NEW YORK (November 4, 2012)--The weekend box office was apparently buoyed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, as Disney's "Wreck it Ralph" opened strongly with $49.1 million.

The animated family film got a boost from the large number of East Coast children out of school on Friday and families looking for matinee diversion.

It's the largest box-office opening ever for a Disney Animations release.

Robert Zemeckis' "Flight," starring Denzel Washington, also opened to robust ticket sales.

The Paramount drama took in $25 million despite playing in only 1,884 theaters, or about half the number that "Wreck it Ralph" played in.

The Universal kung fu flick "The Man With the Iron Fists" opened with a debut of $8.2 million.