Markiplier’s journey from YouTube horror playthroughs to the top of the U.S. box office reached an emotional peak this week. The creator-turned-filmmaker broke down during a livestream after Iron Lung, his independently funded horror film, exceeded all expectations in theaters. Markiplier got teary-eyed explaining what the film’s success could mean for indie creators trying to break through a Hollywood system allegedly stacked against them.
Markiplier gets teary eyed thanking fans for Iron Lung’s success
Iron Lung, adapted from David Szymanski’s 2022 horror game, hit theaters across the U.S. on January 30, 2026, and caught everyone off guard. The movie shot straight to the top of the box office, landing at No. 1 and beating out Sam Raimi’s Send Help as well as the political doc Melania (via Box Office Mojo). What really raised eyebrows was the money side of it. The film pulled in nearly seven times its budget, which was reportedly made for less than $3 million (via Forbes).
A couple of days later, on February 1, Markiplier went live to speak directly to fans and reflect on the moment. He shared that breaking records wasn’t his goal, but staying at the top could open doors for independent films. “It could open up a door for other people to do their projects independently and know there could be success in it, I think that’d be pretty cool,” Markiplier said.
The director also opened up about how demanding the project had been, describing the weekend as “cathartic” after years of grinding on the film. He shared that hearing from collaborators, people who gave everything they had to the project, meant a lot to him. Markiplier further shared that seeing Iron Lung make its way onto the festival circuit would feel like a meaningful “win” for everyone who helped bring it to life.
Moments from the livestream didn’t take long to blow up online, with fans hyping up the win, especially the fact that Iron Lung managed to beat out big-budget studio films. Markiplier has since made it clear that this is only the beginning. He’s confirmed he wants to keep making movies, explaining that the experience taught him more about storytelling and filmmaking than years of practice ever could.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on ComingSoon.
