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Joaquin Phoenix is getting huge Oscar buzz for "Joker," but the movie's big opening weekend has some folks thinking about polishing a different kinda hardware.

For some reason, certain enthusiastic "Joker" fans decided to search for related content in the porn world. According to the good folks at Pornhub, they got a massive spike in such searches over the weekend ... just as director Todd Phillips' dark take on the Batman villain was breaking box office records.

According to Pornhub's metrics -- yes, they're tracking your fantasies -- there were more than 741,000 searches involving the word "joker" in the first 4 days following the film's release.

The biggest surge came Sunday when Pornhub saw 291,628 searches for a clown getting down.

Pornhub honchos tell us they've seen similar trends with comic book movies. For instance, when "Suicide Squad" dropped in 2016, it wasn't Jared Leto's version of the Joker that lit up adult film searches ... it was Joker's GF, Harley Quinn.

Tyler Perry's taking the high road in his old rift with Spike Lee by putting his name on a soundstage at Tyler's new studio complex -- which is no small gesture, considering their rocky past.

We had the movie and TV mogul on "TMZ Live" Monday to talk about the incredible grand opening event at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. The party brought out Beyonce, Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, and many more A-listers ... including Spike.

Check it out ... TP says any bad blood between them had to take a backseat to honoring Spike for paving the way for black filmmakers. Remember, Spike once referred to Tyler's 'Madea' franchise as "coonery and buffoonery."

The famous house used in the first "Scream" slasher film is going out with a bang ... with a Halloween party offering die-hard fans their last chance to get scared by Ghostface ... for a price.

Anthony Masi and Nate Ragon are the masterminds behind Screamoween -- located near Santa Rosa, CA -- and they're hosting one last recreation of the rager at the actual home where the movie's classic ending went down.

The party's set for Halloween night, and fans can drop $199 for a ticket to the shindig ... but you better move fast, there's only 150 tickets available. We're told the owners of the property want their privacy, so the upcoming party will be it.

"Hustlers" is making bank at the box office, but the real-life stripper behind Constance Wu's character is slamming strip club owners for shorting dancers during movie filming.

Rosie Keo, the stripper-turned-madam Constance plays in the flick, tells TMZ ... Show Palace in New York's Long Island City should have demanded more cash from movie producers to compensate strippers when the club was shut down for shooting, because lost wages are hell for sex workers.

Show Palace is taking tons of flak for turning its back on its strippers when "Hustlers" rented out the establishment for a week of filming -- effectively cutting off their cash flow -- and Rosie says the least owners could do was scrap the house fee dancers pay when they were allowed back for work.

"Joker" screenings were met with angst this weekend -- but what do you do when the actual Clown Prince of Gotham himself crashes your sesh??? Ask him to laugh, of course!!!

That's exactly what happened Saturday evening at a movie house in the San Fernando Valley -- with none other than Joaquin Phoenix himself coming out to greet ticketholders after the credits rolled for a 5:15 PM showing out at Pacific Theaters in Chatsworth.

The actor was making the rounds at different L.A. cineplexes, apparently -- posing with fans and shaking hands -- but at this one ... he got a little stage fright when asked to do his tormented Joker laugh from the film. If you haven't heard it yet ... ya gotta go see it.

Watch ... Joaquin seems to almost half-attempt it here but pulls back -- saying he just can't do it and then asking the audience member to do his own version. The guy couldn't either.

Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern and director Noah Baumbach's new movie, "Marriage Story," has several ties to famed divorce attorney Laura Wasser ... who thinks the film can have a huge impact on American families.

We got Hollywood's "disso queen" in NYC Saturday night, outside The Polo Bar, and asked her about the film ... especially Dern's character, which is -- as they say -- "loosely based" on Wasser.

Laura says she hasn't seen the movie yet -- it will be released in December -- but she's heard good things about Dern's portrayal of the divorce attorney in the middle of the splitting couple, played by Scarlett and Adam Driver.

There's plenty of reason for Wasser to pay close attention to the movie. Check this out -- she's represented Johansson, Dern, and Baumbach's ex-wife, Jennifer Jason Leigh in their previous divorce proceedings.

Heather Locklear's in a great place right now ... assuming a picture's worth 1,000 words.

Heather could NOT have looked happier Friday celebrating her daughter Ava's 22nd birthday in WeHo at Fig and Olive. Coming along for the ride -- Chris Heisse, Heather's ex, though it appears they're back on despite a tumultuous history.

Ava wasn't riding third wheel ... the birthday girl appeared to also have a date. Regardless of their troubled history ... seems they all had a great time hanging for a little fam-bam sesh.

Stan Lee's high-rise condo in San Francisco has just hit the market ... no super-spidey powers required to get up there.

The estate belonging to the late comic book god is unloading his pied-à-terre inside the luxurious Four Seasons. The 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom pad is a cozy 792 square feet ... call it your weekend getaway place, assuming you can plunk down the $1.35 million asking price.

The east-facing unit features expansive windows so you can really enjoy picturesque, unobstructed views of downtown. The condo may be cozy ... but it feels massive, thanks to high ceilings and opulent finishes.

Zak Bagans is trying his darndest to bring more spirits to his Haunted Museum ... because he just dropped a huge stack of cash on the famous ghost trap from "Ghostbusters."

