Masters of the Universe
A treasured 80s franchise gets melted down to a swole hunk of recycled plastic.
Gird your loins: Nicholas Galitzine
© 2026 Amazon MGM Studios Content Services LLC, Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
by CHAD KENNERK
In 1982, an iconic series of 5½-inch action figures introduced kids everywhere to the Masters of the Universe. Having turned down the opportunity to make a toy line based on a little sci-fi film called Star Wars, Mattel subsequently developed a number of competitive ideas for the boys’ market, including the Conan-inspired character Torak, who became the basis for He-Man. With his trusty Battle Cat, Man-At-Arms, and the warrior goddess Teela at his side, He-Man combatted a rogues’ gallery of villains headed by his arch-nemesis Skeletor.
To flesh out the lore behind its toys, Mattel collaborated with DC to create mini-comics that accompanied the figures. Corporate concern that kids ‘don’t read’ led to the creation of Filmation’s ever-popular He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, one of the first animated series produced directly for weekdays rather than Saturday mornings. A ‘moral of the story’ capped each episode, an effort to make the half-hour advertisements more credible (in the UK, the closing morals were frequently edited out).
Building on the recent big-screen success of Barbie, the toy maker now resurrects Masters of the Universe for another cinematic outing nearly 40 years after the 1987 commercial failure turned cult curiosity, which starred the chiselled Dolph Lundgren as the champion of Eternia and Frank Langella in a surprising turn as Skeletor. As with Warner Bros. and Barbie, Amazon MGM seems to have spared no expense in bringing He-Man to the screen. For those of a certain age (yours truly included), hopes were high for the return of He-Man and his fabulous secret powers.
An unnecessary prologue provides the most powerful man in the universe with a ‘runt of the litter’ backstory as the young Adam, Prince of Eternia, struggles to find his place and win the approval of his father, King Randor. When Skeletor (Jared Leto) makes his initial attack on a complacent Eternia, young Adam is cast across the cosmos. An earthbound first act follows, painting the former prince (Nicholas Galitzine) as a lowly human resources employee living out his days behind a desk, searching for the source of his power – the sword that could send him back home to the magical and technologically advanced planet at the centre of the universe.
In the way that Barbie asked ‘What was I made for?’, Masters puts the question of masculinity into focus, with Prince Adam giving listening and empathy the same weight as brawn. The addition of Adam seeking his father’s approval lends itself to social commentary, but thin plotting and coats of cliché keep this all strictly kiddie fare. Where Gerwig tackled toys with finesse, injecting her doll’s life with considerable pathos, director Travis Knight and the four writers credited with the head-scratching script turn to the obvious. Then there’s the cringeworthy dialogue, as when Skeletor remarks on He-Man’s “long sword dangling between your glorious thighs."
The question of masculinity takes a backseat to self-aware humour of the ‘wink, wink, nudge, nudge’ kind. Plaguing both the performances and the film’s edit are real missteps in comic timing that leave awkward ‘pause for laughs’ gaps – painfully evident in my packed public screening, where nary a chuckle could be heard. These Guardians of the Galaxy have to settle for the poor man’s version of James Gunn wit. Just as Frank Langella threw himself into the role of Skeletor, Jared Leto finds the right tone, surprisingly coming out looking the best among the ensemble cast. Nicholas Galitzine is a fine choice as the coming-of-age He-Man (or He-Boy, as the internet has dubbed him), but across the board, everyone seems to have been directed to play it all for laughs.
On the plus side, Amazon MGM dollars have ensured it all looks spectacular, with production and costume design achieving a perfect live-action take on the colourful cartoon inhabitants and sci-fi world. The CGI looks slick, and the action is packed with moments of flair. The inevitable showdown between Skeletor and He-Man goes a long way in recapturing some of the childhood magic at the heart of the franchise. Yet it all feels like an Eternia at 140 mins. Even the animated series managed to conjure more creative premises in under 30. There’s also a hefty amount of product placement, such as when an Amazon Prime delivery truck swoops in, deus ex machina, to save the day. At one point they even manage to get Skeletor into a cutoff Nike hoodie!
The sword and sorcery genre has largely fizzled out since the 80s. A shame, given it’s a sleeper genre ripe for reinvention. Of all the existing IP out there, He-Man was well-equipped to bring about its return. Not that there won’t be more to come... Three credit scenes – pre, mid, and post – cement Amazon MGM’s lofty franchise aspirations, introducing other major characters from the universe and hinting at more villainous plans to come. Boyhood nostalgia aside, He-Man was better left on the blister card.
Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Dolph Lundgren.
Dir Travis Knight, Pro Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, DeVon Franklin, Screenplay Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, David Callaham, Pro Des Guy Hendrix Dyas, Ed Paul Rubell, Music Daniel Pemberton, Costumes Richard Sale, Sound Luke Gentry.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Mattel Studios/Escape Artists/Truenorth Productions-Amazon MGM Studios (US)/Sony Pictures Releasing International (UK)
140 mins. 2026. USA. UK Rel: 3 June 2026, US Rel: 5 June 2026. Cert. 12A (UK), PG-13 (US).
