Iron Lung is a 2026 science-fiction horror movie written and directed by Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier, who also stars in the lead role. Based on David Szymanski’s 2022 indie horror game, the film follows Simon, a convicted prisoner forced to explore a mysterious ocean of blood on an alien moon inside a sealed submarine. Set after a cosmic catastrophe called the Quiet Rapture, the story blends psychological horror, isolation, and an increasingly dangerous mission.
Released in US theaters on January 30, 2026, the movie marks Markiplier’s feature-length directorial debut. It is rated R and has a listed runtime of 127 minutes (2 hours and 7 minutes). The film also received a digital release, allowing viewers to watch it at home through participating rental and purchase platforms.
While the movie retains the original game’s unsettling premise, it expands the characters, dialogue, and surrounding mystery into a longer narrative. You don’t need to have played the game to understand the film.
What Is the Iron Lung Movie About?
The story unfolds in a distant future after a mysterious event known as the Quiet Rapture causes all known stars and habitable planets to disappear. Only those aboard spacecraft and space stations survive, leaving humanity struggling with dwindling resources and an uncertain future.
A surviving organization called the Consolidation of Iron makes an extraordinary discovery on a barren moon designated AT-5: an ocean made of blood. Hoping to find resources that could help humanity survive, the organization launches expeditions beneath its surface.
Simon, a convicted prisoner, is chosen for one of these missions. He’s placed inside a small, deteriorating submarine nicknamed the Iron Lung, with its entrance welded shut. His task is to navigate the blood ocean, photograph designated locations, and gather information about what lies below.
The submarine has no usable forward-facing window. Simon must instead depend on instruments, coordinates, and a camera to navigate surroundings he cannot see directly.
As the expedition continues, strange discoveries and unsettling sounds suggest that something dangerous lurks beneath the surface. Simon also begins to question whether the people overseeing his mission have told him the whole truth.
The tension comes largely from what remains unseen. Because viewers know little more than Simon does about his surroundings, the cramped submarine becomes increasingly frightening as the mission unfolds.
Iron Lung Cast and Characters
Markiplier leads the film as Simon, alongside a supporting cast portraying characters connected to the expedition and the events surrounding it. The film’s cast and crew listings identify the principal performers and their roles.
| Actor | Character |
| Mark Fischbach (Markiplier) | Simon |
| Caroline Kaplan | Ava |
| Troy Baker | David |
| Elsie Lovelock | SM-8 Research Lead (voice) |
| Elle LaMont | SM-8 Research Assistant (voice) |
| Seán McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye) | Jack |
Mark Fischbach as Simon: Simon is the film’s central character, a prisoner sent on an expedition with little assurance he’ll survive. His growing fear, isolation, and struggle with the submarine’s worsening conditions drive much of the story.
Caroline Kaplan as Ava: Ava is connected to Simon’s mission, helping the story reach beyond the submarine and explore the people involved in the expedition.
Troy Baker as David: David plays an important part in the wider narrative. Baker is also well known for his voice-acting performances in video games.
The supporting voice performances give viewers a sense of the larger world beyond Simon’s submarine without shifting attention away from the film’s claustrophobic setting.
When Was Iron Lung Released, and Where Can You Watch It?
Iron Lung opened in US theaters on January 30, 2026, through an independent theatrical release distributed by Markiplier Studios.
The movie later became available for digital viewing. Rotten Tomatoes lists its digital streaming release date as May 31, 2026.
As of October 2026, the film has been offered for digital rental or purchase through YouTube and Google Play Movies in the United States. Viewers should check the current listing before purchasing, since platform availability can change.
The film’s release and viewing options can be summarized as follows:
- Theatrical release: January 30, 2026, in the United States.
- Digital release: May 31, 2026.
- YouTube: Digital rental and purchase options.
- Google Play Movies: Digital rental and purchase options.
- Subscription streaming: Availability through a major subscription service has not been reliably confirmed.
US digital listings have advertised rentals for $4.99 and purchases for $9.99, although these prices are subject to change and should not be treated as guaranteed current offers. Renting or buying the movie is a separate transaction from watching titles included with a streaming subscription.
