Huntington Beach movie theater closes after threat tied to ‘Joker’ screenings

A Huntington Beach movie theater closed Thursday night after police say a credible threat was reported relating to the “Joker” movie.

Officers were sent to the Century Huntington Beach and XD theater house in the Bella Terra shopping center on Edinger Avenue at around 5 p.m., said Officer Angela Bennett, a Huntington Beach police spokeswoman.

Though police would not go into details about the nature of the threat, or how it was received, Bennett did say: “The threat was specific to the (“Joker”) movie and the theater.”

As a result of the threat, theater management stopped showing movies starting at about 4:45 p.m.

Officers in a patrol until were stationed outside the theater entrance and security guards turned people away.

Moviegoer Stephanie Theroux, of Garden Grove told a reporter on scene that she was on her way to the theater with friends when she saw police officers. She was going to the 10:30 p.m. screening.

“It did look good from the trailers…it’s kind of a bummer,” she said.

The extra patrols were at the theater into the evening and are expected over the weekend, Bennett said.

All movies were to show as usual on Friday, according to a schedule on the theater’s website.

It was immediately unclear if ticket holders for Thursday night were given refunds.

“Joker” stars Joaquin Phoenix as one of Gotham’s City’s most prolific villains. The release of the film has sparked anxiety about violence at its showings, prompting some law enforcement agencies, such as the Los Angeles Police Department, to increase patrols at viewings during opening weekend.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.