Masters of the Universe (2026) Review: From Toy to Blockbuster, Nostalgia, CGI & Travis Knight Direction

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source: tv.lk21

Synopsis:

Masters of the Universe (2026) is a fantasy adventure film based on the 1980-1990 animated cartoon with the same title. The film is directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee), has a runtime of 2 hours 20 minutes, and is rated: PG-13 / M.

15 years have passed since Prince Adam was separated from his home. When he was still a 10-year-old boy, Adam was sent to Earth by the Sorceress to protect him from the attack of Lord Skeletor who was laying siege to the kingdom of Eternia. With him was also thrown the most powerful weapon of Eternia, the Sword of Power.

Growing up, Adam Glenn lives on Earth as a lonely employee. He always draws Eternia and searches for the missing sword. When he finally finds the Sword of Power in a collectibles store, the sword pulls him back to Eternia. But Eternia is already in ruins. Skeletor now rules with cruelty. His parents, King Randor and the Queen, are still alive. Man-At-Arms / Duncan has become a drunk, and his childhood friend Teela is now the Captain of the Resistance. To save his family and his world, Adam must raise the sword to the sky and shout: "By the power of Grayskull... I HAVE THE POWER!". He transforms into He-Man - the most powerful man in the universe. Together with Teela, Duncan, and their allies, Adam begins a quest to defeat Skeletor and reclaim the throne of Eternia.

Critics praised several aspects of this film. They said the film is nostalgia done right. The film truly embraces the energy of 80s cartoons, toys, and their absurd costumes. There are many Easter Eggs and fan service that make longtime fans smile. Travis Knight successfully made Eternia feel alive, like Asgard. Nicholas Galitzine as Adam/He-Man received praise. He captured the mix of "a silly, honest, big-hearted hero". His masculinity isn’t just muscles, but also emotional intelligence. Jared Leto as Skeletor is having fun as a goofy but badass villain. Camila Mendes as Teela is also great, not just a love interest but a real hero. The film chooses the path of leaning into the ridiculousness. There are many irreverent jokes, postmodern winks, and action that feels "like it was choreographed by a child" - in the best way. The result: "delightfully silly" and "sugary breakfast cereal in movie form".

However, the film is not without its flaws. The film is considered too long and exposition-heavy. Some critics said the film "needed to be a bit shorter" and was hindered by "length, heavy exposition". Many also criticized the poor CGI and visual effects.

This film stars: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin and more.

In my opinion:

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Mmmm… I’m not a fan of this cartoon series, but I did watch it as a kid. To be honest I didn’t understand the origin of the main character, so I hope this live action is accurate to the cartoon.

There are a few things that feel a bit off when Adam is grown up and living on Earth. First is his search for the Sword of Power. I felt the moment the sword was found was not dramatic at all. Imagine, the most powerful sword in Eternia was found in a toy store and mounted on an action figure, Torak. I thought, "dude... come on!", the sword seemed to have fallen into a lake when it fell to Earth. Then suddenly a monster like a Troll (Beast Man) comes chasing Adam and then Teela comes to save him. I mean, was there any setup first for why this Troll and Teela are suddenly on Earth? Why does it feel like the film is jumping from scene to scene?

The film has beautiful and gorgeous visuals, and the cinematography is also very good. Maybe this is just me, but why do I feel like the music is misplaced? Like, "Hey, don’t play a funeral song at a birthday party!". It feels out of place, although not all of it. Please forgive me if I’m wrong. Story-wise, it’s not too special either. It’s light and easy to predict. I don’t blame it for this, because the target audience is children, teenagers, and those who want to be nostalgic about their childhood. There are even lots of jokes in the scenes or dialogue. This made me wonder, was this cartoon originally like this in concept? Again, please correct me if I’m wrong.

