Fandom and hunger for nostalgia helps the "Beetlejuice" sequel rule the box office, but the film's real secret sauce is tapping into animation's popularity and dominance.

"Joker: Folie à Deux" is the No. 1 movie in North America, earning $40 million in receipts this weekend, BoxOfficeMojo.com announced Sunday.

“Joker: Folie à Deux,” the sequel to the hit 2019 movie based on the “Batman” comics archvillain, was the top box-office draw this weekend amid caustic reviews and audience disdain. The Warner Bros. Pictures’ ( NASDAQ: WBD) feature grossed $40 million, according to studio estimates compiled by Comscore.