While there are many box office stories to explore from this weekend (most notably the Melania documentary seems to be the most divisive), the real story filmmakers should be following is the story of Iron Lung.

The sci-fi horror film based on the 2022 video game of the same name, Iron Lung, was written and directed by YouTube filmmaker Mark Fischbach (aka Markiplier). Rischbach also stars in the film and self-financed it through promotion from his YouTube channel.

Iron Lung has now grossed over $20 million at the box office against a budget of less than $3 million and is fighting every battle imaginable against an industry that seems dead set on not supporting actual indie filmmaking, which is one reason (out of many) why we all should support it.

'Iron Lung' Removed From Box Office Numbers

According to reports, as well as quite a bit of chatter from the film’s supporters online, it appears that Iron Lung has been removed (or erased) from many box office charts. Posts online are screenshotting box office trackers, which appear not include Iron Lung, even after the film had appeared over the weekend.

While this may have just been a glitch (or two) as the majority of the main box office trackers do appear to show Iron Lung sitting below Sam Raimi’s Send Help in total worldwide tickets from this weekend, it does raise some obvious concerns about how (and why) an industry which could be embracing an actual, bootstrap, indie filmmaker, doesn’t appear to want to promote him and the film.

Why We Should All Support Films Like 'Iron Lung'

As we constantly cover on this site and discuss at length on the No Film School podcast, indie filmmaking is in a perilous moment. The future of filmmaking in general is in peril as well, but indie filmmakers seem to be facing the harshest challenges.

New technologies, dying distribution models, and fading film festivals are all contributing to an industry that is desperate for new champions who can help create new pathways and trails for other aspiring filmmakers to follow.

If Markiplier’s film can serve as an example, and one which is supported by the greater filmmaking industry, it can help allow other filmmakers avenues to write, direct, and finance their projects in new ways and find success—even if the industry itself doesn’t want to embrace it.

From Your Site Articles
box office​iron lung box officemark fischbachmarkiplierindie filmmakingyoutuberiron lung
Distribution & MarketingEditorialHomepage Main FeaturedMovies & TVTopics