The never-ending Tom Cruise media blitz helped Mission: Impossible III earn the most money of any film this week, but it was below early estimates.

M:I3 debuted with $48.025 million after this, its opening, weekend, but the figure is lower than the opening numbers for the two previous Mission: Impossible films.

In 2000, Mission: Impossible earned $57.8 million in its opening weekend.

Last year, Cruise’s War of the Worlds earned $64.9 million in its opening weekend.

M:I3 may top the box office yet again next weekend, but it is sure to be dethroned after the Da Vinci Code opens May 19.

Unofficial weekend box office figures, according to the Associated Press:
1. “Mission: Impossible III,” $48.025 million.
2. “RV,” $11.1 million.
3. “An American Haunting,” $6.4 million.
4. “Stick It,” $5.5 million.
5. “United 93,” $5.2 million.
6. “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” $4 million.
7. “Silent Hill,” $3.9 million.
8. “Scary Movie 4,” $3.8 million.
9. (tie). “Akeelah and the Bee,” $3.4 million.
9 (tie). “Hoot,” $3.4 million.






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