Masters of the Universe review: Solid reboot that’s elevated by Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man

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The new Masters of the Universe movie successfully reimagines He-Man, largely thanks to Nicholas Galitzine’s impressive performance. However, Jared Leto’s portrayal of Skeletor falls short with a mumbled and underwhelming performance.

Growing up in the 1980s meant being constantly exposed to He-Man. The popular cartoon series fueled the success of a hugely popular line of toys.

The Masters of the Universe franchise struggled to translate to the big screen. The 1987 movie flopped because of a boring story, low-budget production, and a stiff performance by Dolph Lundgren.

After almost 40 years, these characters are being reimagined in a new, large-scale adaptation. It’s similar in feel to movies like Guardians of the Galaxy from Marvel, though it hasn’t reached quite the same level of blockbuster success.

What is Masters of the Universe about?

Nicholas Galitzine, who played He-Man in ‘MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE,’ spent months working out to get into the character’s impressive physical shape.

— ScreenTime (@screentime) June 1, 2026

The Masters of the Universe begins with a long introduction describing Eternia as a stunning world, and explaining that the power of Greyskull can make someone incredibly powerful – like a god.

We meet Prince Adam, born into a royal family known for its bravery and strength. However, he’s small for his age and often loses during combat practice, bringing embarrassment to his family.

Everything changes when Skeletor conquers Eternia, and Prince Adam is sent to Earth with the Sword of Power. It seems like every live-action He-Man story always includes a stint on our planet!

He quickly loses the sword, and the story jumps to the present day. We learn that adult Adam has been telling this story, and he’s determined to find the sword and get back home. However, Skeletor also wants the sword’s power, which sets up a conflict between them.

Prince Adam and the ‘Heroes of Eternia’

Nicholas Galitzine plays Adam, the prophesied hero destined to bring peace to Eternia. However, after spending time on Earth, Adam favors peaceful solutions like mediation and counseling over fighting.

He’s a little goofy and uncoordinated, much like Star-Lord, and just as endearing as Chris Pratt’s portrayal of the character. Like many Marvel heroes, he also deeply desires his father’s approval, a trait similar to Thor’s longing for respect from his kingly father.

When Prince Adam transforms into He-Man, he’s a total powerhouse, and the supporting cast is fantastic. Idris Elba delivers a regal performance as Man-at-Arms, while Camila Mendes is a brave and determined Teela. Jon Xue Zhang brings impressive strength as Ram Man, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson is surprisingly funny as Fisto, often stealing the show.

Discovering how the characters got their nicknames is amusing, but it leads to some surprisingly adult jokes that don’t quite fit with the movie’s overall family-friendly tone.

The problem with Skeletor

The villains aren’t as successful, though. Jared Leto’s Skeletor is self-absorbed, and his massive ego is his biggest flaw, which could create some compelling conflict among the villains themselves.

Honestly, I’m really struggling with Skeletor’s scenes with Evil-Lyn. The show sets her up as someone trapped in a really tough, even abusive, situation with Skeletor, constantly trying to keep him from flying off the handle. But instead of feeling dramatic or serious, their scenes mostly try to be funny, and it just feels…wrong. It makes me uncomfortable watching her constantly trying to calm him down when the show treats it like a joke.

Leto’s voice for the character sounds a bit like Ian McKellen’s, especially reminiscent of Skeletor, but he often speaks unclearly. Because the character doesn’t have lips, it’s often difficult to understand his lines.

The movie also doesn’t give Skeletor much of a past. With so many characters and the potential for sequels, a first film needs to establish a strong foundation. But because Skeletor is such a key character in the Masters of the Universe story, it’s disappointing that we don’t learn anything about his origins or motivations – it feels like a missed chance to make him a truly compelling villain.

Is Masters of the Universe good?

The new Masters of the Universe movie is a solid He-Man film – a big improvement over the 1987 movie – but it doesn’t quite reach the level of quality seen in Marvel films, which it clearly tries to emulate.

Nicholas Galitzine is fantastic as He-Man and his alter ego, Adam, seamlessly portraying both the quiet man and the powerful hero. Director Travis Knight stages some truly impressive action scenes, cleverly showcasing the unique powers of the characters and both sides of the battle.

The music is fantastic, featuring an energetic song by Brian May that blends the styles of ABBA and Queen. The film also cleverly incorporates The Cure’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry,’ using it effectively both within the score and to enhance the story’s themes.

The movie’s biggest weakness is its portrayal of Skeletor, who doesn’t feel fully developed. It also doesn’t spend enough time establishing the world of Eternia and its people early on, which ultimately makes the ending feel less impactful.

Masters of the Universe relies on introducing popular characters near the end, seemingly to pave the way for future movies and sequels. Whether this strategy will pay off remains to be seen, as while the film is enjoyable, it doesn’t quite reach the legendary status of He-Man himself.

Masters of the Universe is in cinemas worldwide from June 5, 2026.

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2026-06-02 16:20