"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" is on the rise, ringing up $22.3 million from its first day of release Friday.

Paramount opened the Stephen Sommers-helmed military actioner without benefit of -- or as execs perceived it, hindrance from -- film critics' reviews. Only select Internet scribes and non-media industryites were allowed to see "Joe" before it stormed movie theaters.

Its solid first-day tally means "Joe" remains on track for a $50 million-plus opening through Sunday. The PG-13 pic was co-produced by Spyglass Entertainment and Hasbro, whose toy action figure inspired the film.

"Julie & Julia" -- Sony's Meryl Streep/Amy Adams starrer about TV chef Julia Child and a thirtysomething food blogger -- bowed in second place with $6.5 million. "Julie" is expected to cook up $20 million or so in its first weekend.

Universal debuted Rogue's horror thriller "A Perfect Getaway" with $2.1 million in seventh place. "Getaway" is unlikely to gross more than a sum in the middle single-digits millions during its first three days.

Elsewhere among top rankings, Disney's 3D family feature "G-Force" was third among the Friday grossers, with $3 million and a $79.3 million cume.

Universal's Adam Sandler comedy "Funny People" registered $2.6 million in fourth place in its eighth day of release for a $35.2 million cume.

Warner Bros.' leggy "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was fifth, fetching another $2.5 million for a $267.5 million cume.