Angelina Jolie portraying opera singer Maria Callas in the movie “Maria” and Jamie Foxx's Netflix comedy special called “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was.

“Joker: Folie à Deux” is the No. 1 movie at the box office but is not destined for a happy ending.

(CNN) - The "Joker" hit movie theaters this week despite a wave of criticism that it glorifies a killer and could encourage copycat attacks nationwide. Even before its release, Warner Bros. faced protests from the families of mass shooting victims who feared it would lead to violence or copycat attacks. Heightened concern about the movie's premiere grew because of the 2012 mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater on the opening night of "The Dark Knight Rises" -- another Batman movie. Stepped up security nationwideIn a joint bulletin, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security warned law enforcement after online threats called for mass shootings at movie showings. "When I first heard about the mass shooting controversy, it didn't really bother me.

There is a constituency eager to blame Hollywood for contributing to societal ills that includes plenty of dishonest brokers. (At the risk of stating the obvious, this R-rated film is not for children, although a parade of related Halloween costumes seems sadly inevitable.) Ultimately, "Joker" is about the making of a monster, told in a manner that seeks to evoke empathy without rooting for him -- a fine line, underscoring a level of ambition beyond what's usually associated with comic-book-adjacent fare. Phoenix's live-wire work alone makes "Joker" an intriguing film, if one that has been conspicuously overpraised amid the irrational exuberance of film festivals. "Joker" premieres Oct. 4 in the US and is rated R. The film is being released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of WarnerMedia.

Warner Bros. Pictures via CNNVENICE, Italy (CNN) - Let's put a smile on that face: A "Batman" prequel scored big Saturday at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival. Todd Phillips' "Joker" took home the festival's big prize, the Golden Lion for Best Film. The movie, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and is slated to hit theaters on October 4, explores the origins of the Joker, Batman's archenemy. Phillips also thanked Phoenix, who joined him on stage. The 76th Venice Film Festival, the world's oldest film festival, was held August 28 through September 7.