In this file image released by Paramount Pictures, Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, left, Paula Patton plays Jane, Simon Pegg plays Benji, and Jeremy Renner plays Brandt, right, in a scene from “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.” -AP Photo

LOS ANGELES: Tom Cruise's new mission remains impossible to beat at the box office. Studio estimates Sunday placed ''Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol'' in the No. 1 spot for the second-straight weekend with $31.3 million.

With a $134.1 million domestic total, it's the first $100 million hit with Cruise in the lead role since 2006's ''Mission: Impossible III.''

The movie led a solid New Year's weekend as Hollywood managed fair business to end a sluggish year on a more promising note for 2012.

Robert Downey Jr.'s ''Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'' finished second again with $21.7 million, raising its domestic total to $132.1 million.

The family sequel ''Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked'' was still at No. 3 with $18.3 million to lift its haul to $94.6 million.

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