But five years later, the failure of sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux” this past weekend doesn’t tell us anything about the new overseers at WB unit DC Studios, nor does the strength of another of its superhero properties, TV series “The Penguin” on Max.

Joker: Folie Deux's first few days in theaters were worse than a notable Sony Spider-Man Universe flop and an infamous MCU film.

On Sept. 30, Lady Gaga blew kisses to fans outside the TCL Chinese Theatre ahead of the premiere of "Joker: Folie à Deux," while Joaquin Phoenix dropped his typical solemn facade and flashed a few smiles from the red carpet.

"It's a huge disaster, but what is the fallout?" asks one source after the sequel to the $1 billion hit bombs at the box office and is rejected by critics and audiences alike.

Another thing about Joker 2 that both journalists and moviegoers have pointed out: the idea that the film – particularly its shocking ending and implications of who the real Joker is – is a direct rebuke of the fans who embraced the first film and made it a $1 billion hit.