• Markiplier’s self-financed Iron Lung grossed $3.5M in Thursday night previews.
  • Presales hit about $6M; weekend estimates sit around $9M–$10M.
  • Sam Raimi’s Send Help opened with $2.2M in previews.
  • Early audience reaction praises the film’s claustrophobic tension and practical effects.

Box-office breakout for a fan-made feature

Markiplier’s self-financed feature adaptation of the indie horror game Iron Lung surprised industry watchers with a strong Thursday night preview gross of $3.5 million, Deadline reports. The film entered the weekend with roughly $6 million in presales and is projected to finish its opening weekend in the $9–10 million range.

How a low-budget film found an audience

Iron Lung — produced and led by popular YouTuber Mark Fischbach (known as Markiplier) — relied heavily on fan interest and word-of-mouth. The film’s compact premise and single-location setup echoed the game’s claustrophobic vibe, and early viewers praised the movie’s tension, sound design and practical effects.

Early reactions and highlights

Social posts and comments from opening-night audiences highlighted physical production elements. One attendee noted the team “built the sub on a motion platform and tossed him around inside like a ragdoll,” calling the effects “so, so, so solid.” Another described the film as a “slow burn” that delivered strong suspense and a palpable feeling of confinement.

Fans also celebrated Markiplier’s presence in the credits and the affection shown in the end-roll acknowledgments. Many responses compared the film’s pacing and tone to the source game, saying the adaptation expanded on the game’s cosmic and body-horror elements.

Companion release: Sam Raimi’s Send Help

Meanwhile, Sam Raimi’s horror-leaning Send Help — from 20th Century Studios — posted $2.2 million in Thursday previews. Both films demonstrate the continued market for genre fare and the power of fan communities in driving early box-office performance.

What this means for indie and fan-backed films

Iron Lung’s breakout preview night underscores how creators with built-in audiences can translate online followings into strong theatrical starts. With modest production costs and a focused marketing push, fan-supported films can outperform expectations and secure wide notice during opening weekends.

Embedded post: Deadline Facebook post on Iron Lung’s preview haul

Looking ahead

Box-office tallies will firm up as weekend grosses are reported, but early indicators suggest Iron Lung will be a notable success story for creator-driven cinema. Audience word-of-mouth and presales will be key to sustaining momentum beyond the opening weekend.

Image Referance: https://www.facebook.com/deadline/posts/markipliers-self-financed-feature-take-on-the-video-game-iron-lung-broke-out-wit/1253323076668030/