TOM CRUISE - CRUISE'S MISSION FALLS SHORT OF BOX OFFICE EXPECTATIONS

TOM CRUISE's latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE movie has under-performed at the US box office, taking in $30 million (GBP17.1 million) less than experts predicted. The third movie in the all-action franchise still stormed to the top of the US box office, but fell short of expectations, grossing $48 million (GBP27.4 million) in its opening weekend (06-07MAY06). The critically acclaimed film was expected to debut in America with sales of at least $75 million (GBP42.9 million). That said, the movie, which also stars VING RHAMES, MICHELLE MONAGHAN, PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN and JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, still made $37 million (GBP21.1 million) more than second placed RV, which debuted at number one last weekend (30APR06). Mission: Impossible III also performed well internationally, and grossed a global haul of $70 million (GBP40 million). The film has some way to go to break even - it reportedly cost $150 million (GBP85.7 million) to make. Also debuting in the US box office top 10 this week is horror film AN AMERICAN HAUNTING at number three and family film HOOT, which took in a poor $3.4 million (GBP1.9 million) to enter the list in ninth place. ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN - the first film this year (06) to break the $100 million (GBP57.1 million) mark in America - continues to perform well at the box office. The animated sequel grossed $4 million (GBP2.3 million) in its sixth week on release, taking its tally to a whopping $183.3 million (GBP104.6 million).