"Mission: Impossible 3," Hollywood's first big production for the current summer movie season beginning this weekend, proved impossible to smash the box office, with a moderate weekend take of some 48 million dollars in North American, preliminary studio figures said Sunday.

However, the action-packed sequel starring Tom Cruise easily surpassed last week's winner, family comedy "RV," which brought in an estimate of 11.1 million dollars.

While a 48 million-dollar opening was impressive, it was less than many expected for ``Mission: Impossible 3'' and less than ``Mission Impossible 2.''

The second movie in the franchise brought in 57.8 million dollars during its May 2000 opening, while the first ``Mission: Impossible'' opened with 45.4 million in May, 1996. All three opened at the top of the box office.

In third place was new release ``An American Haunting,'' a horror film set in early 19th century Tennessee which brought in an estimate of 6.4 million dollars, according to Los Angeles-based box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

The estimates measure the Friday-to-Sunday period and final figures will be released Monday.

"Stick It,'' a Disney comedy about girl's gymnastics, came in fourth place, with about 5.5 million dollars, narrowly edging out last week's second place winner "United 93'', which brought in about 5.2 million dollars.

"United 93", Hollywood's first insight of the September 11 attacks, depicts the heroic passengers who fought back when their doomed plane was hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001.

It was the seventh "up" weekend in a row at the box office in North America, compared with the same periods last year.

The weekend's top 12 grossing films brought in 100.2 million dollars, compared with 90.2 million last weekend and 78.5 million during the same period in 2005.

Editor: Donald