Masters of the Universe has been ingrained in pop culture for generations. Although their television series and toy line have their fair share of fans, these characters have failed to make an impact in film. Making only $17 million on a $22 million budget and scoring a 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, Masters of the Universe (1987) was deemed a flop at the time of release. However, the film has since received a cult following from Gen X and the Millenial generation, leading Amazon MGM Studios to revive the franchise in 2026. Although the film successfully captures the whimsical nature that many fans are fond of, it failed to prove any purpose of existing.

Masters of the Universe (2026) once again follows the tale of Adam Glenn/He-Man, played by Nicholas Galitzine. After an attack on his home planet forces Adam to escape to Earth as a child, He-Man attempts to reignite his destiny as the most powerful man in the world by finding and binding himself to the Sword of Fate. Attempting to get in his way is the demonic Skeletor, who wants the sword in order to gain the power to conquer the world.

Most blockbusters in recent years, especially those involving superheroes, have struggled with their overall look. Whether it’s the rubbery visual effects or a grey color palette, many big-budget films have failed to look as good as those that came decades before them. Luckily for Masters of the Universe (2026), they do not have this issue. Not only are visual effects seamlessly implemented throughout, but the vibrant use of color adds style and charm to the film, contributing to the whimsical tone in all the best ways. Director Travis Knight takes what he’s learned from his time at Laika Studios and makes every shot look as stunning as possible, using surrealism in the most effective way possible. On a technical level, there is almost nothing to complain about.

Although most of the ensemble act as caricatures of previous sci-fi characters, the actors make them more than likable. Idris Elba is charming in everything he’s in, but his role as Duncan, a drunken, down-on-his-luck soldier, allowed him to experiment more with his range, and it made for an always-engaging character. Jared Leto has played villains in the past, but none have seen him as committed to having fun as his role as Skeletor. Despite only doing the voice, Leto adds so much humor and gravitas that make him more than the average evil supervillain. The film’s true standout is Nicholas Galitzine, who shows movie-star prowess. Not only did his physical appearence work wonders for the character, but Galitzine’s bubbly portrayal of the most powerful man in the universe made for an always likable character. While past iterations of the character have been portrayed as overtly serious, Galitzine’s light-hearted approach showcased that you don’t need to be overtly masculine to be a hero. Although Galitzine has proven in countless films to be an actor to watch, his role as He-Man shows he has the juice to be the next big actor of his generation.

Masters of the Universe (2026) harkens back to classic “hero’s journey” storylines, but pulls far too much from other properties. The main premise is a mix of the Superman and Thor storylines, even sprinkling in hints of Spider-Man as He-Man attempts to talk through conflict rather than go to war. While it isn’t bad when stories ride similarly to other films, it becomes bad when there’s no new perspective on the story, and that’s exactly what happens here. Every aspect of storytelling feels like recycled material, from He-Man’s psychological character arc to the film’s MacGuffin; nothing about the way this story is told feels special or singular. If you blended every MCU movie together, the product would look very similar to Masters of the Universe (2026), which is far more of a detriment than a compliment.

Drawing heavily on the 80s, the film had an excellent opportunity to appease the masses and serve as a nostalgia trip for fans. The film could’ve been an excellent throwback to older, fantasy stories using modern effects, but instead feels like every other major blockbuster that has come out in the last 15 years. Even the humor feels very much in line with what the MCU would do, and although it has its fair share of funny moments, it comes across as chartered territory. For a franchise known for releasing in a specific period of time, it was disappointing to see that there was almost zero effort in trying to harken back to the franchise’s roots

Masters of the Universe (2026) is far from a dumpster fire that it could’ve been, but it lacks overall personality and an engaging story to justify its existence. Charming actors can only take a movie so far, but sadly, this film never reached its full potential. Luckily, Travis Knight has Wildwood this year, because he’s not having a great year as of now.

Masters of the Universe is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Rating: 5/10

Oscar Prospects:

None