Iron Lung Hits Theatres in 2026: Markiplier Confirms Release

The wait is finally over for fans of Markiplier, as the YouTube sensation has officially confirmed that his highly anticipated horror film, Iron Lung, will hit theatres on Jan 30, 2026. This project marks a massive milestone for Mark Fischbach, standing as his feature-length directorial debut, where he also takes on the roles of writer, producer, lead actor, and sole financier. In a bold move that bypasses traditional major Hollywood studios, Fischbach is self-distributing the film to ensure his specific creative vision reaches his audience exactly as intended.

Instead of a massive saturation release, the film is scheduled for a targeted theatrical run. Fischbach is aiming for approximately 50 to 100 independent screens across the United States during the opening weekend of Jan 30 to Feb 1. This release strategy prioritizes partnerships with smaller venues rather than giant cinema chains. 

Tickets are set to go on sale this Friday, coinciding with a special premiere event at the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Los Angeles. While a streaming release has not yet been dated, the initial focus is exclusively on the big-screen experience.

The journey to this release has been a massive personal undertaking for Fischbach, who has spent nearly three years developing the project. In a statement to Variety, he addressed the industry skeptics who thought tackling writing, directing, acting, and editing a movie himself was "woefully unwise", by simply stating, "Showed them." 

Record-Breaking Blood and Iron Lung Lore

He humorously noted that his bathroom has essentially become a "render farm" for the editing process but expressed excitement for fans to witness the "blood, sweat, blood, tears, blood and blood" that went into the film. Fischbach claims the movie now holds the world record for the most fake blood used in a single production, surpassing the famously gory 2013 Evil Dead remake.

For those unfamiliar with the lore, Iron Lung is a faithful adaptation of the acclaimed 2022 viral indie horror game created by David Szymanski. The narrative takes place in a desolate post-apocalyptic future following an event known as "The Quiet Rapture", which caused all habitable stars and planets to vanish. 

The plot centers on a convict who is welded inside a rusting, claustrophobic submarine and dropped into an ocean of blood on an alien moon. This "13th expedition" forces the protagonist to salvage vital resources from the depths to win their freedom or face death in the sanguinary sea.

The production features a strong cast alongside Fischbach, including Caroline Rose Kaplan, voice acting veteran Troy Baker, and Elsie Lovelock. Fans will also be delighted to see fellow top-tier YouTuber Seán "Jacksepticeye" McLoughlin in the film, as well as a cameo from the game’s original creator, David Szymanski. 

Filming officially wrapped in June 2024 following delays caused by the Hollywood strikes. With this release, Markiplier is testing a new business model for creator-led cinema, proving that internet personalities can successfully transition into traditional filmmaking on their own terms.