It doesn’t officially have a Czech distributor, but Iron Lung is headed to Czech cinemas this weekend thanks to grassroots push from fans of Mark Fischbach, the YouTuber popularly known as Markiplier. The debut feature from the writer-director-star will hit cinemas in Prague and across the Czech Republic on Friday, Jan. 30. The film, a science fiction horror adaptation of the 2022 video game by David Szymanski, has drawn attention both for its creator’s online fame and for the intensive production process behind the project.
Set in a post-apocalyptic universe, Iron Lung follows a convict navigating a desolate moon in a small submarine, exploring an ocean of blood in near-total isolation. Fischbach wrote, directed, edited, and stars in the film, which marks his first theatrical release after several interactive YouTube projects.
The film will be shown in its original English-language version without Czech subtitles at select Cinema City and CineStar locations in Prague, with screenings also confirmed in Brno, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, Ostrava, Pardubice, and Pilsen.
Early ticket sales indicate a strong audience interest, with some Prague screenings already sold out. According to both Cinema City and CineStar websites, the film will also screen with English subtitles.
Markiplier’s transition from YouTube to cinema
Fischbach’s move from online video to a traditional film release is notable for both scale and scope. Development on Iron Lung began in April 2023, with Fischbach announcing he would adapt the game into a self-financed feature. He took on multiple roles behind and in front of the camera while collaborating with game creator Szymanski, who assisted with the screenplay and appears in a cameo.
Filming took place in Austin, Texas, at Troublemaker Studios, with production emphasizing extreme practical effects. According to Fischbach, the film used over 80,000 gallons of fake blood, surpassing previous horror benchmarks such as 2013’s Evil Dead. Principal photography wrapped in May 2023, followed by editing and post-production during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which briefly delayed completion.
The resulting 127-minute feature has drawn attention for its intense atmosphere and minimalist premise. The film’s narrative explores isolation and survival, set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop where the stars and habitable planets have vanished following a cataclysmic event known as “The Quiet Rapture.”
Czech release and audience response
Iron Lung is opening on Jan. 30 at select Cinema City and CineStar cinemas in Prague, including CineStar Anděl and Černý Most, and Cinema City locations at Slovanský dům, Nový Smíchov, and Chodov. Additional screenings are scheduled in Brno, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové, Olomouc, Ostrava, Pardubice, and Pilsen, all in the original English.
Early ticket sales indicate high demand, with several Friday screenings in Prague already sold out. New releases typically open on Thursdays in Czech, but Iron Lung will go up against another high-profile release in local cinemas on Friday: Brett Ratner’s documentary Melania, which has not seen comparable ticket interest.
The early presales reflects Markiplier’s extensive online following and the growing crossover of digital content creators into traditional film markets. He’s not the first filmmaker to go from YouTube to cinemas: Talk to Me and Bring Her Back directors Danny and Michael Philippou also started out on the platform.
