Will Smith scored big over Valentine's Day with his first lead role in a romantic comedy pulling in an estimated opening of $45.3 million.

"Hitch," which sees the rapper/actor portray a seduction expert, had the  the biggest opening ever for a romantic comedy, according to Hollywood Reporter.

"I think you have to attribute it to Will Smith's universal appeal -- everyone loves Will Smith," Sony Pictures Releasing president Rory Bruer said. "When you have someone like Will Smith and you surround him with director Andy Tennant and co-stars Kevin James and Eva Mendes, you end up with a big winner."

For the past few years, Smith has dominated Fourth of July weekends, with two "Men in Black" movies and "Independence Day" setting records for that holiday weekend in the past. Until "Spider-Man 2" opened to an $88 million weekend this past year, Smith starred in the top three best Fourth of July openings ever: ""Men in Black 2" at $52 mil, ""Men in Black" at $51 mil and "Independence Day" at $50.2 mil.