Although the investment in "The Lord of the Rings" wasn't much—if we go by the original figures—it did not exceed 100 million per installment, relatively modest compared to the massive productions entering the 21st century that routinely cost a couple hundred million. Even now, with Adrian producing and directing, the total investment only increased by 50 million, averaging just over 100 million for each part, which still can't compare with those larger productions that followed.
However, the acclaim and box office receipts of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy are certainly among the top in their category; the "Harry Potter" series may far exceed it in terms of box office and makes much more from merchandising, but in terms of critical reception, no other fantasy work has surpassed it. Therefore, it is a well-deserved epic, which is why Adrian chose Universal to handle this trilogy.
