Masters of the Universe is the latest live-action adaptation of Mattel’s iconic fantasy franchise, directed by Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee) and starring Nicholas Galitzine in the film’s lead role along with Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, and many more.
Masters of the Universe follows Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), a young man who has spent years separated from his home world of Eternia. Upon coming in contact with the lost, legendary Sword of Power, it finally leads him back home to his kingdom. As he arrives, Adam soon discovers that Eternia has fallen under the tyrannical rule of the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto). Along with the help of such allies as Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), Adam must embrace his destiny as He-Man and fight to restore hope, order, and his place in the kingdom!
I had a blast with Masters of the Universe and felt it truly captured both the essence and tone of the beloved cartoon series I watched growing up! Rather than attempting to reinvent the mythology of the franchise, Director Travis Knight and his creative team fully lean into the property’s colorful fantasy roots, heroic characters, campy fun, and classic battle between good and evil. The final result is a film that is nostalgic, knows exactly what it is, looks amazing, and delivers great action!
I believe one of this film’s biggest strengths is its ability to balance fantasy and spectacle with other thoughtful themes of destiny, courage, friendship, and self-discovery. While Masters of the Universe contains plenty of exciting action and adventure throughout, the core narrative never loses sight of Prince Adam’s personal journey and growth. For longtime fans, this is a film that wisely embraces the sincerity of its source material while still managing to inject a healthy amount of humor, camp, and self-awareness over its 2-hour-and-13-minute runtime. However, for viewers experiencing this property for the first time, the film follows a simple enough premise and storyline that makes it completely accessible.
In terms of direction, Travis Knight does a great job bringing the epic world of Eternia to life with confidence and imagination. Much like his work on 2018’s Bumblebee, Knight demonstrates a clear appreciation for the source material while crafting a film that feels modern, cinematic, and engaging. His direction allows the film to embrace its fantastical themes and ideas without ever feeling embarrassed by them. The result is a fun film that doesn’t take itself overly seriously while proudly wearing its lore and mythology on its sleeve.
Visually speaking, Masters of the Universe looks great and translates on film as a stunning fantasy spectacle. From the vibrant landscapes of Eternia to the imposing presence of Castle Grayskull, to its costumes, creature designs, and magical effects, the film creates a colorful and imaginative world. The action sequences are energetic and well-staged, while the production design, visual effects, and overall presentation combine to make this a visually distinctive action/fantasy hybrid. Overall, the beautiful cinematography of Fabian Wagner stands out as a highlight of the film!
Masters of the Universe has a strong ensemble cast led by Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and Jared Leto as lead antagonist Skeletor. Galitzine brings sincerity and physicality to Adam’s journey, while Mendes and Elba both provide solid support throughout. However, the standout here is Jared Leto, whose energetic portrayal of Skeletor balances charisma, humor, unpredictability, and genuine menace!
As for critiques, I found some of the film’s humor to be hit or miss at times. Also, viewers should know going in that there is a HEALTHY amount of campiness throughout the film. While some won’t have an issue with this, others expecting a more straightforward and serious take on the action/fantasy genre may be disappointed. Lastly, with a full runtime of 2 hours and 13 minutes, I did think the film ran a little long and certainly could have been edited down to about 2 hours.
Overall, I found Masters of the Universe to be an entertaining fantasy adventure that captures the spirit of the beloved franchise. With its strong performances, impressive visuals, and fantasy-based action, this movie reminded me of a more modern-day version of the 1980s Flash Gordon film. For those simply looking for a good time at the theatre with a fun, humorous adventure film, Masters of the Universe delivers the goods while also showing audiences why He-Man remains a nostalgic and beloved hero across generations.
Finally, for longtime fans of the franchise, this film includes fun cameos, a plethora of easter eggs, and THREE post-credit scenes, which I thought were all worth watching. While this film doesn’t appear to be tracking well at the box office, I do hope it gets a sequel, as the post-credit scenes set up an interesting storyline for a potential follow-up!
Masters of the Universe is now playing in theatres and comes Highly Recommended — especially for longtime fans of the series. Enjoy!
