Mission: Impossible III has suffered a disappointing opening weekend at the American box office.

The thriller sequel sold $48 million worth of tickets across the US and Canada – compared to industry expectations of $60m.

The news comes despite an intense publicity campaign including several events with star Tom Cruise.

Distributor Paramount Pictures confirmed the figure and said it was close to its predicted $50million. It praised the film's international performance of $70 million, having released it everywhere except Japan and India simultaneously.

The figures make M:i:III the second highest-opening earner in the US this year, though it trails Ice Age: The Meltdown by a significant $20m.

Paramount combated speculation that Cruise was losing his appeal to females by releasing demographic figures. They were exactly the same for all three instalments, with 64 per cent of viewers 25-and-older and 56 per cent male.

Meanwhile, An American Haunting entered the top-10 grossing at third place and Hoot at nine.

The top ten in full:

1. (-) Mission: Impossible III - $48m
2. (1) RV - $11.1m
3. (-) An American Haunting - $6.38m
4. (3) Stick It - $5.52m
5. (2) United 93 - $5.2m
6. (7) Ice Age: The Meltdown - $4m
7. (4) Silent Hill - $3.9m
8. (5) Scary Movie 4 - $3.76m
9. (-) Hoot - $3.4m
10. (8) Akeelah and the Bee - $3.4m