Masters of the Universe First Reviews: He-Man’s Big-Screen Return Is Better Than Expected
Critics say the live-action movie embraces the original's campy spirit with humor and surprising sincerity, even if its jokes and storytelling don't always land.
By the power of Grayskull (and Amazon MGM Studios), Masters of the Universe arrives in theaters this weekend, and the first, mostly positive reviews have been posted online. Based on the 1980s line of action figures and the cartoon series of the same name, the movie centers around the characters of He-Man and his nemesis, Skeletor. Fans of the original property will find the adaptation respectful and nostalgic enough while still lovingly mocking the material.
Here’s what critics are saying about Masters of the Universe.
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Is it surprisingly worth seeing?
It is with no small amount of shock that I confess, I really enjoyed Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe. – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
I never understood the appeal of He-Man. But Galitzine’s empathetic and earnest hero entirely won me over. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
Given the movie you’re expecting from the trailers, Masters of the Universe is a genuine surprise that knows exactly what it is. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Honestly, I’m surprised by just how much I liked it. – Scott Menzel, We Live Entertainment
Is it always successful? No. Does it take a while to settle in? Yes. Still, once things start flowing, it’s hard not to enjoy the pure entertainment being thrown at you. – Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
Does it do the classic cartoon (and toys) justice?
Masters of the Universe perfectly captures the spirit of the Saturday morning cartoon. – Kat Hughes, THN
The film embraces the colourful strangeness of its source material, leaning into the heightened, knowingly cartoonish energy that made He-Man such a beloved figure for a generation of fans. – Peter Gray, The AU Review
Worthy of the franchise’s legacy…it’s clear the filmmakers have a great deal of love and respect for the source material. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
By refusing to treat this IP as sacred, the filmmakers open the door for characters to be lively and funny, and not just a stiff recreation of plastic action figures. – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
There’s a deadpan approach to some of the movie’s most outlandish elements that works more often than not, provided He-Man isn’t something you hold sacred. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
It’s a live-action adaptation of the crappy He-Man toy commercials — pardon me, I mean “television series” — that doesn’t do the crappy toy commercials justice. – William Bibbiani, TheWrap
How does it compare to the 1987 movie?
For those who wonder if it is better than the 1987 Dolph Lundgren film, how could it not be? – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
In many ways, the film feels like a bigger-budgeted cousin to both the animated show and the 1987 movie. – Peter Martin, DallasFilmNow.com
The original 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe movie, for all its many, many flaws, had a more exciting aesthetic. – William Bibbiani, TheWrap
Does this one also spend too much time on Earth, though?
The stuff on our planet is an absolute blast. – Donald Clarke, Irish Times
It is during the Earth-set part of the story that Masters of the Universe’s humor really shines through. – Kat Hughes, THN
It gave me pause when the first trailer for Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe is also set on Earth. This winds up being a pretty small portion of the film and winds up being pretty clever. – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass
What if we didn’t grow up with the source material?
Everything is in place so that nostalgia hunters and newcomers alike will have a blast. – Kat Hughes, THN
The screenplay…wants to have newcomers as well as hardcore fans feel welcome. – Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
If it is meant for the Gen X crowd that grew up with the animated show, it feels too cynical and dismissive of the world it showcases to be earnestly enjoyed. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
If you have no attachment to the franchise, some of the appeal of this story and its characters may be lost on you. On the other hand, if you enjoy the style, energy, and cheesiness of many ’80s fantasy adventures, there’s still plenty here to enjoy. – Scott Menzel, We Live Entertainment
[It’s] potentially alienating to non-Masters of the Universe fans as we get a whistlestop tour through characters you’re clearly meant to know. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
It’s hard to imagine viewers not already immersed in the Universe finding this an engaging entry point. – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Does the movie have a good script?
Six writers are credited for the story and/or screenplay, which may help explain why the film feels like it’s been cobbled together from very different visions for the character and the narrative. – Peter Martin, DallasFilmNow.com
The commentary on male egos and toxic masculinity isn’t groundbreaking, but it provides a solid emotional core. – Joshua Mbonu, Geek Vibes Nation
At every point, the writing is determined to remind you just how silly this property is…almost as if it is embarrassed to be based on such material. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
Director Travis Knight and his quartet of screenwriters have loaded the proceedings with so much campy, self-referential humor that you don’t know whether to laugh or cry. – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Is it genuinely funny?
