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I’ve always believed that if you’re passionate about a franchise and understand exactly what makes it work, you’re more likely to enjoy the film a whole lot more. “Masters of the Universe” is a strong example, with a dedicated fanbase stretching back to the action figures that launched in 1982, through the animated series, and later the first live-action adaptation starring Dolph Lundgren.
The 2026 reboot, now playing in theaters, has an entire devoted community rooting for it. But as someone who isn’t familiar with this world at all, I have a lot of thoughts.
- Rating: 2.5/5 stars
- Verdict: “Masters of the Universe” is a familiar, sugar-loaded fantasy reboot that looks slick but feels overlong and predictable. While the cast have fun and Skeletor shines, the inconsistent visuals and lack of originality make this a safe, ultimately unnecessary return to Eternia.
- Where to watch: See "Masters of the Universe" in theaters now
“Masters of the Universe” began as a corporate turnaround story after Mattel famously passed on Star Wars toys in 1976. By 1980, the company was scrambling to recover and developed He-Man as a new original action figure line to compete with Kenner’s dominance. Decades later, the franchise clearly still has the power.
After bouncing around various studios and creative teams for over a decade, the new reboot finally found a home at Amazon MGM Studios, partnering with Mattel Films to bring Prince Adam and the world of Eternia back to the big screen with a sizable, prestige-budget production.
Even though it’s an impressive legacy, I came away from my early screening of “Masters of the Universe” feeling a little hollow, as if I’d seen it all a hundred times before. Again, as someone who didn’t grow up with this franchise or see the original series or film, my take will naturally differ. But as someone who spends a lot of time watching reboots, remakes, and reimaginings of all kinds, I can’t help but wonder: Was this movie necessary?
‘Masters of the Universe’ is pure fantasy comfort food
The best way to describe this “Masters of the Universe” reboot is as comfort food wrapped in a fantastical coating that goes down easily enough. There’s so much sugar poured into this flick, from the sickly sweet nostalgia to the glossy action sequences, that by the end you’ll probably feel a little sick. Of course, that doesn’t sound very appealing for those who don’t have a sweet tooth, but “Masters of the Universe” ultimately plays it safe within the fantasy genre, delivering familiar characters, serviceable set pieces, and the occasional well-staged fight sequence (but not much more).
Since I wasn’t familiar with this world, “Masters of the Universe” does newcomers a big favor by having the new He-Man, Nicholas Galitzine, narrate an introduction to Eternia, the ancient Sword of Power, and how everything we’re seeing is real rather than bedtime stories or legends. We then spend a good chunk of the first act with a younger Prince Adam, who is bullied for being the weakest kid (even by his own father) before Skeletor (Jared Leto), the skull-faced villain, brings chaos to Eternia. During the escape, Adam is separated from the magical sword after crashing on Earth, and must now find it and return to his homeworld.
“Masters of the Universe” is extremely predictable from the beginning, leaving little to keep you on your toes beyond the occasional fight sequences featuring iconic characters like Duncan (Idris Elba), Teela (Camila Mendes), and Roboto (Kristen Wiig) battling otherworldly creatures and foes. The segment where Adam is on Earth is arguably one of the more engaging stretches, as he learns to deal with a very different way of life. Visually, though, Adam’s transformation into He-Man via the Sword of Power delivers one of the film’s standout moments, elevated by a booming soundtrack, though for much of the runtime the CGI feels noticeably weak.
In the end, “Masters of the Universe” delivers some fun fight sequences, particularly in a late set piece featuring He-Man and Skeletor in a brutal clash, with some slick editing on display. But beyond its action, there’s little here that justifies the reboot. The script is overly cheesy, the visual effects are inconsistent, and the characters lack any real emotion. Stretch that across an unnecessarily long two-hour runtime, and the power fades quickly. By the time the credits rolled, I was reminded why I feel so strongly about the need for more original movies.
Verdict: ‘Masters of the Universe’ might feel assembled from better movies, but it’s still fun
Ultimately, I still believe this reboot wasn't needed, since Hollywood has an obsession with recycling ideas until the magic is completely gone. Clocking in at well over two hours, the film is also simply too long, dragging out its pacing when a leaner runtime would have kept the fantasy adventure much sharper. However, it is hard to deny the pure entertainment value on screen.
Jared Leto's Skeletor is easily one of the standout characters, delivering delightfully silly humor that perfectly captures the campy spirit of the original cartoon, all while framed by some truly spectacular costume design. The entire cast clearly had a blast in their roles, which is what matters most when this story thrives on its joyful energy.
Complete with post-credit scenes that clearly hint at Amazon's hopeful blockbuster franchise future, this film will certainly please dedicated franchise fans. For me, it just doesn’t have the power.
"Masters of the Universe" is in theaters now
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