Availability, pricing, and viewing formats can also vary by country. Anyone watching outside the United States should check their regional digital storefronts for the latest options.
How Is the Iron Lung Movie Connected to the Video Game?
The movie is a direct adaptation of Iron Lung, the independent first-person horror game developed by David Szymanski and released on March 9, 2022.
Both versions share the same disturbing premise: a prisoner trapped in a tiny submarine must navigate an unfamiliar ocean of blood while humanity struggles with the aftermath of a mysterious cosmic disaster.
The biggest difference is how players and moviegoers experience that situation.
The Original 2022 Iron Lung Game
The original game confines players to a small submarine with extremely limited visibility. Instead of freely exploring a large underwater environment, players navigate using coordinates, an incomplete map, proximity sensors, and photographs captured by the submarine’s camera.
The objective is to complete an underwater expedition without knowing exactly what might be waiting outside.
Much of the fear comes from that lack of information. Players can’t simply look ahead whenever they want, and even ordinary mechanical noises become unnerving when the submarine is surrounded by an unknown environment.
The game is deliberately short. Its official Steam description presents it as a compact horror experience intended to be completed in under an hour. Rather than relying on lengthy dialogue or elaborate cutscenes, it builds its story through environmental details, written information, and what players discover during the expedition.
Key Differences Between the Movie and Game
The most noticeable difference is how the story is told.
In the game, players control the submarine themselves, interpret coordinates, and decide how to approach each objective. The tension comes partly from making those decisions while knowing that a mistake could have consequences.
The movie takes a different approach, following Simon through a scripted narrative. It gives him a more developed personality, introduces additional dialogue, and explores relationships and conflicts that extend beyond the submarine.
Despite those changes, both versions retain the elements that make Iron Lung recognizable:
- A post-apocalyptic universe shaped by the Quiet Rapture.
- An isolated submarine exploring an extraterrestrial blood ocean.
- Limited visibility and uncertainty about underwater threats.
- A dangerous mission involving photography and navigation.
- Psychological horror built around confinement and helplessness.
David Szymanski, the original game’s creator, was also involved in the film adaptation. The movie keeps the game’s central concept intact while developing it into a longer, more character-focused story.
Iron Lung Runtime, Age Rating, and Ending
Iron Lung has a listed runtime of 127 minutes (2 hours and 7 minutes), although some movie databases and digital listings give slightly shorter figures of approximately 124-125 minutes.
In the United States, the film is rated for language, bloody images, and some gore.
Its disturbing visuals, intense atmosphere, and confined setting make it better suited to mature horror audiences than younger viewers. Anyone particularly uncomfortable with enclosed spaces or prolonged psychological tension may also find parts of the movie difficult to watch.
Read more: One Piece Filler List: Complete Episode Guide.
Does Iron Lung Have a Clear Ending? (Spoiler-Free)
The ending brings Simon’s dangerous expedition toward its conclusion, but it doesn’t abandon the uncertainty that runs throughout the movie.
Rather than treating the cosmic mystery as a puzzle with a neat explanation for every detail, the film focuses on the disturbing implications of Simon’s discoveries and humanity’s uncertain circumstances.
Viewers hoping for a complete explanation of the Quiet Rapture shouldn’t expect every question about the fictional universe to be answered. The conclusion remains consistent with the movie’s themes of isolation, helplessness, and cosmic horror, leaving room for interpretation without establishing every possible theory as fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need to Play the Iron Lung Game Before Watching the Movie?
No. The movie establishes its own characters, setting, and central conflict, so you can follow the story without playing the original game. Playing it beforehand may help you recognize certain details and understand the inspiration behind the film, but it isn’t necessary to appreciate Simon’s journey.
Is Iron Lung a True Story or Based on a Real Medical Device?
No. Iron Lung is a fictional horror movie adapted from a video game. An iron lung is a real medical device that helps people breathe, but the film’s title refers to the sealed submarine at the center of its story. The blood ocean, Quiet Rapture, and events of the expedition are entirely fictional.
