10 Incredibly Bleak Recent Movie Endings

6. Iron Lung

To say that it was directed by, starred in, and financed by YouTube personality Markiplier, Iron Lung did incredibly well. Scoring favourable reviews, and a ridiculous $50 million at the box office, the film has been one of the surprises of 2026 so far.

Based on the video game of the same name, the story revolved around Simon, forced to pilot a submarine in a supernaturally apocalyptic world in exchange for his freedom, before being thrown into a surreal and creepy tussle with a demonic creature that he would ultimately lose.

That being said, the ending of the film initially is one of hope. Upon his ship, there was certain data collected that could have held the key to the survival of the entire human race, something that even in the face of death, he managed to release. The final shot is of the package holding the data making it to the ocean's surface with a torch attached.

However, it's the hope that kills you as the saying goes, and in spite of the optimistic tone and nature of said scene, there is absolutely no way that tiny box with that tiny light is ever being found in the middle of the sea and delivered to the right people.