Record-breaking of "Mission: Impossible III" now looks like a mission impossible for Tom Cruise.

The latest NRG statistics indicate that Cruise's box-office appeal isn't what it used to be.

According to the data from the National Research Group, 37 percent of respondents said  they were "definitely interested" in seeing "Mission Impossible: 3" while 9 percent said they were "definitely not interested." However, almost exactly six years ago, at this same point before the opening of "Mission Impossible: 2," the definite interest number was in the mid 40s and that the definite non£­interests were more like 2 percent.

Paramount spokespersons said the NRG figures on "Mission Impossible: 3" were wrong, claiming instead that the definite interests were in "the low 40s."

They reiterated that this movie was going to "make a lot of money" and their first choice figures were already over 10% and they hadn't even started their campaign yet.

Fine, fine.

But why is Cruise supposed to earn much less money from the film than originally projected?

Once Cruise's PR meltdown began, Paramount refused to green light "M:I: 3" he gave up significant gross points and agreed to give the studio more early box-office cash.

There are indications all over the map that a portion of the public doesn't believe that the 43 year-old Cruise is Tom Terrific anymore -- they think he's Tom Wacko.

If you were hiding under a rock and missed the whole Oprah couch-jump, you can go to a theatre and see it lampooned in Scary Movie 4. David Zucher's comedy earned a little over 40 U.S. dollars this weekend. We wish it wouldn't mess with M:I: 3's revenue.

Mission: Impossible III released on 12th,5 no doubt is going to sell a big load of tickets. While analysts will possibly describe the earnings of the movie as "impressive," "muscular" or "respectable" rather than "phenomenal," "spectacular" or "record-breaking" in Cruise's other movies.

In any events, Mission: Impossible III will still be the Big Thing to see from early to mid May untile The DaVinci Code opens on 5.19.

Editor: Donald