Iron Lung (2026) Film Review

Iron Lung has been released in over 4,161 screens worldwide, created by YouTube legend Markiplier, making his directorial debut.

Based on the hit indie game of the same title, Iron Lung follows a convict piloting a submarine through a blood ocean on a desolate moon after an apocalyptic event called “The Quiet Rapture.”

Iron Lung has gone through many trials during production, as Markiplier produced, wrote, directed, and even self-funded the film—costing a $3 million budget. Markiplier has been open about the film’s production, which began in late 2023, and has stated that he put all of his hard work into getting this film publicly released (with help from a fundraiser).

The film is an impressive achievement for Markiplier, especially since it is set almost entirely in one location, which is a challenge for most filmmakers. Markiplier, as Simon, was such a compelling character to see on the big screen, with Mark truly making the audience feel what this character experiences. Having a film set in one location is a difficult task, but Mark makes this small submarine feel like a tunnel of horror that you can’t escape from. There are moments early in the film that establish the stakes almost instantly, including side characters played by legends like Troy Baker (The Last Of Us, Fullmetal Alchemist) and Caroline Kaplan (Divorce, Proof). The ending of this movie left me shocked and mentally twisted. The team behind this film did an incredible job making the twist truly pay off.

Iron Lung does have issues with pacing, as it can feel slow and dragged out at times. Scenes tend to feel repetitive throughout the second act of the film, which left me feeling uninspired. Mark has the potential to be an insane actor, and while his performance in this film is strong, some scenes feel unauthentic.

This is a great start to Markiplier’s filmography and an incredible way to work with what you have. You can truly feel the hard work put into this movie, with so much passion, dedication, and inspiration. It’s honestly a film that would bring me to tears if I were in Markiplier’s shoes.

Iron Lung is out now in theaters.