The Easter holiday weekend is upon us, and South Africans have five new cinema releases to keep them occupied over the next few days. Also, don’t forget that Ster Kinekor’s Throwback Thursdays are now a thing, with one-day-only re-releases of beloved classics for R50 a ticket. Today’s screenings are for family favourite Happy Feet, and timeless star-crossed romance Casablanca.

Actually already showing in cinemas since yesterday (Wednesday, 5 April), is The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a first-time animated film based on the Nintendo video game series. While working underground, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) enter a magical world via a mysterious pipe. When the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi. Also with the voices of Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser, and Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong. Made by Illumination, the studio behind Despicable Me, The Secret Lives of Pets, and Sing.

Here’s one for the sneakerheads, and lovers of true stories showing success against the odds. In Air (AKA Air: Courting a Legend) director-star Ben Affleck explores the origins of the Air Jordan basketball shoe line, which was to turn around Nike’s fortunes in the 1980s, and revolutionize contemporary culture. Matt Damon plays Sonny Vaccaro, the Nike rep who took a gamble, and pursued rookie player Michael Jordan to wear the brand’s shoes. Also with Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, and Viola Davis.

Filmed stage production The Thorn is not your average Passion Play. In telling the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, this travelling extravaganza combines song, dance, aerial acrobatics, and powerful performances. The Thorn has been engaging audiences across the US for almost 20 years, with large-scale casts of professional and volunteer performers.

Keeping things religious this week, but exploring a very different side of the Christian faith, is paranormal horror film The Pope’s Exorcist. Clearly trying to replicate The Conjuring’s winning formula, Russell Crowe plays real-life figure Father Gabriele Amorth, the priest who operated for decades as the Vatican’s officially sanctioned exorcist. Based on Amorth’s memoirs, the new film sees our hero investigate a boy’s terrifying possession, which reveals a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has tried to keep hidden.

Romantic comedy drama One True Loves rounds out the new releases. Thinking her beloved husband Jesse (Luke Bracey) has been killed in a helicopter crash, Emma (Phillipa Soo) finally moves on with her life, finding love with her old best friend, Sam (Simu Liu). No sooner are the couple engaged, though, than Jesse reemerges. Emma finds herself completely torn in choosing between a husband and a fiancé. One True Loves is based on the novel by Daisy Jones & The Six’s Taylor Jenkins Reid.