'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' did not do as well as expected at the box office over the New Year's weekend, putting the future of the Stieg Larsson trilogy films in doubt.

Director David Fincher's English-language version of the successful Swedish novel only achieved about $19.4 million, dropping to fourth place behind Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.' Many are doubtful this will already spell the end of the trilogy while other critics and experts blame the release date.

According to Anna Thompson, such a film which is not family-friendly should not have been released during the Christmas season. She told the Daily News it could have done better in February. Its being an R-rated film was one of its major drawbacks since families won't choose to see a movie which the children cannot be allowed to watch.

The future for the trilogy is still unclear for the sequels will only be recognized according to how the first movie performed and how well it will do overseas as well, said Thompson.

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