The movie Masters of the Universe is now available on Prime Video after being in theaters last month. While it’s typical for a film from Amazon MGM Studios, it didn’t perform well in cinemas, earning just over $110 million globally. A more successful box office run might have meant viewers would have had to wait longer to stream it.
Now that it’s available to stream, we believe this movie deserves another look. You might be surprised – it’s not what you think! It faced challenges from the beginning and was unfortunately poorly promoted.
Movie trailers are designed to get people excited about new films, offering a good idea of what the movie will be like – even if it’s part of a series you already know. However, in this case, the trailer creates a very different impression than the actual film. The trailer makes it seem like a dark and serious fantasy epic, but the movie itself is actually lighthearted, silly, and surprisingly funny. While not flawless, it’s much more comedic than advertised.
Watch Masters of the Universe on Prime Video
Okay, so Masters of the Universe kicks off pretty much how you’d expect from the trailers. It starts with me – well, Adam (played by Nicholas Galitzine) – telling the story of when I was a kid and had to leave Eternia. Then things go crazy fast! Skeletor (Jared Leto is awesome as him!) attacks Eternos, our capital city, and my parents send me to Earth with this powerful sword hoping I can stop him from getting his hands on it. Honestly though, they couldn’t really do anything to prevent Skeletor from gaining power in the first place.
The movie starts off feeling quite intense and might confuse viewers who aren’t familiar with Masters of the Universe, quickly introducing characters like Man-At-Arms and Evil-Lyn. However, when the story jumps to the present day, it shows a lighter, more playful side that defines the rest of the film.
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Adam has been overwhelming his date with stories about his difficult past, which understandably makes her think he’s unstable. He doesn’t gain anyone’s trust until he reconnects with his old friend Teela (Camila Mendes) and rediscovers the Sword of Power, after which he’s transported to Eternia to become a hero.
That’s what he hopes, but things don’t quite work out that way. Even after returning to Eternia—which is in ruins thanks to Skeletor—no one really respects him. He’s been largely forgotten, and even when he becomes the powerful He-Man, people still make fun of him. That’s because Prince Adam hasn’t changed much; he’s still a bit clueless, though now incredibly strong.
The movie’s lighthearted and fun tone is similar to films like Thor and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, never striving for deep seriousness. While some of the humor falls flat – there are a lot of silly jokes about swords and fighting – it generally works well, especially moments like a perfectly timed slow-motion gag or Adam’s funny efforts to discreetly reclaim his sword.
Nicholas Galitzine shines in this role, effortlessly playing the comedic foil and delivering genuine emotion when the story gets more serious. Camila Mendes doesn’t have as much opportunity to be funny, largely playing the more grounded character, while other actors, like Alison Brie who is fantastic as the over-the-top Evil-Lyn, get to really let loose and have fun.
Surprisingly, Jared Leto is the best part of the movie as Skeletor. While the trailers suggested a dark and serious portrayal, Leto plays Skeletor as a childish and self-obsessed character. However, his voice can be hard to understand at times, and a bit more clarity would have been helpful.
Honestly, I had mixed feelings about this movie. While it definitely has its fun moments, it felt really messy overall. It was way too long – things seriously slowed down in the middle. And the special effects? Let’s just say they weren’t always convincing during the action scenes. There were a bunch of times where the CGI face for one of the actors didn’t quite match up, and it pulled me right out of the moment when they were trying to be heroic. It’s a shame too, because whenever they did use practical sets, they looked fantastic!
Despite what the trailers might suggest, Masters of the Universe is surprisingly self-aware and enjoyable. It’s worth seeing, especially because it sets up potential sequels in the end credits. And if they make another one, we’ll definitely be watching!
Masters of the Universe is available to watch now on Prime Video.
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2026-07-22 13:20