Masters of the Universe: A Spoiler-Filled Review

© Sony Pictures Releasing International

Initial Rating: 8 out of 10 Motu-Memes (Forget that rating. The following review is outdated because I saw the film again yesterday in English. Read here why I now give it a 10 out of 10, just to show a certain finger to all the "nay-sayers"...)

The latest installment in the Masters of the Universe franchise delivers heartfelt fan service, despite a few shortcomings that rarely wiped the smile off my face.

That’s the TL;DR version.

But I’m ready to dissect this further. Let’s dive in:

A new Masters of the Universe film has been in the works longer than most fans realize. After a sequel to the infamous 1987 Dolph Lundgren film was scrapped, a new action movie was first announced in 2009. Thus began a long and winding journey.

Over the years, writers, directors, and cast members changed more frequently than one changes underwear. Honestly, I had lost hope that we would ever see a remake of Masters of the Universe on the big screen.

So, I was grateful to walk into the premiere yesterday, ready to indulge in popcorn, magical swords, and laser blasts.

And I’ll say it straight: I would have done it differently.

Barbarian or Soft Prince?

You would have seen a blend of Conan and Star Wars from me, with the humor of Guardians of the Galaxy and epic music akin to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Interestingly, this blend seemed to echo in the mind of director Travis Knight, who mentioned in an interview that a serious Lord of the Rings approach would be too silly for Masters of the Universe.

I vehemently disagree!

It all depends on the execution and which part of the vast Motu universe is chosen as the foundation.

The 1987 cult classic by Gary Goddard embraced He-Man's 80s barbarian comic roots and provided a fairly entertaining fantasy film for its time. Had it not faltered due to its modest budget, we might have placed it alongside Star Wars and Conan instead of hiding it as a guilty pleasure.

But a different path was taken this time.

Travis Knight went all-in, crafting a film that draws heavily from the Filmation cartoon while referencing everything pop culture has ever produced. Surprisingly, it works quite well.

One significant advantage is that we finally get to see Prince Adam transform into He-Man in a live-action film—something the barbarian film with Dolph Lundgren failed to deliver.

This means He-Man is not just a steroid-fueled barbarian but rather the lazy prince we know from the audio dramas and cartoons. The humor, however, has been amplified, which may not appeal to everyone.

I enjoyed it nonetheless, as the balance between seriousness and humor, despite the laughs and a nod to the absurd origins—muscle men, talking tigers, and the evil Skeletor—was achieved quite well.

Moreover, this version elevates He-Man to a new level of masculinity that transcends the simple notion of being the “strongest of the strong.” He possesses heart, is relatable, and is even allowed to cry. While the cartoon version wasn’t toxic, the contrast with the stoic barbarian played by Dolph Lundgren is striking.

The Cast – And Where Were Mer-Man, Stratos, or Orko?

Nicholas Galitzine makes for a solid He-Man.

Yes, shame on me—initially, I was skeptical about his physique. However, he is in excellent shape and fits the role perfectly. His muscular build aligns well with the character he portrays.

Jared Leto shines as Skeletor, bringing to life the inherently evil skeleton face—essentially an action figure designed to be a generic antagonist. "I don’t want to feel good; I want to feel evil!"

Idris Elba is fantastic as Man-at-Arms, though I feel he resorts to alcohol a bit too quickly for the stoic and disciplined weapons master of Eternia.

Unfortunately, I found the female cast to be the weakest link.

Camila Mendes is undeniably attractive, which makes her a visually appealing Teela, but her charisma and acting left something to be desired.

Alison Brie as Evil Lynn felt completely interchangeable. It was as if a random mom from the extras was told, "Hey, put on this costume and deliver these lines." She’s not bad by any means, but her performance is forgettable as the evil sorceress.

Characters like Fisto, Ram-Man, Mekaneck, and even Skeletor’s henchmen were well-executed, especially Trap Jaw—he was fantastic. Yet, I can't help but wonder why we were deprived of three figures from the original toy lineup: Mer-Man, Stratos, and Zodak.