The script has some very funny moments. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
[It’s] a lot funnier than you’re expecting. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Thankfully, the jokes land often enough. – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
[It’s] not just parodying the original animated series, but the very idea of trying to translate it into a movie. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
The film uses situational humor to downplay or uplift serious moments. This works, but also doesn’t always succeed. – Josh Martin, InSession Film
The constant jokes are out of step with the narrative, laughing at these situations rather than enjoying the fun of the moment. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
The jokes are so lame they become cringeworthy. – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Is it ever too silly?
Given the choice between a silly take on this material and a grounded one, the silly version feels far preferable. If nothing else, the film is doing its best to have fun. The way playing with one’s toys should feel. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
The campy self-aware nature is far preferable to the film taking itself too seriously. – Joshua Mbonu, Geek Vibes Nation
The smartest thing Travis Knight’s live-action reboot does is understand that trying to sand down that ridiculousness would be a mistake. – Peter Gray, The AU Review
There are times where the humor is a little silly for the high fantasy elements, but by and large, the combination works. – Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
On the one hand, it’s admirable that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously. But the relentless jokiness might have worked better if the material were actually funny. – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Is it destined to become a camp classic?
When this movie decides to be campy, it really goes for it. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Leto and the VFX team have built an epic villain, who’s sure to be a campy icon…Mark my words: Drag queens will be lip-syncing to this version of Skeletor before Pride month has ended. And I suspect Knight and Leto expect no less. – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
The film winds up feeling so much like one of those fringe festival musical theater parodies that you find yourself waiting for the characters to burst into song. – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Is it also more sincere than expected?
What ultimately makes Masters of the Universe work is its sincerity…[Knight] never treats the material with contempt. – Peter Gray, The AU Review
Masters of the Universe is a…surprisingly earnest ride from beginning to end. – Josh Martin, InSession Film
The movie knows when to poke at the silliness of it all, as well as when to lean into the earnestness of He-Man. – Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
The fan service is delivered with affection rather than desperation…This is the rare franchise revival that remembers why people fell in love with it in the first place. – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
With any note of sincerity in the piece, Knight and co. pulls back to the comfort of a joke, or a rolled eye. – Clint Worthington, RogerEbert.com
Will the action satisfy the summer blockbuster crowd?
Masters of the Universe seems tailor-made for the summer movie season with its thrilling action scenes. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
Many battle scenes…combine all of the wild cartoony elements, laser blasters and the like, for some solid action sequences that don’t shy away from Masters’ animated origins. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
There are plenty of action sequences, staged by Knight in the frenetic fashion typical of comic book movies…But the kinetic mayhem feels more dutiful than exhilarating, with nothing really seeming at stake. – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Some of [the] action sequences are longer than necessary, and the special effects are rough around the edges. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
The CGI is often ropey during the fight sequences. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
The action sequences are banal. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
How is Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man?
Nicholas Galitzine handles the challenge well…Masters of the Universe spends more time with Adam, a role that Nicholas Galitzine inhabits perfectly. – Kat Hughes, THN
He is a perfectly lovable clown as non-superpowered Adam Glenn. Then, bulked up and loin-clothed is a convincing He-Man, delivering mighty blows with fist and sword in imaginative battle scenes. – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
Galitzine looks the part, without question, but it is his comedic capability that proves most surprising. – Peter Gray, The AU Review
Galitzine is absolutely brilliant in the lead role. – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Galitzine is very good. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
His delivery is mostly flat, and much of the physical comedy he is tasked with does not play to his greater abilities. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
What about Jared Leto as Skeletor?
