Movie Review: ‘Masters of the Universe’

Director: Travis Knight

Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley, Morena Baccarin, Jared Leto

Plot: A refugee from a magical realm, Adam has spent his live trying to find his way home. With the discovery of his magical sword, he can return home, take up the mantle of champion and defeat the evil Skeletor.

Review: So, what are we doing here? He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is a children’s animated series that cranked out an insane 130 episodes over a two-year period in the mid-1980s. With that rate of output, the quality of the show was often pretty low, leaving its primary audience in the pre-school age range. That means the people most likely to find this new adventure familiar and nostalgic are creeping up on their fifth decade on Earth, yet it’s unmistakably a film made with children in mind. That alone may be enough to put some people off seeing Masters of the Universe (2026).

Which would be a shame, because they’d be missing out on a jolly good time.

Much like the rest of the internet, we’ve been losing our minds over Obsession, The Backrooms, and every other horror movie made by a YouTuber for $4, but we also got the chance to catch Masters of the Universe. It’s very different in tone and purpose, but you’d be hard-pressed not to be charmed by this bombastic, neon-hued romp. For what it’s worth, we did grow up with this series and remember being thoroughly confused by the 1987 movie (“wait…this is a He-Man movie?”).

Although our memories of the original series are hazy—we were trying to master tying shoelaces at the time—it does seem that the lore has been reworked for a new audience. Adam (Galitzine) witnesses the fall of his world, Eternia, at the hands of Skeletor (Leto) before being propelled to Earth. After spending 15 years among humans, he’s found himself working in HR and becoming something of a soft boy. By the time he is reunited with his lost Sword of Power, he’s somewhat inadequate as a returning hero. It’s only by embracing the power within himself and inspiring the soldiers of his fallen kingdom that he can fight back.

Among his team are the warrior Teela (Mendes), her drunken father Man-At-Arms (Elba), and a group of fighters named by 10-year-old Adam: Fisto, Ram Man, and Mechaneck, along with a decommissioned robot called Roboto. This running joke about a child naming these unique warriors serves as a clever lampshade for the wonderfully ridiculous character names of old and lends itself to plenty of innuendo. Yes, there are a surprising number of dick jokes in this He-Man adventure.

On the other side of the conflict are an equally absurd collection of villains led by the menacing Skeletor and his bantering companion, Evil-Lyn (Brie). We get talking green tigers, insane flying razor-disc ships, and a wild blend of magic and technology. It’s really hard not to enjoy this thing, especially given how enthusiastically it embraces its own madness.

Galitzine is a perfect fit for the iconic barbarian, bringing a gentle charm and mild awkwardness to a hero who is clearly out of his element. He has spent his life idolising the heroes he grew up with and struggles to step into a leadership role himself. When he first transforms into the mighty He-Man, he certainly looks the part—no easy feat when you’re running around in what is essentially a cloth nappy. If there’s one gripe we have with the character, it’s the idea that this guy isn’t already an absolute tank before getting the sword. The film tries to portray him as physically weak, and he even goes to the gym for the “first time”. Sorry, no. We don’t believe you.

That said, we loved the cameo in the gym. Great gag right there.

This is a bright, colourful, and exciting film that feels like a solid update of the original property. Director Knight has crafted a well-paced, fun-filled adventure with excellent design work throughout. The film successfully brings the aesthetics of the 1980s cartoon to life in a surprisingly faithful way. Skeletor, in particular, looks impressive, retaining his skull face, ripped purple physique, and ram-headed staff. It’s just a shame about the performance behind it.

Why Jared Leto keeps getting cast in major IPs remains a mystery. After Morbius, The Haunted Mansion, and Tron: Ares, it should be clear that attaching him to your project isn’t going to sell tickets. Speculation surrounding his personal life, accusations of cult-like behaviour, and stories he himself has shared about unpleasant on-set antics paint a picture of someone who isn’t exactly endearing. There are a dozen voice actors who could have done a better job, and they’d be less likely to slip in and out of a faux-British accent every few lines.

The character isn’t without his moments, but the film never quite decides whether Skeletor is supposed to be a genuine menace who murders children or a wacky meme lord. Allison Brie fares much better as Evil-Lyn, absolutely revelling in the role of the Maleficent-esque sorceress.

Masters of the Universe is ultimately a good, fun time. You’ll see the ending coming from a mile away—it’s a standard “learning to believe in yourself” hero’s journey—but it’s elevated by a charismatic ensemble cast. The film is sincere when it needs to be and willing to poke fun at itself when the tension gets too high. We’d be more than happy to get a sequel.

Review: SEVEN out of TEN