Markiplier plans more films after 'Iron Lung' surpasses budget in early ticket sales

Markiplier confirms he will make more movies following the strong early performance of horror film 'Iron Lung'

YouTube creator and independent filmmaker Markiplier has revealed that he intends to make further movies after the strong early performance of his debut feature Iron Lung.

The horror film has already earned $3.5m in ticket sales from advance screenings, surpassing its reported budget of less than $3m before the official release.

Industry tracking suggests the project could reach between $9m and $10m during its opening weekend, a notable result for a first-time director working outside the traditional studio system.

Markiplier addressed the subject during a post-screening question and answer session on January 29, where audience members asked whether Iron Lung would be the beginning of a longer filmmaking career. The creator responded directly, saying, “Yes, obviously I’ll be making more stuff.”

He explained that the production had been a major learning process. “I learned so much. This is not without flaws. There are many flaws in this, and I can see them, probably more glaringly than anybody because I’ve been staring at it for three years,” he said.

The filmmaker added that his earlier interactive projects had prepared him for the demands of a feature. He previously created and starred in the online specials A Heist with Markiplier and In Space with Markiplier, the latter of which received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Interactive Media, and he also appeared in the Amazon Prime series The Edge of Sleep.

“But I’ve learned an incredible amount from this,” he continued. “And I’ve learned three years’ worth of experience on how to improve the craft. Same with doing Heist and In Space, all of those things were stepping stones and learning experiences.”

Fans have begun speculating about possible future projects, with some viewers suggesting adaptations of independent video games that have featured on his channel.

For the moment, Markiplier is focused on the reception to Iron Lung, which has already exceeded commercial expectations and established him as a new voice in independent genre cinema.