Jared Leto is absolutely magnificent as Skeletor. – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
Leto is rather captivating, with his posh British accent that really accentuates the hyperbolic villainy of the character, which is only ever betrayed by attempts to make him appear like a foolish antagonist. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
Leto’s way more engaging here than he is in Tron: Ares. A movie in which he’s supposed to be the protagonist. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Leto combines Shakespearean wit and gravitas with elements of camp…he’s actually pretty good. – Josh Martin, InSession Film
Leto…I hate to say it, is incredible in this. – Clint Worthington, RogerEbert.com
It actually annoys me how good Leto is as Skeletor. – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass
It is near impossible to recognize the actor underneath all of the make-up (a welcome relief to some), and the voice is so far removed that the character could be being played by absolutely anybody. – Kat Hughes, THN
Are there any other standouts among the cast?
Elba is a constant delight as a character who must overcome his drunken state on the path to redemption, and he exudes a captivating aura whenever on screen. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
Camila Mendes shows a lot of spunk as the grown-up Teela, becoming the action lead much of the time. – Peter Martin, DallasFilmNow.com
Alison Brie steals several scenes as the cunning and ambitious Evil-Lyn. – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Alison Brie has been beautifully cast as Evil-Lyn. – Kat Hughes, THN
Whoever thought of casting Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn deserves a freaking Peabody Award — she doesn’t just understand the assignment, she glories in it. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Kristen Wiig also gives a scene-stealing voice performance as Roboto, providing levity when the film needs it (and sometimes when it doesn’t). – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
How is the music?
The one area that does an insane amount of heavy lifting is the score (and by extension, the soundtrack). – Josh Martin, InSession Film
The score deserves special praise for proudly embracing the film’s 1980s roots. – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
An easy way to describe much of the He-Man aesthetic is “heavy metal album cover,” something Daniel Pemberton’s score embraces with glee, enhanced by Brian May of Queen’s electrifying guitar solos. – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Pemberton has delivered multiple outstanding scores this year alone, and Masters of the Universe is yet another reminder of his incredible talent. – Scott Menzel, We Live Entertainment
The music dazzles at every turn…the score and soundtrack might just be this year’s Guardians of the Galaxy. – Kat Hughes, THN
Are there any major complaints?
The one disappointment is that there simply is not enough Cringer / Battle Cat. – Kat Hughes, THN
The pacing is up and down, with some scenes dragging a little and others sliding by too quickly. The unevenness speaks to the 2-hour and 12-minute run time that could and should have been cut down some. – Allison Rose, FlickDirect
The film’s main weakness, shared with Thor: Ragnarok, is that the humour occasionally overwhelms dramatic scenes that need room to breathe. – Linda Marric, HeyUGuys
Perhaps my only real criticism of Masters of the Universe is how derivative it feels at times. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
What’s ultimately the most frustrating element of Masters of the Universe is how the presentation seems unsure about who its audience actually is. – Josh Parham, Next Best Picture
Masters of the Universe is a film of competing identities…it’s a film that tries to serve two masters, and doesn’t have the power to really honor either. – Clint Worthington, RogerEbert.com
Does it prove that movies like this can and should work?
Masters of the Universe is a terrifically good time, and hopefully a sign of where movie adaptations of nostalgia-driven IP could be headed. – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
Many will compare Masters of the Universe to other recent franchise revivals, but the best description is a cross between the awkward, silly humor of Taika Waititi’s Thor movies and the emotional catharsis of The Lego Movie. – Joshua Mbonu, Geek Vibes Nation
It could very well be the final nail in the coffin for 1980s nostalgia. We’re not scraping the bottom of the barrel anymore. We hit the bottom a while ago. Now we’re just dusting off the refuse and pretending it’s still fresh. It isn’t. – William Bibbiani, TheWrap
Will it leave us wanting a sequel?
It would be a shame if this version of Masters of the Universe doesn’t get to continue, because the film is very clearly building toward a larger mythology. – Peter Gray, The AU Review
It deserves a chance to deliver on the sequel teasers that come in the inevitable credit scenes…We’ll be there if another movie does happen. – Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
If it does well enough to warrant sequels, I’ll be there for them. Especially if Knight is going to helm again. – Joey Magidson, Awards Radar
As someone who wasn’t previously a He-Man fan, I’m eager to see where this franchise goes. – Molly Freeman, Screen Rant
Masters of the Universe opens in theaters June 5, 2026. Get your tickets here.
