Wreck-It Ralph scores big at American theaters

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Disney’s animated romp “Wreck-It Ralph” rang up a phenomenal weekend at North American box offices, taking in $49.1 million — almost double the number-two film, figures showed Sunday. The premiere of Disney’s movie, which sees a video game villain try to become a hero, almost doubled the business of another hot premiere, Denzel Washington’s “Flight,” about a troubled pilot. It brought in $25 million, weekend estimates from industry expert Exhibitor Relations said. In third place was “Argo,” based on a true story about six Americans spirited out of Iran during the 1979-80 hostage crisis; the film directed by and starring Ben Affleck brought in $10.2 million. Another new movie premiered in the number four spot: “The Man with the Iron Fists.”