Pop Culture Rewind: February flicks that fostered filmmaking’s future

February is a month defined by love and passion, between couples, family members, and even between creators and their projects. The love that creators have for their works of art is one of the strongest forms of love, and filmmakers are certainly no exception. When someone truly loves the work they’re doing, they can create masterpieces that can change the lives of those who work on them or watch them, and the films we’re focusing on are prime examples of that. 

On Feb. 16, 2018, Marvel released the film “Black Panther,” which was a resounding hit, earning over $1.3 billion in the worldwide box office, according to Box Office Mojo. The film was Marvel’s first film to feature a predominantly black cast, as well as the first Marvel film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The success of this film broke the infamous industry myth that black movies don’t perform well internationally, or “black films don’t travel,” which was used as an excuse to limit budgets on several films. “Black Panther” was an international hit, however, and began to open the eyes of the industry to the fact that black-led films could easily be successful. Films like “Sinners” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” could likely not have been as successful as they were without the influence that “Black Panther” had on the world of cinema.

While Marvel is a big name behind movies, Disney is an even bigger one. When thinking of Disney films, their animated hits come to mind, and with those, their Disney princess characters, like Elsa, Rapunzel, Belle, and more. However, none of those films would come to exist, if not for a risk-taking classic: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” After releasing a series of short animated films, Walt Disney decided to turn to making an entirely animated feature film. He was discouraged from the idea by many people, including his wife and brother, and the film was even known as “Disney’s Folly” during production. Disney was betting a whole lot on the film, as he mortgaged his home and took out a loan of $250,000 in order to finish production. If it was a flop, his entire livelihood would be gone. However, this proved to be the exact opposite upon its general release on Feb. 4, 1938. The film was a hit, and proved that full-length feature animation was possible, as well as profitable. The film’s success led to the development of many more classic Disney films, such as “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan,” and “Pinocchio,” and cemented Walt Disney Animation Studios as a household name in the film industry. 

Drifting away from big-name studios and to the other end of the spectrum, one unlikely indie filmmaker is breaking barriers and rising to the top: Markiplier. Mark Fischbach, primarily known as Markiplier, is a YouTuber who boasts over a whopping 38 million subscribers. After playing a game called “Iron Lung” on his channel, he became interested in the prospect of turning it into a film, and the film adaptation “Iron Lung” was born. Production started in early 2023, with Fischbach signed on to direct, write, edit, and star in the film. A trailer was posted on Fischbach’s YouTube in October of that year, the film was officially finished in 2024, and Fischbach entered talks for release. While it was initially only supposed to show in 60 theaters throughout the US, Fischbach’s fans sent requests to local theaters, and “Iron Lung” is now showing in over 4000 theaters worldwide. The film had a budget of under $3 million, and has already grossed $28 million worldwide, and is the number one movie in the US, at the time this was written. While the film has received mixed reviews from critics, “Iron Lung” truly speaks to what love and care for a film can do, and the impact that indie filmmakers are capable of making.

Filmmakers often put everything up on the line for their movies, as was proven by “Black Panther”’s myth-busting success, Disney’s risky gamble on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and Fischbach’s relentless determination with “Iron Lung.” When creators love their art, true masterpieces can be created, ones that leave lasting impressions on cinema and the world.