As the holiday fever gripped the entire US, Tom Cruise should feel much better with his latest installment of MI reaching better heights, though not up to industry’s expectations. But overseas revenues have undoubtedly compensated the loss. Mostly because of the holidays and the bad financial conditions during the 2011, the average movie-goer has faced the ire of escalated ticket costs. This could be few reasons for not registering expected revenue, but critics don’t blame on the film’s plot. The plot and ploy well accepted worldwide for the latest flick.

Studio estimates Sunday placed Cruise's "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" a solid No. 1 with $26.5 million domestically over its first weekend in full release. The movie raised its total to $59 million since it started a week earlier in huge-screen cinemas and expanded nationwide last Wednesday, and distributor Paramount estimated that revenues will reach $72.7 million by Monday.

Even with a No. 1 debut, "Ghost Protocol" still was a shadow of its predecessors. The first three "Mission: Impossible" movies ranged from $45 million to $58 million over opening weekend, but those installments opened at the start of the busy summer season. As of Friday, "Ghost Protocol" also had brought in a healthy $118 million overseas.