I can understand Zodak’s absence, as he was never clearly aligned as a hero or villain.

But the other two were essential! My guess is that the flying Stratos would have been too costly and complex to animate in aerial combat.

At least Mer-Man could have had a small role! Travis Knight mentioned in an interview that he simply couldn’t fit him into the story. Wow. That excuse feels weak. I could think of a hundred ways to include him. For instance, when the Masters were hiding in a cave from Skeletor, there could have been a nearby lake where Mer-Man could wade in, announcing, "I found the rebels, my lord; they were foolish enough to linger at the edge of my territory…" Done.

As for Orko appearing only in one of the three (!!! – stay seated!) end-credit scenes, I didn’t mind that too much. In such a humor-laden film, the silly Trollan might have been overkill. Just my personal opinion.

Weak Start, Then Full Throttle

© Sony Pictures Releasing International

My biggest issue with the new Masters of the Universe is the first third of the film. I must admit, I briefly thought in the theater, "Oh no, this isn’t going to work…"

We first meet King Randor, who seems clueless about leadership or military tactics, imparting questionable life lessons to his son. His palace guards are equally dim-witted.

Skeletor attacks the palace. Spaceships zoom in, explosions erupt, and half the palace is ablaze.

"My king! We are under attack!!!"

NO WAY?

I laughed out loud in the theater, as did my wife. The scene was just that absurd.

Then they throw their son, along with the most powerful weapon in the universe, into a magical portal leading to Earth.

"He’ll be safe there."

Yeah, right.

Immediately separated from his sword, he can’t return.

And that seems okay.

Now he has to spend over a decade working office jobs. A little reality check for the pampered prince. They can always retrieve him later, right? Or can they only open a one-way portal to Earth? His mother knew where he was...

But there might have been reasons. Although I don’t believe they had to fight Skeletor for TEN years.

Why does Adam take so long to find his sword? It’s not like it ended up on the other side of the world; it’s likely in a comic shop nearby...

And who raised him as a child? I would have liked to see more story there.

The entire, thankfully brief, section set on Earth felt like it was merely inserted for pop culture references and laughs. Sure, the He/Him name tag and the comic shop with nerds are funny, but… it felt like the film’s biggest slow patches.

Fortunately, the film picks up significantly once Adam arrives on Eternia and finally transforms into He-Man.

While the humor remains high, it is now beautifully contrasted with the brutal blows that the chosen one delivers to Skeletor’s minions.

That was enjoyable!

Ultimately, the film resembles a long-drawn-out climax: it starts off slow, builds up, and finally erupts gloriously in the transformation from the bumbling prince into He-Man.

Speaking of climax, a big thanks to Travis Knight for allowing me to explain to my son in the darkness of the theater what “FISTEN” means.

Final Verdict

In the end, I am simply grateful to Travis Knight for having the guts to bring this film to life and realize his vision.

After all these years!

He gets a lot right, introducing He-Man to a new generation of fans while also appealing to the “old school” crowd with heart and nostalgia.

Queen and Highlander anyone?

Choosing a humor-driven approach and weaving in every dusty internet meme fits the overall picture.

I was pleasantly surprised by how skillfully he resolved some of the absurdities from the original material to make sense in a live-action film. The idea that a small boy would come up with silly names for his heroes, like Ram-Man or Fisto, actually makes sense. Even though one might wonder why a ten-year-old wouldn’t know their real names, considering he knew Man-at-Arms’ name is Duncan...

But hey, that’s nitpicking at a high level.

With slightly better storytelling—yes, that could have been possible even in the world of Masters of the Universe—the film could have garnered a 9 or 10 rating from me.

Especially given that it offers a truly rounded experience thanks to a brilliant soundtrack.

The 2026 release of Masters of the Universe is certainly a surprise hit this summer, partly because most fans, myself included, had very low expectations.

Will there be a sequel? Hard to say. Ultimately, the box office results will determine whether we see She-Ra, the Horde, and perhaps even the Snake Men leap onto the big screen in a few years.