In a stunning display of the power of online influence, YouTube megastar Markiplier has proven that creators can find massive success in traditional media. His self-financed horror film Iron Lung has defied industry expectations, raking in over $43.5 million worldwide and outperforming a major studio documentary about Melania Trump at the box office.

What this really means is that the long-held barriers between internet fame and Hollywood stardom are finally crumbling. Markiplier, whose real name is Mark Fischbach, has amassed a staggering 38 million subscribers on YouTube with his gaming and comedy content. And now, he's leveraged that following to catapult an indie horror project to unexpected heights.

A "Win" for Creators

As Markiplier told the BBC, the success of Iron Lung is a "win" for YouTube creators looking to expand into film. "My screen time has been exponential these past couple of weeks because I just love seeing people reacting to it," he said, beaming with pride.

The bigger picture here is that this landmark achievement could open new doors for a generation of online stars yearning to make the leap to the silver screen. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Markiplier faced numerous rejections from studios who doubted his ability to translate his internet fame into box office gold. But he persevered, self-financing and self-distributing the film, and is now reaping the rewards.

Inspiring the Next Wave of Creators

This success story is sure to inspire other creators to follow in Markiplier's footsteps. As NBC News points out, a growing spectrum of online stars have begun leveraging their massive social media followings to break into traditional media, from Addison Rae to MrBeast.

Markiplier himself is hopeful that his achievement will "open up a door for other people to do their projects independently and ... showcase indie filmmaking is possible." With the right combination of passion, determination, and a devoted fanbase, it seems the path from YouTube to Hollywood is no longer an impossible dream.

As Business Insider succinctly puts it, Markiplier has "turned a big online audience into movie ticket sales" - a feat that could forever alter the entertainment landscape.