‘Masters of the Universe’ arrives with the kind of baggage only a long-dormant pop culture property can carry. He-Man, Skeletor, Castle Grayskull, the Sword of Power—these are names loaded with nostalgia, toy-shelf memories, and Saturday morning cartoon absurdity.
The good news is that director Travis Knight understands exactly what kind of movie he is making.
Instead of treating He-Man as sacred mythology, the film embraces the franchise’s inherent ridiculousness. This is, after all, a story about a muscle-bound warrior in a leather harness battling a cackling skull-faced villain for control of a fantasy planet. Knight wisely leans into the camp without completely mocking the source material.
The story follows Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), who was sent from Eternia to Earth as a child after Skeletor seized power. Years later, Adam is living an awkward life on Earth, stuck in a corporate job while still clinging to memories of his lost home. When he finally rediscovers the Sword of Power, he is pulled back into Eternia, where he must confront his destiny and learn what it truly means to become He-Man.
Galitzine proves to be one of the film’s strongest assets. He gives Adam the right mix of heroic charm, comic awkwardness, and emotional sincerity. His He-Man is not just a muscular fantasy figure but a well-meaning young man trying to understand strength beyond physical power.
Camila Mendes brings energy and grit as Teela, while Idris Elba is a scene-stealer as Duncan, the weary Man-At-Arms. Elba’s grumbling, battle-worn presence gives the movie some of its funniest and most enjoyable moments.
But the biggest theatrical flourish comes from Jared Leto as Skeletor. His performance is exaggerated, pompous, and completely committed. It is not subtle, but subtlety has no place in a movie where the villain is a skull-faced sorcerer with world-conquering ambitions. Leto plays him like a grand panto villain, and somehow, it works.
Visually, ‘Masters of the Universe’ is bursting with color. Eternia is rendered as a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, and cartoon excess. The costumes pay tribute to the classic character designs while updating them for a modern blockbuster. The action scenes are clear and energetic, though the heavy use of CGI sometimes makes the world feel less tangible than it should.
The film is at its best when it allows its characters to be funny, weird, and self-aware. It pokes fun at names like Fisto and Ram-Man without completely dismissing them. This gives the movie a playful tone that keeps it from becoming another overly serious IP revival.
However, the film does occasionally overdo its self-awareness. There are moments when the comedy undercuts the stakes, especially when heroic build-ups are followed by predictable slapstick punchlines. At 140 minutes, the movie also feels longer than necessary, with some sections dragging before the final act regains momentum.
Still, there is something genuinely enjoyable about how sincerely ridiculous the film is. Beneath the jokes, muscle poses, and glowing swords, ‘Masters of the Universe’ has a surprisingly clear message about masculinity. It suggests that real strength is not just about power, muscles, or dominance, but about self-belief, emotional honesty, teamwork, and compassion.
That may sound unexpectedly soft for a He-Man movie, but it is precisely what makes this reboot work. Knight finds a way to modernize the character without stripping away the absurd charm that made him iconic in the first place.
‘Masters of the Universe’ is not a perfect blockbuster. It is too long, too digital in places, and occasionally too pleased with its own jokes. But it is also colorful, funny, heartfelt, and far more entertaining than expected.
For fans of the original, it offers enough nostalgia to satisfy. For younger viewers, it delivers a bright and accessible fantasy adventure. And for everyone else, it is a surprisingly enjoyable reminder that even the most ridiculous heroes can still have power.
Rating: 3.5/5
