in hopes to get the chance to see the movie in person.
Iron Lung is an upcoming horror sci-fi film based on a 2022 indie game of the same name. The film is directed, executive produced, edited, and stars Fischbach, who plays a convict sent to a moon that features an Ocean of Blood in hopes of it becoming a vital resource for those who survive "The Quiet Rapture," an apocalyptic event where the stars and habitable planets vanish. The film's cast also includes Seán McLoughlin, Troy Baker, Caroline Rose Kaplan, Elsie Lovelock, and the game's creator, David Szymanski.
The trailer for Iron Lung released on December 12, 2025. On that same day, Markiplier released a video revealing that the original plan was to show it in 60 theaters. Still, the number has expanded to over 1,000 venues across North America. A month later, IndieWire has reported that the number has grown to 2,500, as Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. have added screenings.
According to film-buying veteran Bill Herting, what's happening with Iron Lung could be a glimpse of the future of movie releases, as fans passionately emailed and called their local branches to bring the movie to screens. Herting told the publication that the number of theaters showing Iron Lung could expand as fans from other regions continue to reach out to theaters.
"I hope it’s a glimpse of the future because there’s some magic pixie dust going on here. And I don’t think it’s just a one-off... We figured this would be concentrated in the bigger cities… We’re getting calls from South America, France, Spain, Norway, Sweden. Germany."
Why are people excited for 'Iron Lung?'
What makes Iron Lung's theatrical release unique is how it was built from passion, trust, and fan loyalty. During the early weeks of the fan email campaign, some theaters responded to inquiries, revealing that, typically, a distributor has to be tied in to bring cinemas to the big screens. But according to Herting, cinemas noticed how much people wanted to see the movie, which led to "FOMO" kicking in.
Over on the r/Markiplier subreddit, fans shared email responses they've received from local theaters, as well as advice on how to bring the movie to their country.
Additionally, this project isn't some cash grab. Szymanski appeared on the Quad Damage podcast back in September 2025, claiming that Iron Lung is a "serious, proper, horror film" with the goal of bringing it to theaters.
Not to mention, Markiplier is a huge YouTuber with over 38 million subscribers. He began making videos back in 2012 and worked on a handful of projects, including In Space with Markiplier, A Heist with Markiplier, and a documentary called Markiplier from North Korea. Markiplier's first Let's Play of Iron Lung was uploaded to YouTube on May 20, 2022, and has generated over 12 million views.
Iron Lung enters theaters on January 30, 2026.