Disappointing opening for Mission Impossible

Hollywood (SF) - The third installment of the "Mission Impossible" saga, had disappointing box office results on its first weekend. Although the movie debuted in first place with 48.025 million dollars, industry experts expected at least 10 million dollars more, to equal the second part of the franchise.

"Mission Impossible II" debuted with 57.800 million dollars, in 2000, and the last Tom Cruise hit, "War or the worlds" opened with $64.9 million on last year's fourth of July weekend.

"Expectations were really high for this film. I think it's a good number, but people were obviously expecting better numbers. There's a lot to be said for how a star's public persona can affect a movie's box office." said the president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations, Paul Dergarabedian, to Associated Press.

Mission Impossible III, directed by J.J. Abrams, creator of TV hits "Alias" and "Lost", apparently has been affected by Cruise's personal life, from his public romance with actress Katie Holmes to his constant criticizing of fellow actors based on his Scientology practices.