What began as a $3 million self-financed gamble by the YouTuber known as Markiplier, has now transformed into a $51 million global phenomenon.
When the credits rolled on Mark Fischbach’s (Markiplier), debut film, Iron Lung, viewers were shocked at just how amazing the movie really was, created by one man and funded entirely by him.
The film, a post-apocalyptic adaptation of the indie video game with the same name, follows a convict tasked with navigating an ocean of blood on a desolate moon. While the premise is nightmare-inducing, the “dream” occurred at the box office. Despite its limited resources, Iron Lung debuted at the top 2, nearly toppling the charts and almost bypassing Disney’s big-budget thriller “Send Help”.
For many, this isn’t just about one successful movie; it’s about a shift in how films are produced and consumed. “It also may represent a future of filmmaking where more creators dabble in the space and drag their fanbases along with them,” explains Paul Tassi, a Hollywood story writer, in a feature for Forbes. By bypassing major studios, Fischbach was able to maintain creative control and secure a 50-50 revenue split with theater owners.
This independent approach allowed more creative control without a big industry influencing changes, and it also allowed for the majority of funding to be used towards the movie, such as being the movie with the most gallons of fake blood used, according to BBC News, and creating a moving set to bring more immersion to the movie.
This can essentially motivate movie goers and future writers to continue their career, knowing they may get a chance to do the same, create their own immersive environments, and beat world records too! Deven Hodder, Senior, after asked about his thoughts on Iron Lung being independently produced, said that he loves to see this independence come out of someone, as the whole world is essentially “locked under the fear of doing something new,” alluding to the idea that more people should do this, more people should step out of tradition, out of their comfort zone.
The success of Iron Lung serves as a powerful reminder that an audience’s undivided attention is earned through passion, rather than just massive marketing budgets. As Fischbach noted during an emotional livestream on YouTube, the win isn’t just his; it’s a proof of concept for everyone working outside of the traditional money-hungry business. “Maybe it could open up a door for other people that do their projects independently and know that there could be success in it,” he shared with his viewers.
Iron Lung is a testimony to the power of independence. With the film making seven times its budget in a single weekend, the movie-making industry is being forced to accept a new reality where creators and their communities can build their own spotlights. An example of this is the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, where Cory Williams (CoryxKenshin), and Matthew Patrick (former Game Theory host) were spotlighted as characters for the film, where theater audiences went crazy seeing them, ultimately boosting success for the movie in the long run.
Much like the final shot of the film: a small light floating in a vast, dark ocean, Iron Lung offers a glimmer of hope to show that future cinema belongs to anyone brave enough to go against the traditional system.
