Markiplier’s feature movie Iron Lung has received largely negative reviews from critics, but when it comes to audience reactions, it’s a very different story.
The popular YouTuber – real name Mark Fischbach – played the Iron Lung video game, and was inspired to turn it into a movie.
Markiplier then did that entirely independently, financing the film, writing, directing, and starring in it, then releasing it via a grass-roots campaign to get Iron Lung into cinemas, where it has already grossed more than $17 million.
There were no advance screenings for critics, meaning reviews didn’t hit until after the film came out, and there’s been a notable contrast between what journalists think of Iron Lung and how audiences are responding to it.
Iron Lung has 50% critic score and 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes gathers together movie reviews to come up with a critical consensus via the Tomatometer, but it also allows the general public to rate and review a movie, which results in an audience score on the Popcornmeter
For Iron Lung, there’s a massive disparity between both those numbers, with the Tomatometer rating 50% based off 12 reviews, and the Tomatometer 89% from 1,000+ ratings.
Those numbers are correct at the time of writing, but when more reviews go live and more audience members see the movie, they can fluctuate. However, it’s a good indicator of the split between critics and fans now that the movie has been in cinemas for the last four days.
In terms of major outlets, IGN scored Iron Lung 4/10 and wrote that “For far too long, we watch Fischbach turn knobs. We watch him look at screens. We watch him write down things. And sometimes, we watch him argue with voices on the other side of the radio. But it’s very rarely engaging.”
Collider gave it 6/10 and stated: “The craftsmanship is there; with his directorial debut, Fischbach shows that he’s more than just a YouTuber, and he can conjure up the same kinds of scares that make him scream as he’s playing games.”
While IndieWire awarded is a C+, and said: “Iron Lung is audacious and at times astonishingly boring. Still, it feels more enthusiastic and celebratory than many blockbuster adaptations built on safer math.”
Praise for Markiplier’s movie
Meanwhile, the Dexerto review of Iron Lung was more positive, scoring it 4/5, and writing that the movie is “a pleasant surprise and a genuinely scary horror film in all the best ways,” before concluding that it’s “exactly what an Iron Lung adaptation should be – a bloody good time.”
Below, you can find more of those audience comments on Rotten Tomatoes…
Carson: “Absolutely phenomenal set design and special effects work! Mr. Fischbach and his crew have really put together something special and the love for the original source material shows with every drop of blood in the subs rusty hull.”
Nicolas: “Simple premise with interesting plot twists. Subtle storytelling allows for an interesting and engaging viewing experience. Overall a great watch. Props to Markiplier for doing this with a small team/budget!”
Jenny: “Iron Lung brought back something that’s been missing while still creating something refreshingly new! The story itself explores an intriguing premise, but the cinematography is what I found myself most captivated by. In particular, the lighting and darkness created the captivating atmosphere of the film. Brilliantly executed!”
Cass: “I loved this movie. After seeing how passionate Mark was throughout the filming and editing process I think this turned out to be a unique horror movie. Something that is rare these days.”
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