About
Iron Lung is a science fiction horror film that became 2026's most surprising box office story, turning a micro-budget indie from a YouTube creator into a theatrical phenomenon. Written, directed, and starring Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach -- one of YouTube's biggest personalities with over 37 million subscribers -- the film adapts the 2022 video game of the same name. Fischbach plays Simon, a convict forced to pilot a cramped submarine through an ocean of blood on a desolate moon following the "Quiet Rapture," a cataclysmic event that caused all known stars and habitable planets to vanish. Filmed at Robert Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas, the production leaned heavily into practical effects, setting a record for the most fake blood used in any horror film: over 80,000 US gallons, surpassing the previous record of 50,000 gallons held by the 2013 Evil Dead remake. Fischbach was reportedly hospitalized during filming after getting too much fake blood in his eyes. Pre-production began February 7, 2023, with principal photography running March 7 through May 1. Markiplier self-distributed the film through his Markiplier Studios banner, initially securing placement on over 4,000 screens after overwhelming fan demand. The gamble paid off spectacularly: Iron Lung opened to $18.2 million domestically -- nearly double initial projections -- and has since grossed over 15 times its production budget, earning it comparisons to the first Paranormal Activity as a proof-of-concept for creator-driven theatrical releases.
Filming Locations
1 locationTroublemaker Studios
Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, Austin, TX
Markiplier feature directorial debut. World record 80,000 gallons fake blood. Releases January 30, 2026 in 2,500+ theaters.
Austin
Mar 7, 2023 - May 1, 2023
Sources
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