Original sentence: Despite criticism, the film grossed $30,471,420 at the box office (the budget was $8 million), but United Artists, who believed the film to be a flop, refused to fund a sequel which would have completed Tolkien's story on film
Edited sentence: Despite criticism, the film was a huge hit, grossing $30,471,420 at the box office (the budget was $8 million), but United Artists, who believed the film to be a flop, refused to fund a sequel which would have completed Tolkien's story on film