Two showings of the film Joker in California were shut down after a "credible threat" was reported to police, Variety reports.

The Century Huntington Beach theater closed down on Thursday the Huntington Beach Police Department said on Friday and police officers were sent to the scene to stop a screening at XD theater in the Bella Terra shopping center. In the former case, the Huntington Beach Police Department issued a statement saying it had received information about a possible threat to the Century Theater in response to the opening of Joker.

"The police department deemed the threat was credible enough to provide a uniformed presence at the theater,” the statement said. “As the investigation continued, our officers worked with the managers of the theater, who determined they would cancel the final two showings of the movie and close the theater out of an abundance of caution.” Showings resumed on Friday, however police will continue to provide patrols at the theater for the rest of this weekend.

The film's dealings with themes of mental illness and violence have sparked criticism. The director Todd Phillips has since campaigned against the violence controversy, even going so far as to claim that "woke culture" killed comedy.