The "Ghost Adventures" star tells TMZ ... he spent a whopping $310,000 for a haul of "Ghostbusters" memorabilia that includes the Hero Ghost Trap used to capture Slimer and Gozer.

Zak also got a bunch of props and costumes Harold Ramis used in the 1984 classic -- such as Dr. Egon Spengler's jumpsuit, utility belt and boots, plus a proton pack shell!!!

But, the ghost trap is the pièce de résistance among Zak's new additions. He dropped $230k alone to score that piece of movie history from Prop Store ... a huge auction house.

Moviegoers in NYC will notice a hefty police presence when they go see "Joker" on opening weekend ... cause the NYPD's not taking any chances on someone acting out.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ...  the NYPD doesn't want a copycat crime of what went down in Aurora, Colorado 7 years ago and is taking a "precautionary measure" by dispatching uniformed police officers to every theater across NYC screening the film.

We're told officers will be patrolling in front of theater entrances, though the public should be aware police have not received any specific "credible threats" to the Todd Phillips film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker.

Liza Minnelli's standing firm on her policy of shunning movies associated with her mom ... and isn't the least bit swayed by Renee Zellweger's rave reviews in an upcoming biopic.

Sources close to Judy Garland's daughter tell TMZ ... she "most likely" won't see "Judy," starring Renee, because she's always stayed away from onscreen depictions of her mother or herself, and this one, in particular, has the potential to be painful viewing.

We're told Liza would find many of the scenes hurtful, and isn't looking to tarnish her memories of her mother. Our sources add, Liza believes if people want to see what Garland was like, they don't need a biopic -- they can simply watch her classic films or listen to her records.

Minnelli's half-sister, Lorna Luft, basically said the same recently, and reportedly won't be checking out Zellweger's performance either when the movie hits theaters this weekend.

Everybody's favorite fast-food fried chicken in the "Breaking Bad" universe will soon be available in the real world ... for delivery.

A mural for Los Pollos Hermanos -- the restaurant chain owned by meth distributor Gus Fring on the TV series -- popped up in Venice Beach Thursday, and sources tell TMZ ... the grub's coming soon.

We're told 'BB' fans will soon be able to order and enjoy various chicken combos from the "virtual restaurant" in a few weeks. That means it won't be a sit-down joint, but the food can be delivered and will come in Los Pollos packaging. It's unclear where the food will be made, but no one on the outside will know where.

Our sources say the TV-inspired meals are being made by Family Style Inc., the same company behind Steve Aoki's Pizzaoki.

Bella Thorne is bringing home some hardware courtesy of Pornhub, which is honoring her for her debut in the adult industry ... as a director.

Pornhub honchos tell TMZ ... Bella is being recognized for her directing work on an adult film entitled, "Her & Him" ... and she'll receive the award next month at the 2nd Annual Pornhub Awards Show.

Bella's first foray into XXX directing features porn stars Abella Danger and Small Hands doing the dirty. The film's plot (yes, porn has those too) is about a guy who stumbles upon a surprise text in his girlfriend's phone ... which, SHOCKER, leads to a sexually charged encounter.

Interestingly, the porno includes music from Bella's ex, Mod Sun. Obviously, the collab went down before the former couple's nasty breakup.

"Joker" fans hoping to dress up like the notorious Batman villain for screenings will need an change of clothes, or they'll be turned away -- at least at Landmark Theatres.

In the name of safety and security, several big theater chains have already enacted policies that prohibit moviegoers from donning masks and face paint or bringing props, but for the opening weekend of Todd Phillips' "Joker" film ... Landmark is going a step further.

CEO Ted Mundorff tells TMZ ... "We are not allowing costumes, face painting or masks by either our employees or guests," specifically for the release of the movie starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Landmark operates over 50 theaters in 27 markets in the U.S.

Regal Cinemas tells us it doesn't think the "Joker" poses any specific risk because, "We do not believe the content or the existence of any movie is a cause or a signal for violence."

That being said, a Regal rep added their theaters are in regular contact with law enforcement year-round so they always have info to help make whatever security assessments are necessary.

This all comes amid backlash against "Joker," with critics saying the film has a dangerous message ... and the potential to incite troubled individuals to commit mass shootings.

George Clooney's just sittin' around on his ass -- alongside Brie Larson -- and getting paid for it ... good work if you can get it!

The movie stars were riding through the streets of Madrid Wednesday -- Clooney on a beautiful white donkey, and Larson on what looks like a white horse, of course. Although it could be a mule. Forgive us ... we're no equine experts.

Either way, they seemed to vibe well with the animals, and at one point, George even shared a moment with a chicken that wandered onto set. The actors were shooting a new ad for Nespresso. George has been its main spokesman since 2006.

Over the years actors like Matt Damon, John Malkovich, Danny DeVito and Natalie Dormer have joined him for the spots ... and now you can add Captain Marvel to that list.

Y'know what they say -- work hard, bray hard.

Boy George says he doesn't care if the actor who plays him in a forthcoming biopic is of the same sexual orientation as him or not -- just so long as they nail the part.

The Culture Club frontman was at Rock & Reilly's Irish Pub Tuesday night in WeHo, where he tackled the issue of PC casting head-on while talking to paps. He told one photog that casting a gay man was NOT at the forefront of his mind as the movie ramps up.

BG notes they haven't cast the starring role yet, and while it's undecided if they'll look for an actor who is gay ... he says it's no biggie in his eyes.