I was quite impressed with the visual of He-Man. It’s quite accurate. The same goes for Skeletor, but why does his voice sound like the Lich in DOTA 2? In terms of acting, I would place Jared Leto as the winner. There are several characters that feel like they didn’t get much screen time in this film. Such as: Fisto, Mekaneck, Ram Man, Moss Man, and the others. Only Man-At-Arms and Teela get a lot of screen time, and for the record, Teela is a very annoying character for me.

Masters of the Universe is pure popcorn cinema. After almost 20 years of development, we finally get a live-action adaptation that honors the legacy of He-Man. This is not a film that will change cinema. But it is a "fun ride" summer movie perfect for a drive-in, full of heart, humor, and gleaming muscles. If you grew up with Transformers and He-Man, you’ll be relieved that they did it promise. If you’re a newcomer, the film still gives you all the explanations you need.

For me this one is 7.5/10.

Knowledge Corner:

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Did you know the history of Masters of the Universe? If you’re a kid from the 80s or 90s, you’re definitely familiar with the shout, "BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL... I HAVE THE POWER!". Before Transformers and G.I. Joe, there was one franchise that was the king of muscles, laser swords, and armored tigers. Its name: Masters of the Universe.

Born in 1982, ironically He-Man wasn’t born from a comic or cartoon first. He was born from a Mattel drawing board. At first, Mattel failed to get the license for Conan the Barbarian. Rather than waste the design, they created their own character: a muscular man with a sword and sold it alongside toys. The name "He-Man" was chosen because it sounded strong and was easy for kids to remember. In 1982, the Masters of the Universe toy line was released. It included: He-Man, Skeletor, Man-At-Arms, Evil-Lyn, Beast Man, and Castle Grayskull. To sell the toys, Mattel needed a cartoon. So Filmation came in

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe premiered in 1983. The formula was simple: Every episode Skeletor wants to take over Castle Grayskull. He-Man shows up, fights, wins, then gives a "moral message" at the end. Why did the cartoon explode in popularity? Starting with the iconic design: muscles, fur, armor. The silhouette is easy to recognize. The cartoon contained a mixed world: there was magic + sci-fi + swords + lasers. Like Star Wars meets Conan. Then the most iconic part was its moral message. Rarely was there an action cartoon that ended with a message like "Don’t play with matches, kids!". At the peak of its popularity, Masters of the Universe toys sold $400 million per year. It also spawned a spin-off: She-Ra: Princess of Power in 1985.

The first live-action film was released in 1987, but it flopped. Dolph Lundgren played He-Man in Masters of the Universe. Low budget, weird costumes, and a story far from Eternia. The film failed at the box office and "buried" the franchise for almost 15 years. Then in the early 2000s, Mattel rebooted it with a new cartoon that was more serious, dark, and anime-influenced. The story was more connected to the original lore. Unfortunately it was canceled because toy sales weren’t as strong as before. However, in 2002-2004, Masters of the Universe rose again through the Mike Young Productions cartoon.

In 2021, Netflix tried to release 2 versions to revive the hope of Masters of the Universe. The first version was Masters of the Universe: Revelation - Kevin Smith. Made for adult fans, with a big twist, and darker. The second version, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - a CG version for kids. Both sparked new nostalgia and proved He-Man wasn’t dead. Finally, after almost 20 years of development, the new Masters of the Universe live-action was released on June 5, 2026. This film takes the formula of "Thor: Ragnarok meets 80s toys". Full of kitsch, jokes, and big action. The story: Adam, who was exiled to Earth for 15 years, must return to Eternia to defeat Skeletor and reclaim his throne.

Why has Masters of the Universe never died?

1. Symbol of Childhood Power: He-Man is the purest power fantasy. Who wouldn’t want to shout and instantly become the strongest?
2. Best Villain: Skeletor. Skull, purple cape, and evil laugh. Complete.
3. The World of Eternia: A place where you can have laser swords, magic, and barbarian kings in one frame.

From toy shelves in 1982 to a 2026 blockbuster film, Masters of the Universe proves one thing: As long as there are still kids who want to be heroes, He-Man will always have the power.