The choices on the movie marquee this weekend included Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, a film about Donald Trump, a “Saturday Night Live” origin story and even Pharrell Williams as a Lego.

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

After $1 billion at the box office, 11 Oscar nominations and two major wins, including for Joaquin Phoenix, it’s easy to forget the handwringing over “Joker.”.

Five years after “Joker” won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival, filmmaker Todd Phillips is returning with the sequel.

Novak Djokovic might be busy trying to win the French Open but he definitely will be keeping tabs on how his friend and countryman Nikola Jokic fares in the NBA Finals with the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic had a triple-double after making up with Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Michael Porter Jr. sank five 3-pointers to help the Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix 118-102 on Tuesday night for a 3-2 series lead.

Crews for the “The Joker” sequel have been facing the possibility that filming in New York could be disrupted by real-life protests over the Trump case.

MIAMI – Jorge Iser is no stranger to festive follicles. “I’ve done purple, had like a half cheetah, half tiger ... we did the Joker,” he said. Wednesday, though, it was a Heat vs. Lakers cut and color taking center cabeza as the NBA Finals were set to begin. “Why not?” Iser said as he had his hair done at Mister C Barbershop in downtown Miami, where the owner and barbers also support the home team. “And we always got the style, the swag.”Show off your Heat pride by sending a photo to Share@Local10.com

Awards season is in full swing as the 92nd annual Academy Awards take place this weekend. Leading with the most Oscar nominations is “Joker,” with 11 nominations in total. “The Irishman,” “1917” and “Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood” each received 10 nominations. What or who do you think will win? Let us know what you think in the comments or by voting in the polls below.

"Joker" tops $1 billion worldwide, the documentary "After Parkland," and following Mister Rogers' calls for kindness. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

"Joker" nears $1 billion, Robert De Niro to get Life Achievement Award and Ricky Gervais back to host the Golden Globes.

"Joker" pushed past the "Maleficent" sequel to top the chart; it's now the highest-grossing R-rated film ever worldwide.

(CNN) - "Joker," the gritty comic book film about the origins of the crazed Batman villain, has become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. "R-Rated box office congratulatory posts aren't like the ones you're used to," Reynolds tweeted with a photo of Phoenix's Joker dancing above names of characters from other successful R-rated films like "It" and "Ted." The film may be the highest-grossing R-rated film globally, but it still has a long way to before beating the highest-grossing R-rated film domestically. "Joker" shattered box office records when it opened earlier this month to $96 million in North America. The film won the Venice Film Festival's top prize and critics have raved about Phoenix's performance, which has led to Oscar talk.

CNNNEW YORK (CNN) - Are the "Joker" stairs the new "Rocky" stairs? Fans of the "Joker," which hit theaters earlier this month, are taking photos in front of those stairs. Joker, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, dances down the stairs as Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part 2" plays in the background. "Always put a happy face..." wrote Arnaldo Silva in the caption of his "Joker" dance impression. Shout out to James May, who went for the basic tourist photo standing in front of the stairs.

"Joker" breaks another box office record, INXS heads to theaters and a sneak peek at the new horror yarn, "The Turning."

"Joker" went on a rampage, opening with an estimated $93.5 million -- easily topping "Venom's" October record of $80.3M.

(CNN) - "Joker" broke box office records this weekend, even as its controversial depiction of violence made some potential theatergoers anxious. "Joker" is the largest opening for Warner Bros. this year as well as one of the biggest openings for a R-rated film. "Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to provoke difficult conversations around complex issues," a statement from the studio said last month. The record-setting box office performance from "Joker" is great news for Hollywood, which could use more hits as the year goes on. The domestic box office is down roughly 5% compared to last year, but there are many potential blockbusters still on the schedule.

Joaquin Phoenix is drawing raves for his dark turn as "Joker," which aims to top "Venom's" October debut mark of $80.3M. Distributed by LAKANA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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.

(CNN) - Harley Quinn is having a girls night -- done her way. In the new trailer for "Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)," DC's demented and dynamic dame is fresh off a breakup with her beau, the Joker, and looking for "a fresh start." Mary Elizabeth Winstead (as Huntress), Jurnee Smollett-Bell (as Black Canary), Rosie Perez (Renee Montoya) and Ella Jay Basco (Cassandra Cain) round out her crew in the new movie from Warner Bros. Pictures. (CNN and Warner Bros. share parent company WarnerMedia.) The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.

In the new trailer for "Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)," DC's demented and dynamic dame is fresh off a breakup with her beau, the Joker, and looking for "a fresh start." WARNING: Video contains curse words.

"El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie," Tom Hanks to be honored, and gun violence victims ask the "Joker" studio for help.

Warner Bros. Pictures via CNN(CNN) - A group of people whose loved ones witnessed or were killed in 2012's Aurora theater shooting are calling on Warner Bros. to help combat gun violence as the studio prepares to release its rated-R comic book film "Joker." (Warner Bros., like CNN, is owned by WarnerMedia.) "Over the last several weeks, large American employers from Walmart to CVS have announced that they are going to lean into gun safety. Shooter James Holmes is currently serving multiple life sentences for the shooting, which killed 12 and injured 70. Warner Bros. has not responded to CNN's e-mailed request for comment.

Joaquin Phoenix attends the "Joker" premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 9, 2019, in Toronto. (CNN) - Joaquin Phoenix is known for being extremely private and rarely mentions his late brother, River. Phoenix thanked his late brother during an emotional acceptance speech Monday at the Toronto International Film Festival after he was awarded the TIFF Tribute Actor Award. The Phoenix brothers aren't the only ones who have found success in Hollywood, as their sisters Rain, Liberty and Summer are also actors. Joaquin Phoenix also had words of gratitude for them Monday in his speech.

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.