Movie trailers are designed to get people excited about new films, and to give a good idea of what the movie will be like – even if it’s part of a series people already know. But it doesn’t seem to be working for Masters of the Universe, which is currently predicted to open with between $25 and $35 million in the US.
Okay, so if this new take on that old ’80s franchise doesn’t totally blow up in theaters, it’s not a complete disaster. It’s an Amazon MGM movie, which means it’ll probably end up on Prime Video, giving it another chance. But honestly, $170 million? That’s a lot of money, especially when you see these awesome, low-budget horror films – made for under a million bucks – totally crushing it at the box office right now. It just feels…off, you know?
Look, I’m gonna defend Masters of the Universe because the marketing totally failed it. The trailers made it seem like this dark, epic fantasy, right? But the movie itself is… not that at all! It’s actually a really goofy, self-aware adventure, and honestly, it’s way funnier than I expected. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good time.
The movie Masters of the Universe begins as the trailers show, with Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) recounting his childhood flight from Eternia. When Skeletor (Jared Leto) attacks the city of Eternos, Adam is sent to Earth with a powerful sword to prevent Skeletor from claiming it. Unfortunately, Adam’s parents are unable to stop Skeletor from gaining power.
Okay, at first, it felt a little intense, and honestly, if you haven’t watched Masters of the Universe before, you might feel lost! They just throw you right into a world full of characters like Man-At-Arms and Evil-Lyn, assuming you already know who’s who. But then, the movie jumps to the present day, and that’s when it really clicks – it’s actually a lot more fun and lighthearted than it seems at the beginning, and that sets the vibe for everything that happens next.
Adam has been overwhelming his date with stories about his difficult childhood, and it’s not going well – his date thinks he’s losing it. Things start to look up when Adam reconnects with his old friend Teela (Camila Mendes) and rediscovers the Sword of Power, which sends him back to Eternia to become the hero he’s meant to be.
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That’s what he hoped, but even after returning to Eternia – a kingdom now in ruins thanks to Skeletor – no one really respects him. He’d been largely forgotten, and even when he becomes He-Man, people still make fun of him. Prince Adam remains a bit clueless and vain, though now he’s incredibly strong, too.
The movie has a similar feel to films like Thor and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, never trying to be overly serious. While some of the jokes, particularly those about swords and fighting, fall flat, the humour generally works well. Moments like a cleverly done slow-motion scene and Adam’s funny attempts to quietly reclaim his sword are definite highlights.
Okay, so Nicholas Galitzine nails his role. He’s totally willing to be the goofy one, which is hilarious, but then he can switch gears and get really emotional when the story needs it. I felt bad for Camila Mendes a little, because she mostly had to react to his craziness. But honestly, people like Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn? They were clearly having a blast and got to really play their parts, which made it way more fun to watch.
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-absorbed villain. However, his voice is sometimes difficult to understand, and a little more clarity would have been helpful.
You’ll likely have mixed feelings about the movie overall. While it’s often enjoyable, it’s also quite disorganized and feels overly long, particularly in the middle. The computer-generated effects during action scenes aren’t always convincing, and it’s noticeable when the actor’s face isn’t properly rendered, which pulls you out of key moments. This is a shame, because the practical sets and locations are frequently very well done.
Despite what the trailers might suggest, Masters of the Universe is surprisingly self-aware and enjoyable. It’s worth watching, especially considering the hints at a sequel during the credits. And if they make another one, count us in – we’ll be there, by the power of Greyskull!
Masters of the Universe is released in UK cinemas on 3 June and in US cinemas on 5 June.
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2026-06-02 16:20