Markiplier‘s (aka Mark Fischbach) upcoming film, Iron Lung, will be released in over 2,500 theaters worldwide, with that number expected to rise through a fan campaign to bring it to the big screen in their region. Typically, when a movie comes out in theaters, it would have a distributor such as Warner Bros., Universal, A24, or Disney. But for this YouTuber, his upcoming directorial debut feature is being self-distributed worldwide, and tickets are selling out.
The official trailer for Iron Lung was released on December 12, 2025, featuring Fischbach piloting the submersible called The Iron Lung in Ocean of Blood. On the same day as the trailer’s release, Fischbach released a video featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the film’s production and revealed that it was initially scheduled to screen in 60 theaters but has now expanded to over 1,000 venues in North America alone.
So, how did this number increase to 2,500? The answer: Fan campaigns. On social media, fans across Europe and Oceania launched an email campaign to their local theater chains to have this movie shown in their country. At first, some chains told fans that a distributor had to be on board before it could be released, but eventually, major and indie cinema chains in Australia, New Zealand, and, more recently, the UK have opened screenings for the film. According to a new report, the number could increase. Film-buying veteran, Bill Herting told the publication that fans in South America, France, Norway, Germany, Sweden, and Spain are still reaching out in hopes to get the movie in their region, and believes what Fischbach is doing could be a “glimpse of the future.”
What Is ‘Iron Lung’ About?
Iron Lung is an upcoming science fiction horror film directed, executive-produced, edited, and starring Fischbach, based on the 2022 indie video game of the same name. In 2023, Iron Lung‘s creator, David Szymanski, announced that a film adaptation was in development, and during his appearance on the Quad Damage Podcast in September 2025, he claimed that Iron Lung is a “serious, proper, horror film.” He also explained that the intention from the beginning was to give it a proper theatrical release.
Iron Lung takes place in a post-apocalyptic future in which an event called “The Quiet Rapture” caused the stars and habitable planets to disappear, and survivors have settled in space stations. After discovering a moon that features an ocean of blood, a convict (Fischbach) is sent to investigate, in hopes of finding vital resources. Alongside Fischback, Iron Lung is set to star fellow YouTuber Seán McLoughlin (Dispatch), Troy Baker (The Last of Us), Caroline Rose Kaplan, Elsie Lovelock, and Szymanski.
Iron Lung enters theaters on January 30, 2026.
- Release Date
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January 30, 2026
- Runtime
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127 Minutes
- Director
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Mark Fischbach
Cast
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Mark Fischbach
Speaker #2 (Voice)
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