Mega popular content creator Markiplier is looking to change the game for independent film distribution, and he kicked those doors down for himself earlier this year with his debut horror feature, Iron Lung. The video game adaptation was self-distributed and scared up $49.9 million at the box office, making it one of the top 5 highest grossing horror movies this year.
But when can you expect for Iron Lung to be available on digital, physical, and streaming? Well, it’s the nature of the self-distribution game that things are taking a bit longer than they would for a studio production, but Markiplier promises Iron Lung is coming home soon.
Markplier’s plan? To not only get Iron Lung up for digital purchase on YouTube, but to also set up a new system within YouTube where other filmmakers can do the same with their films.
Markiplier explains in a new video, “The reason Iron Lung‘s digital release has been taking so long is because I’ve been taking the extra steps to work out this deal where I can become this aggregator so that other people can benefit from it. That’s the goal. And that’s what I’ve been trying to do. And there’s a lot of legal loopholes to do it, and there’s a lot of setup to do it.”
“But I’m on the final phase of setting that up. And that means that it’s almost ready,” Markiplier continues. “I’ll have the ability to get movies up for sale on YouTube.”
While it’s true that anyone can upload their own movies to YouTube whenever they want, it sounds like Markiplier is more talking about giving independent filmmakers like himself the ability to monetize not only through ads but also through traditional digital purchases and rentals. Getting your movie into the official YouTube Movies & TV section is something you’d need a digital aggregator to do, and Markiplier is essentially looking to create his own in-house distribution arm that will serve as that intermediary between content creators and YouTube.
As for the physical media release of Iron Lung, that’s also in the works. He explains that he’s going to literally have a DVD/Blu-ray machine that will be auto-producing copies of Iron Lung in his home, allowing him to self distribute the film on physical media.
Iron Lung adapts the indie horror game created by David Szymanski, named by Bloody Disgusting as one of the Best Indie Horror Video Games You Might’ve Missed in 2022.
Here’s the official synopsis: “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.
“After decades of decay and crumbling infrastructure, the Consolidation of Iron has made a discovery on a barren moon designated AT-5. An ocean of blood. Hoping to discover desperately needed resources they immediately launch an expedition. A submarine is crafted and a convict is welded inside. Due to the pressure and depth of the ocean the forward viewport has been encased in metal. If successful, they will earn their freedom.
“If not, another will follow. This will be the 13th expedition.”
Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach stars in Iron Lung, which he also wrote and directed.
IRON LUNG IS GONNA BE AVAILABLW ON YOUTUBE MOVIES SOON and mark is working out a deal to help other youtubers get their movies on youtube as well!!!! pic.twitter.com/AiMkKtI0B3
— ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ (@_LOVERiplier_) April 21, 2026
Mark saying he’s gonna have the machine for the DVDs and the Blue-rays on the background of his newer videos and it being Amy’s idea is genius I love it pic.twitter.com/gUrkwav6bR
— ★ WATCHED IRON LUNG THREE TIMES!!! (@_engineerPlier_) April 21, 2026
