Original projections for Paramount’s latest “Mission: Impossible” figured on this breathlessly-hyped, adoringly-reviewed blockbuster rolling in the cash in North America and abroad. But the $90 million guess for its Wed-Sun. opening turned out to be a bit generous.

Deadline.com is projecting, based on Tuesday night “previews,” Wed., Thursday and Friday takes, that “MI: Dead Reckoning P. 1” will clear $80 million, besting this franchise’s all-time record of $78.8 over five days.

With raptorous reviews across the board, a wildly popular franchise, a long delay in release due to COVID and a star audiences have shown nothing but love for in recent years, they had reasons to expect better than $56 million over three days $80 over five.

As we’ve just seen another timeworn blockbuster franchise installment, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” underwhelm, maybe we’re looking at simple demographics here. With Harrison Ford over 80 and Cruise north of 60, fresh faces — even in recycled stories — are worth something.

As I noted in my review, Cruise is showing the years if not the miles, and the picture is a cluttered grab bag of leading ladies/femme fatales and recycled action beats from Bond movies. But I dare say these projections will nudge up a bit thanks to Saturday and that the picture will have legs. Not “Top Gun: Maverick” “save-the-cinema” legs, but it’ll do fine.

It’s already looking at a global opening of $240 million, so that first billion will be in the bank in weeks, not months.

The controversial “Sound of Freedom” added thousands of screens and will rack up over $27 million this weekend. People love stories about battling child traffickers and pedophiles. Hollywood is taking note, and I’ll bet Disney is regretting not keeping this Fox production for itself, no matter how dubious its story, “hero” and the leading man. It’s earned over $83 million and will clear $100 million.

“Insidious: The Red Door” is managing a $13 million second weekend.

“Dial of Destiny” may not be a world beater, but it’s closing in on $150 million, domestic, with another $12 million or so coming in by Sunday midnight.

And “Elemental” may be the weakest Pixar offering in ages, but it’s still the only animated game in town, earning another $8.7 million and change.

Box Office Pro’s final “estimated” take.