The "Super Mario Bros. Movie" has made a smashing debut, exceeding expectations and setting new box office records. The animated film adaptation of the popular video game franchise earned $55 million from 4,343 theaters on Friday, launching it to a record-breaking opening weekend. By Sunday, the Universal and Illumination film had already amassed $137 million in domestic ticket sales and is projected to reach $195 million over the five-day Easter weekend. This performance easily surpasses the initial $150 million projections.

Internationally, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" collected $34.7 million from 44 markets on Wednesday, led by Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, and China. The film is set to expand to 70 overseas territories by Sunday, contributing to an impressive $368 million global debut, making it the biggest ever opening for an animated film. The previous record holder, 2019's "Frozen II," earned $358 million over a traditional three-day window.

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Jack Black as Bowser. Although the film has not received universally positive reviews, with a 44% rating from top critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it has been embraced by audiences. Research firm CinemaScore has awarded the film an "A" grade, indicating strong approval from viewers. IMDB is reporting a 7.4/10, and 96% of Google users like this movie.

Meanwhile, Ben Affleck's sports drama "Air" has also enjoyed a solid opening, earning $3.2 million from 3,507 venues on Wednesday and projecting $10.6 million over the weekend. The Amazon-backed film, which boasts a $90 million budget, is expected to gross $16 to $18 million in its first five days. "Air" tells the true story of the Nike shoe salesman who pursued NBA rookie Michael Jordan for a shoe deal and stars Affleck, Matt Damon, and Viola Davis. The film has received positive reviews and an "A" CinemaScore, potentially helping it attract adult moviegoers.

The success of both "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Air" marks a strong period at the box office, following the successful March releases of "Scream VI," "Creed III," "John Wick: Chapter 4," and "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves."