Masters of the Universe Review

Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for the invite to an advance screening of Masters of the Universe (In theatres June 5th), a film that attempts to revive a beloved franchise with a modern, big-budget twist! Directed by Travis Knight, the story follows Prince Adam, played by Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You), who is separated from Eternia as a child and unexpectedly lands in Oklahoma… only to spend 15 years trying to find his way back home. When the Sword of Power resurfaces, Adam is pulled back into a world now ruled by Skeletor, portrayed by Jared Leto (Tron: Ares, Suicide Squad, Morbius), and must embrace his destiny as He-Man.

Right away, the film makes a bold and slightly confusing choice… throwing us into a reverse isekai setup where a young He-Man is displaced into the human world. We get the initial chaos of Skeletor’s attack on Eternia up front, then suddenly… a 15-year time jump with almost no explanation. Who raised Adam? How did he grow up? The film does not care to answer. Instead, we meet him as an adult HR specialist, still clinging to memories of Eternia while everyone around him assumes he is completely unhinged.

It is a strange approach, but also kind of refreshing. The film refuses to hold your hand and it leans into the absurdity and asks you to just go with it. That said, the attempt to present Adam as weak and fragile feels a bit ridiculous when Nicholas Galitzine is very clearly… NOT. There is an entire gym scene, complete with a Dolph Lundgren cameo (Played He-Man in the 1987 version of Masters of the Universe), where Adam struggles to lift weights, and it borders on parody... You are not fooled for a second.

The tone across the board feels intentionally unserious. With such a stacked cast (Camila Mendes and Idris Elba to name a few), you might expect intense, career-defining performances… but instead, it feels like everyone is in on the joke and having a genuinely good time. Surprisingly, the standout here is Jared Leto as Skeletor...Which really surprised me. His performance is theatrical in all the right ways… from the voice to the physicality to a surprisingly playful, slightly homoerotic fixation on Adam and his “long sword.” It is weird… but it works.

The film also leans heavily into internet culture. If you grew up with He-Man memes, you will catch them… not subtly placed, but fully embraced. From musical cues to iconic poses, the movie knows exactly what it is referencing and commits to it.

Where Masters of the Universe truly shines is in its technical execution. The CGI and VFX are genuinely impressive… some of the cleanest and most detailed world-building visuals I have seen in years. Eternia feels expansive and alive, with a level of polish that rivals major ensemble blockbusters. The fight choreography is another major highlight. The camera work moves fluidly with the action, creating sequences that feel dynamic and intentional. Some of the slow-motion moments are so stylized they could even bring a tear to Guy Ritchie’s eye.

The sound design and music choices are equally strong… and yes, don't worry, there is a moment set to “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes. It is exactly the kind of chaotic, self-aware inclusion you would expect from a film like this.

That said, the story itself is… shallow. The plot never quite reaches the emotional depth it seems to aim for, and certain scenes linger too long in their own absurdity. There are also noticeable inconsistencies that pull you out of the experience… like a prison full of supposedly defeated warriors who somehow still have pristine armor and weapons on hand, imprisoned queens still earing gold jewelry, etc. It is the kind of detail you either laugh off or get stuck on, and there was a couple of lines that pointed out the 80s cartoon style ridiculousness of it all as well.

Nicholas Galitzine ultimately delivers a solid performance as what might be cinema’s most self-aware himbo. There is charm there, even if the writing does not always support it. And yes… the visual appeal is undeniable. This is very much a film where audiences will find something to enjoy, even if it is not always for the reasons the filmmakers intended.

At its core, Masters of the Universe feels like an 80s sci-fi adventure injected with a 2026 budget and sensibility. It is messy, it is inconsistent, but it is also fun. If you are looking for something deep and thought-provoking, this is not it. But if you are willing to sit back, turn your brain off, and enjoy the ride… there is a lot of fun to be had.