Markiplier’s Surprise Sci-Fi Horror Hit ‘Iron Lung’ Is Finally Hitting Streaming

Markiplier’s sci-fi horror movie “Iron Lung” is officially coming to YouTube later this month. According to Deadline, the filmmaker and online creator revealed during a Cannes panel that the movie will launch on YouTube on May 31 as an exclusive release.

The film will be available to buy directly through YouTube. During the discussion at Cannes, which was moderated by Deadline, Markiplier explained why he chose the platform for the release.

“I’m pretty loyal to it,” he said, calling YouTube his home platform after building his career there over the years.

“Iron Lung” first arrived in theaters on Jan. 30 and quickly became one of the biggest surprise success stories of the year. The movie has earned more than $50 million worldwide despite having a production budget of only $4 million. Reports say the film had almost no traditional marketing campaign and instead reached audiences mainly through Markiplier’s massive online fanbase.

The movie was written, directed, and produced by Markiplier, who also stars in the film. It is based on the indie horror game created by David Szymanski.

Set in a dark post-apocalyptic future, the story takes place after an event called “The Quiet Rapture,” where stars and habitable planets suddenly disappear. The plot follows a prisoner trapped inside a damaged submarine known as the Iron Lung while exploring a terrifying ocean of blood on a distant moon.

The official synopsis describes the story as “a descent into dread that becomes as psychological as it is physical.”

The cast also includes Caroline Rose Kaplan, Troy Baker, and Elsie Lovelock. Markiplier handled the U.S. release himself and later partnered with Piece of Magic Entertainment to distribute the movie across several international markets in Europe.

During the Cannes panel, Markiplier also spoke briefly about his future plans and joked that he does not want to rush into another major movie project right away.

“Next year I’ll be working on something,” he said, before adding that he plans to take at least a year off from feature filmmaking to spend more time with his wife.

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