Masters of the Universe Review: Delivers on the Fun and Humor From a Classic 80s Franchise

An 80s property like Masters of the Universe can be a hard sell for those who aren’t familiar with the animated series that spawned a franchise, including a failed yet cult favorite 1984 live-action adaptation. Hollywood is taking another stab at it with a new take on He-Man that mostly has a good time with itself.

Masters of the Universe is, in a way, a sci-fi story that takes the fantastical elements of sword-and-sorcery.

The story is set in a faraway galaxy on a planet called Eternia. It is the home of Prince Adam Glenn (Nicholas Galitzine), who shares the royal blood of his ancestors as the protector of his home world. As a kid, he grew up training under the tutelage of Duncan (Idris Elba), known as the King’s Man-at-Arms or leader of the royal guard.

Adam’s parents, King Randor (James Purefoy) and Queen Marlena (Charlotte Riley), rule over Eternia as they protect it from outside forces. One in particular is the evil sorcerer Skeletor (Jared Leto), who launches an invasion of the kingdom with the witch Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie) and his fiendish army.

As they flee to Castle Grayskull, Marlena and Adam get hold of the famed Sword of Power, which Skeletor is after so he can rule Eternia and the cosmos. With the help of the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin), she sends both Adam and the sword down to Earth to hide them from Skeletor.

It has been fifteen years since that incident, and Adam has adjusted to life on Earth, living a normal life, but his search for the sword, which was separated from him, and returning home have been his goals.

Everyone thinks he’s crazy, but once he gets a hold of his missing sword, he is reunited with his childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes), and they head back to Eternia to reclaim his kingdom from Skeletor.

Seeing his home world in ruins, Adam vows to take it back from Skeletor and restore his family’s honor while awakening the sword’s ancient powers. To fulfill his destiny, he must team up with the heroes he looked up to as a child, including Teela’s father Man-At-Arms.

Once he unlocks the Sword of Power, Adam embraces his calling as a warrior with the power of a God as he becomes He-Man.

At first glance, the film immediately leans more into the fantastical elements of the 80s cartoon, thanks to director Travis Knight. His vision of He-Man aligns with what the franchise represents, and it shows in every scene.

Knight is clearly a fan of Masters of the Universe, showing his love of the series with a blend of action and humor. The funny parts are what sell the movie, even when it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The background score is used very well to fit into the 80s vibe that Masters of the Universe delivers.

Thanks to composer Daniel Pemberton, with some assistance from Queen guitarist Brian May, there’s plenty to enjoy from the soundtrack. Every sequence from the film evokes that nostalgia from the franchise, and the music just meshes so well into that era.

Nicholas Galitzine embodies Prince Adam all the way through with his charm, while Jared Leto’s Skeletor delivers on the humor.

Galitzine gives his heart to making a hero out of Adam, but it is Leto who has a lot of fun playing the mischievous and conniving villain who comes straight out of the source material. It is very much like the cartoons with both these characters, and it surprisingly works well in live-action.

Idris Elba also brings some of that comedic likeness with his character Man-At-Arms, especially when sharing scenes with Galitzine. Camila Mendes portrays Teela really well as a strong female lead.

There are some funny moments with Allison Brie’s Evil-Lyn, having that sadomasochistic relationship with Leto’s Skeletor. The same goes for Kristen Wigg, who voices the robot companion Roboto, offering some fun scenes despite the little screen time she has.

The visuals combine both VFX and practical effects, which is what also stood out while watching the film. There are times when the VFX is noticeable with the use of a green screen when showing the majestic design of Eternia. However, the practical effects come through well in the action sequences, especially when showing Castle Grayskull.

Overall, Masters of the Universe offers a fun time on the big screen as an action-packed and lighthearted adventure.

When the film pokes fun at the series and delivers some great performances from Galitzine and Leto, there’s enough for diehard fans and new ones to enjoy. Not all the jokes land, but there are enough that stick the landing.

As the summer blockbuster season kicks off, this film will definitely bring seats in to pave the way.

Masters of the Universe releases in theaters everywhere on June 5, 2026.

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