Iron Lung (2026)
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Director: Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach
Cast: Mark Fischbach, Caroline Kaplan, Troy Baker
Certificate - 15
Premiered in LA, California in December 2025. Released in the UK January 29th 2026
All the planets have gone; humans are on the brink of extinction. A lone convict is condemned to dive into an ocean of blood in search of anything that might help with humanity's survival. A passion project that sat in post-production hell for years, Iron Lung could easily have been a shot-in-the-foot for the film's director, writer, producer, and star Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach.
Atmospheric, calculated, claustrophobic; the entire film is spent within the titular Iron Lung, a submarine the main character has been welded into. A bold choice for a first time director but one that works well to instil in you a sense of isolation and futility in this post-apocalyptic future. The sound design and practical effects are phenomenal bringing a visceral reality to the growing threat and enclosed location. The true jewel of the movie is in the last 20 minutes, a culmination of all departments and responsible for the production's record-breaking 80,000 gallons of fake blood.
Others have complained about pacing but given the state of most popular films these days, I think some movie-goers aren't used to a slow-burn cosmic horror film. The fatigue of the main character is potent and it encourages the audience to sit with the discomfort where many other films would quickly move on.
Iron Lung is a powerhouse of an independent production, completely funded by Fischbach himself. Initially slated to release in approximately 60 theatres in the US, he encouraged his 38 million followers to reach out to their local theatres to request the movie as he struggled to find any company willing to help with distribution. It has now been showcased in over 4000+ locations globally.
In all honesty, I am an unashamed fan of Markiplier's body of work. While he's known widely for his bold personality while playing video games online, this is not his first fictional work, having flexed his chops on various projects including 3 choose-your-own-adventure style stories with increasing stakes, characters, and endings that have easily amassed millions of views over the years.
In an industry that's oversaturated with powerhouse companies pumping out almost nothing but remakes and sequels, Iron Lung is making people sit up and pay attention. Within it's first weekend it's made over five times its budget and has been extended beyond it's initial single-week run.
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