Markiplier’s ‘Iron Lung’ Opens to $17.8 Million, Ranks No. 2 at U.S. Box Office

Overview

• Iron Lung generated $21.7 million worldwide on opening weekend, playing in 3,015 U.S. theaters after expanding from an initial plan of roughly 50 locations.
• Markiplier wrote, directed, starred in, and self-distributed the film, keeping costs low and pushing the project into profit without a traditional marketing campaign.
• The filmmaker said the theatrical run will shrink next weekend yet still deliver strong returns, noting a roughly 50-50 exhibitor revenue split and promising crew bonuses.
• The title briefly disappeared from some box-office charts before reappearing, an issue industry trackers described as a likely glitch rather than interference.
• Reception shows a sharp split, with about a 50% critics’ score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes after post-release reviews and strong fan turnout skewing young and male.