'Joker' Movie: Controversial Film Breaks Record For Highest-Grossing Opening Weekend

"Joker" has had the highest-grossing opening weekend for a film ever in the United States, earning an estimated $93.5 million. The film based on the comic book villain began screening in some locations on Thursday and made $140.5 million internationally.

The film from Warner Bros. broke the record of "Venom" which made $80.2 million and centered around an antagonist in the Spiderman series. "Joker'" will have an even higher grossing number by Monday.

"Joker" centers around Batman's enemy, the Joker, and his backstory as mentally-ill stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film has received a score of 69% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. "

"Joker" has drawn controversy, with the FBI receiving tips of threatening social media posts calling for "unspecified mass shootings" during screenings.

Warner Bros. has said that the movie is not "an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind." The controversy surrounding the film might be part of the reason why it has done so well at the box office.

In 2012, shooter James Holmes killed 12 people and injured 70 others during a screening of the Batman movie "Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado. Authorities throughout the nation have been on guard to prevent another shooting.

"Joker" won best film at the Venice Film Festival in September and could be a contender for Academy Awards in 2020.