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Markiplier’s Self-Financed Iron Lung Opens to $21.7 Million, Tests Theatrical Playbook

Fan demand put the $3 million YouTuber-made indie into wide release with immediate profitability.

Overview

  • Final Comscore figures show a $18.19 million domestic debut and $21.7 million worldwide from 3,015 theaters, placing second to Sam Raimi’s Send Help.
  • Mark Fischbach wrote, directed, starred in, and self-financed and self-distributed the adaptation, which expanded from a planned limited run after exhibitor interest and fan outreach.
  • Critical response is mixed at roughly 50% on the Tomatometer, while audience scores are near 89–92%, underscoring a wide critic–viewer gap.
  • The film briefly vanished from some box-office charts over the weekend before reappearing, a disappearance widely attributed to a tracking glitch.
  • Exit polls indicated a young, male-leaning audience with many citing the lead actor as the reason to attend, as Markiplier thanked fans in an emotional livestream and noted the run could be short.