Markiplier‘s Iron Lung movie drops January 30, 2026—after AMC, Regal, and Cinemark picked it up December 11, 2025. The YouTuber cried thanking fans as his self-financed horror film broke the world record for most blood (50,000+ gallons), spent 3 years in production, and proved 37 million subscribers can force Hollywood to notice independent filmmaking.
Key Takeaways
- AMC, Regal & Cinemark confirmed December 11—major theater chains picked up Iron Lung movie after fan demand exploded
- Markiplier cried on stream thanking fans for making major chains notice his indie film
- January 30, 2026 theatrical release—started with 50-100 indie theaters, now nationwide
- World record holder—most fake blood in any movie (over 50,000 gallons)
- 3-year journey—filming wrapped April 2023, took nearly 3 years to finish post-production
- Self-financed & self-distributed—Markiplier wrote, directed, produced, edited, acted, and funded entire film
- Based on 2022 horror game by David Szymanski about convict exploring blood ocean on barren moon
Markiplier Breaks Down After Major Theater Chains Say Yes
On December 11, 2025, YouTube star Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) emotionally thanked fans after AMC, Cinemark, and Regal—America’s three largest theater chains—announced they would screen his independent horror film Iron Lung.
The 37-million-subscriber creator originally planned to release the film in just 50-100 independent theaters across the United States for the opening weekend (January 30-February 1, 2026). But overwhelming fan demand at smaller venues forced major chains to take notice.
“They said it shouldn’t be done. Not that it couldn’t be done, people have made movies before, just that it would be ‘woefully unwise’ to tackle writing, directing, acting and editing a movie myself. Showed them. My bathroom might be a render farm now but I can’t wait for people to see the blood, sweat, blood, tears, blood and blood that went into this movie from everyone involved.”
The film runs 2 hours and carries an R rating. Tickets went on sale December 5, 2025, coinciding with the Los Angeles premiere at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown.
Iron Lung Movie vs. Traditional Hollywood Horror
World Record: 50,000+ Gallons of Fake Blood
Iron Lung movie officially holds the world record for most fake blood used in any film—surpassing the 2013 Evil Dead remake’s previous record of 50,000 gallons.
“Iron Lung movie holds a world record for most blood in a horror movie. Or any movie for that matter.” — Markiplier
Why So Much Blood?
- Film’s premise: entire ocean of blood on desolate moon
- Commitment to practical effects over CGI
- Elaborate pumping systems required on set
- Markiplier hospitalized after getting fake blood in his eyes during filming
The Plot: Blood Ocean on a Barren Moon
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Iron Lung movie follows an event called “The Quiet Rapture” where all known stars and habitable planets in the universe suddenly disappeared.
“The stars are gone. The planets have disappeared. Only individuals aboard space stations or starships were left to give the end a name—The Quiet Rapture.”
What Happens Next:
- On barren moon AT-5, the Consolidation of Iron discovers a blood ocean
- They send a convict inside poorly constructed submarine nicknamed “Iron Lung”
- The submarine’s forward viewport is encased in metal—pilot navigates completely blind
- Mission reward: freedom if successful
- Dark truth: “This will be the 13th expedition“
Cast:
3-Year Journey From Game to Big Screen
Iron Lung movie is based on the acclaimed 2022 indie horror game by David Szymanski, which gained massive popularity for its claustrophobic gameplay and blood ocean setting.
Production Timeline:
- 2022: Original game released, Markiplier announces film adaptation
- April 2023: Filming wraps
- 2023-2025: Post-production (nearly 3 years)
- December 5, 2025: Final trailer drops, tickets go on sale
- December 11, 2025: AMC, Regal, Cinemark confirm theatrical pickup
- January 30, 2026: Nationwide theatrical release
Why Independent Theaters Said Yes First
Markiplier chose to self-distribute Iron Lung movie rather than sell to a studio—a rare move for a creator-backed project.
The Strategy:
- Worked directly with 50-100 independent cinemas nationwide
- Built relationships one theater at a time
- Avoided traditional studio distribution deals
- Leveraged 37 million YouTube subscribers for guaranteed audience
The Result:
Within days of tickets going on sale December 5, smaller venues reported overwhelming demand. That groundswell forced AMC, Regal, and Cinemark to add the film to their January 30 schedules.
Who Is Markiplier?
Mark Fischbach—known online as Markiplier—is a YouTube creator with nearly 40 million subscribers famous for playing horror games like the original Iron Lung movie.
Beyond YouTube:
- Co-hosts Spotify podcast Distractible
- Starred in Amazon Prime’s The Edge of Sleep limited series
- Created Emmy-nominated interactive series A Space with Markiplier
- Co-founded Cloak, inclusive clothing brand (partnered with Trevor Project)
- Raised millions through live charity events for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, World Wildlife Fund, Cancer Research Institute
January 30: The Day YouTube Challenges Hollywood
Iron Lung represents more than just a movie premiere—it’s a test of whether YouTube creators can bypass Hollywood entirely and succeed theatrically.
Industry insiders warned Markiplier that self-financing, writing, directing, editing, and starring in his own feature was “woefully unwise”. But with major chains now onboard and pre-sales surging, the film could prove that 37 million loyal fans matter more than studio backing.
As tickets sell nationwide for January 30, one thing is clear: Markiplier didn’t just make a movie. He built a movement.
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