byChris Tilly
Amazon MGM Studios/Sony
The Masters of the Universe are back on the big screen in a film that gets He-Man right thanks to Nicholas Galitzine’s star-making central turn, but fails Skeletor through a mumbling Jared Leto performance.
If you were a kid in the 1980s, He-Man dominated the cultural landscape, through a phenomenally successful cartoon, that helped to promote an equally successful toy line.
But the Masters of the Universe couldn’t succesfully make the move into live-action, with a 1987 feature film dead on arrival thanks to a dull plot, cheap sets, and a wooden central performance from Dolph Lundgren.
Now nearly 40 years on, the characters are getting a new lease of life thanks to a big-budget adaptation that’s similar in style and tone to Marvel‘s movies – most notably Guardians of the Galaxy – while never quite hitting those dizzy blockbuster heights.
What is Masters of the Universe about?
'MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE' star Nicholas Galitzine says he was in the gym for months to achieve the He-Man physique pic.twitter.com/itqPfcaFXP
— ScreenTime (@screentime) June 1, 2026
Masters of the Universe kicks off with some lengthy narration about Eternia being “a world of endless beauty,” and the power of Greyskull making a man “as mighty as a god.”
We’re introduced to young Prince Adam, whose royal lineage is fearless, mighty, and strong, but whose diminutive stature means he’s frequently beaten during combat training, which brings shame on his family.
Then it’s all change, as Eternia falls at the hands of the villainous Skeletor, and Adam is transported to Earth by the ‘Sword of Power.’ Because, for some reason, live-action He-Man always has to spend time on Earth.
He promptly loses said sword, and events cut to the present day, where it’s revealed that grown-up Adam has been delivering this monologue and is obsessed with finding the weapon and returning home. But Skeletor also has designs on the sword’s power, which puts hero and villain on a collision course…
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Prince Adam and the ‘Heroes of Eternia’
Amazon MGM Studios/Sony
Nicholas Galitzine is well cast as Adam, who is the subject of the prophecy to “bring peace” to Eternia, but prefers mediation and counselling to combat, thanks to his time on Earth.
He’s a bit dopey and quite clumsy in ways that are reminiscent of Star-Lord, while also being just as lovable as Chris Pratt’s character. The Marvel parallels don’t end there, either, as his craving for love and respect from his father, the king, is all very Thor.
Galitzine kicks all kinds of ass when he transforms into He-Man, and he’s well supported by the ‘Heroes of Eternia,’ with Idris Elba a noble Man-at-Arms, Camila Mendes a gutsy Teela, Jon Xue Zhang a powerful Ram Man, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson stealing scenes as an unexpectedly hilarious Fisto.
There’s also fun to be had learning the source of their nicknames, though that does result in some pretty R-rated jokes that feel out of place in such an otherwise family-friendly film.
The problem with Skeletor
Amazon MGM/Sony
The villains fare less well, however. Jared Leto’s Skeletor is a narcissist with an ego that serves as his major weakness, which should make for some interesting dynamics between the bad guys and girls.
But his banter with Alison Brie’s Evil-Lyn simply doesn’t work. She’s positioned as a woman in an abusive relationship, desperately trying to placate Skeletor and prevent his angry and violent outbursts. But their interactions are mostly played for laughs, which makes them an uncomfortable watch.
Leto himself seems to be channelling Ian McKellen’s accent for Skeletor, but too often mumbles, and with the character lacking lips, it’s frequently hard to make out what he’s saying.
He’s also severely lacking a backstory. There’s much to pack into the first film of a potential franchise, especially one with this many characters. But Skeletor is such an important figure in the Masters of the Universe mythos that his lack of a satisfying origin tale, or any suggestion of what makes him tick, is a frustratingly missed opportunity.
Is Masters of the Universe good?
Amazon MGM/Sony
Masters of the Universe is a decent He-Man movie that’s vastly superior to the 1987 version, but also largely inferior to the Marvel movies it so obviously apes.
He-Man himself is the film’s greatest triumph, with Nicholas Galitzine effortlessly pulling off the twin roles of understated Adam and his god-like alter ego. When he lets rip, director Travis Knight delivers some jaw-dropping action sequences that find fun ways to utilise the bizarre abilities and powers on both sides of the conflict.
The score is also superb, with a rousing Brian May track channelling ABBA and Queen, while there’s inspired use of The Cure’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ that works both musically and thematically.
But where the film falls is through an underdeveloped Skeletor, and in failing to fully establish Eternia and its inhabitants in those early scenes, with that dearth of set-up resulting in a lack of emotional payoff at the end.
Masters of the Universe also plays the dangerous game of dropping big cameos from beloved characters into the final few reels, to set spinoffs and sequels in motion. It will be interesting to see if that confidence is warranted, as while this is a good He-Man movie, it never quite achieves the god-like greatness of its hero.
Masters of the Universe is in cinemas worldwide from June 5, 2026.
Dexerto|Verdict
Review of Masters of the Universe
OK
Masters of the Universe is a decent He-Man movie that's vastly superior to the 1987 version, but also largely inferior to the Marvel movies it so obviously apes.
3Review Scoring
Chris Tilly
