Masters of the Universe Movie Review

 Masters of the Universe (2026)

Rent Masters of the Universe on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Chris Butle and Aaron Ne & Adam Ne & Dave Callaham (screenplay by), Aaron Nee & Adam Nee and Alex Litvak & Michael Finch (story by)
Directed by: Travis Knight
Starring: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, Idris Elba
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer

Plot
Prince Adam discovers that the strange memories shaping his life are real when the lost Sword of Power resurfaces, forcing him to return to Eternia and challenge the tyrant who shattered his family and kingdom.

Verdict
It's an understandably silly premise, and this exists for little more than nostalgia. The movie is aware of that, rarely missing an opportunity to joke about the lore and characters. This even tells us, it's just not that deep. The plot is perfunctory. While Adam would rather resolve matters peacefully, Skeletor would be content to laugh maniacally. Despite the length this is well paced, featuring several attacks to showcase CGI and to squeeze in more comedy. This movie's goal is quantity over quality, but it manages to be fun and entertaining enough that it's not a waste.
It depends.

Review
Inspired by the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983), this is Mattel's second wide release movie after Barbie (2023). That film's success has to be part of the reason this exists. That and an attempt to capitalize on nostalgia. 

A self aware voice over opens the movie, explaining the lore of Adam's home planet Eternia. He's the smallest of all the kids and thus he doesn't do so well in combat training. His father, the king, considers him weak as Adam would rather run than fight. We're introduced to several fanciful characters with high tech armor. At least part of that is from the original cartoon. Skeletor (Jared Leto) attacks and young Adam is sent through a portal to Earth with the Sword of Power. He loses it, which he really shouldn't have.

The comical introduction to adult Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) has him relaying this story on a first date. While funny, it's illogical. I wonder how he made it to adulthood, arriving on Earth as a child. He has all of these drawings he's created of Eternia, hoping to return, but he currently works at an office in human resources.

Nicholas Galitzine plays Adam Glenn

Adam continues to search for the sword, distracting him at work. That would have created issues on the job before now. How did he even get the job with how quickly and frequently he admits he's from another planet? Dolph Lundgren makes a cameo in the gym, giving Adam advice. He played He-Man in the film adaptation Masters of the Universe (1987).

This tries really hard to be funny, but it feels forced. Adam acts like he's eight. He finds and subsequently steals his sword. At first it seems like he gets away with it, but he is later arrested. The sword sends an alert back to Eternia which his childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes) comes to locate him. Adam sums up this entire movie when he states, "There's got to be more to it than that." Teela responds, "He has a skull for a face." That's the long and the short of it.

Jared Leto plays Skeletor

Adam would prefer to find a peaceful resolution to everything, while Skeletor is an over the top villain. Somehow this movie gets more than two hours out of that. I do like how this explains away all of the silly character names. Adam named them as a child without knowing their actual names. That's the best way to treat the source material, acknowledge how goofy all of this is and embrace it for that. Skeletor is completely ridiculous as a villain with a hint of insecurity. Teela's ship is a comic relief character itself.

The bad guys want the sword because what else does this movie have as a plot? The good guys don't think Adam is the heir to Eternia or even the real Adam. He doesn't know anyone's names. Skeletor's minions attack, but Adam manages to transform into He-Man and defeat them, getting away from Trap-jaw.

Idris Elba, Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes play Duncan, Adam, Teela

Adam as He-Man stages an assault on Skeletor's lair, but that's thwarted when Skeletor reveals Adam's dad is still alive. Skeletor capitalizes on the distraction, stealing the sword. Adam must launch another attack, this time being only a regular human. I don't know what he thought he would accomplish. Was it blind faith, baseless hope? Adam beseeches Skeletor to change and do the right thing, but as Skeletor explains villains are going to villain. He enjoys it.

That leads to the final battle where Adam must realize his true power if he's going to defeat Skeletor. This even manages to make fun of the He-Man name at the end, which admittedly deserves it. I'm surprised at how much this squeezed out of the cartoon. There's only so much you can do with this, but comedy is the right approach.