#BOXOFFICE: “WRECK-IT RALPH” DESTRUCTIVE AT THE BOX OFFICE

Huge bow for Disney this weekend with Animated Feature Wreck-It Ralph debuting at number one with $49.1 million. Opening Friday night with an impressive $13.4 million from 3,752 theatres across North America, the Video Game-obsessed Film features the Voicework of  Jack McBrayer (spotted in Toronto recently), Sarah Silverman, John C. Reilly and  Jane Lynch. Audiences and Critics are responding well already with it earning 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, putting it in-contention for Best Animated Feature at the upcoming Oscars.

Opening in second is Paramount Pictures’ Flight, starring Denzel Washington.  The Film is the latest from Director/Producer/Writer Robert Zemeckis, best known for 2000’s Cast Away.  The Plane Crash-Drama has received solid Reviews, tallying 76% at Rotten Tomatoes and earns $25 million from 1,900 theatres this weekend.

Last week’s number one Film, Argo slips to  number three this weekend but still is performing strongly with $10.2 million for Warner Bros., which has a legitimate chance of winning Best Picture with this gripping Political Drama – not to mention several Acting Awards with an array of brilliant performances.

RZA‘s directorial Debut, The Man with the Iron Fists insists on keeping expectations low, opening in fourth for Universal Pictures with $8.2 million from 1,868 theatres.  Reviews have been mixed (56% on Rotten Tomatoes) for the Kung Fu-Action Flick, made for a Budget of $20 million.  Eli Roth produces while Lucy Liu, Rick Yune, Jamie Chung and Russell Crowe star.

Cloud Atlas unfortunately continues to under-perform for Warner Bros. in sixth with $4.8 million in this its second week of release, just ahead of Paranormal Activity 4  in eight with $4.3 million with a bit of a post-Halloween slump in its third week. Meanwhile, Silent Hill: Revelation 3-D rounds out the Top Ten with $3.3 million.