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 Despite mounting controversy and security concerns, the R-rated
comic-book movie scored $93.5 million over the weekend and now
stands as the biggest October launch of all time. Those ticket
sales easily crushed the benchmark previously set last year by
Sony's superhero tentpole "Venom" with $80 million.
Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix, "Joker"
has been the subject of scrutiny in weeks leading up to its
release over fears that the disturbing origin story of Batman's
infamous foe could inspire violence. However, those anxieties
didn't deter moviegoers from turning out en masse to see what
all the fuss was about.
"Joker" has inspired waves of headlines over apprehensions that
its depiction of a mentally ill assassin could incite violence,
prompting movie theaters across the country to take extra
security precautions. New York and Los Angeles police increased
their presence around multiplexes, and exhibition owners
outlawed costumes and face masks in some venues. The industry
started to make some of these moves the 2012 mass shooting in
Aurora, Colo., at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight
Rises" left 12 people dead and 70 injured. Members of families
affected by the Aurora shooting had spoken against "Joker."
"Joker," co-starring Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz and Frances
Conroy, takes an unconventional approach to the superhero genre.
The film follows Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), an aspiring stand-up
comedian who descends into madness as his life and career being
to spiral. Village Roadshow and Bron Studios co-produced and
co-financed the film, which reportedly cost $55 million before
taking global marketing and distribution fees into account.
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In a surprise victory, "Joker" took home the top prize at this
year's Venice Film Festival, with critics lauding Phoenix's
borderline unsettling take on Batman's arch nemesis. Audiences gave
the film a B+ CinemaScore this weekend. Imax showings accounted for
$7.5 million at 392 venues.
As the lone nationwide release, "Joker" received majority of box
office spoils, earning more than the rest of the films in the top 10
combined. Last weekend's box office champion, Universal's
"Abominable," slid to second place, collecting $12 million for a
domestic haul of $37.8 million.
In third, Focus Features' "Downton Abbey" raked in another $8
million, boosting North American ticket sales to a strong $73
million.
STX's "Hustlers" landed at No. 4 with $6.3 million. After four weeks
in theaters, the Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu-led film has
generated $91.3 million domestically.
Rounding out the top five is Warner Bros.' "It: Chapter Two," which
scared up $5.4 million during its fifth outing, taking the
terrifying sequel past $200 million at the North American box
office.
Among specialty titles, Roadside Attractions and LD Entertainment's
"Judy" brought in $4.4 million when it expanded to 1,458 locations
from 461. The Judy Garland biopic, starring Renee Zellweger as the
legendary entertainer, has made $8.9 million to date.
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