Box Office Report: Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 4' Shoots to No. 1

Paramount's Tom Cruise starrer Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol topped the Wednesday box office as it expanded nationwide, collecting $6.6 million in addition to $2 million in Tuesday night shows for a total $8.6 million.

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In a promising sign for Paramount and co-financing partner Skydance Productions, M:I4 earned an A- CinemaScore. And, including the $17.1 million earned in 425 IMAX and large-format sneaks that began last Friday, the franchise installment is all in with $25.7 million. Brad Bird directed the film, which also stars Jeremy Renner.

Overseas, MI:4 has grossed north of $85 million since launching last weekend in select markets.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, from Sony, also got off to a strong start, grossing $1.6 million on Tuesday night and $3.5 million on Wednesday for a total $5.1 million. Directed by David Fincher, the English-language adaptation of the blockbuster Swedish novel stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara and Christopher Plummer. The film received a glowing A CinemaScore.

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Warner Bros.' Sherlock Holmes--A Game of Shadows, opening last Friday, grossed $4.3 million on Wednesday to come in No. 2. The sequel--reteaming filmmaker Guy Ritchie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law--has cumed $54 million, but still lags behind the original.

Box office observers were heartened by the level of theater traffic on Wednesday after three miserable weekends, but warn that this weekend could be tough since Christmas eve--notoriously bad for moviegoing--falls on a Saturday. Thursday and Friday should be good days, and next week even better.

Fox's Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked has gained some momentum this week as more and more kids are sprung from school. The threequel came in No. 4 on Wednesday, grossing $3.5 million for a cume of $33 million. Still, the movie will have a tough time catching up with the previous two installments.

Chipwrecked beat Steven Spielberg's 3D family film The Adventures of Tintin, which opened Wednesday to $2.3 million. The movie is already a hit internationally, grossing north of $240 million. Paramount and Sony, which partnered on the film, have always known the character, created by Belgian artist Herge, is far more popular overseas.