Masters of the Universe (2026)

I went into the new Masters of the Universe determined to keep an open mind. That is easier said than done when you have decades of nostalgia tied to a property, especially one that already has a live-action adaptation that, flaws and all, means a great deal to you. I came away with mixed feelings, but mostly positive ones. Some things absolutely worked, a few that did not, and some very obvious influences that shaped the way this film tells its story.

The influence I felt most strongly was James Gunn. This movie reminded me of what Guardians of the Galaxy accomplished, not because it copies it outright, but because the music becomes another character in the film. The soundtrack is woven into the storytelling instead of simply sitting in the background. Brian May’s involvement adds another layer to that feeling, reinforcing the movie’s embrace of its 1980s DNA. The nostalgia is always present, but it never tumbles into parody or becomes embarrassingly campy. It’s handled with a surprising amount of restraint.

One of my favorite moments comes in a brief Dolph Lundgren cameo. Adam finds himself seeking advice from Dolph while lifting weights, and as their interaction ends, Dolph smiles, gives the familiar two-finger “Good journey” salute from the 1987 film, and quietly walks away. It is a small moment, but it carries enormous emotional weight. It felt less like a cameo and more like a passing of the torch. The He-Man who introduced many of us to live-action Eternia was stepping aside, acknowledging the next generation before letting this new version make the role its own. For someone who has always had a soft spot for the 1987 film, it was exactly the kind of fan service I appreciate. It respected the past without dwelling on it.

One aspect of the movie that fascinated me was Adam himself. Characters with dual identities are always difficult to portray. Batman is Bruce Wayne putting on a mask. Superman is Clark Kent choosing humility despite possessing unimaginable power. Adam is different. When he becomes He Man, confidence and certainty flow through him naturally. But Adam himself is still just a kid who never quite figured out where he belonged. Those insecurities don’t disappear just because we understand them. Throughout the film, the contrast remains intentionally jarring. It never settles into something completely comfortable, and I actually think that’s the point. The transition between Adam and He Man is supposed to feel dramatic because they represent two very different versions of the same person.

Oddly enough, I think this approach also solves something that has always bothered me about the original Filmation cartoon. Even as a child, Adam’s voice always struck me as bizarre. It sounded far older than the character looked, creating this strange disconnect that never quite made sense to me. The voice actor did an excellent job, but it never fit the on-screen image in my mind. By making Adam socially awkward and clearly out of his element, this film almost feels like it acknowledges that disconnect. Whether intentional or not, it gave the character a vulnerability that made more sense to me than the version I grew up with.

Unfortunately, not every character landed.

Evil Lyn simply didn’t work for me. Meg Foster cast such a long shadow in the 1987 film that anyone taking on the role would have an uphill battle. But it wasn’t simply a comparison problem. Foster brought an incredible amount of charisma and intelligence to the character. She commanded every scene she appeared in. This new interpretation never found that same spark, and as a result, Evil Lyn felt surprisingly forgettable.

Jared Leto’s Skeletor also left me conflicted. I generally enjoy Jared Leto as an actor. I grew up watching My So Called Life, so Jordan Catalano will always earn him a little goodwill from me. But this performance felt…off. I struggle to put my finger on exactly why. It wasn’t terrible. It simply never settled into a version of Skeletor that completely clicked for me.

Visually, however, the film is outstanding.

I especially loved the final battle, where the filmmakers incorporated moments that resembled comic book panels. There are several freeze-frame punches where He-Man lands a massive hit on Skeletor and the action pauses for just a split second, almost as though you’ve turned the page of a comic. It was an inventive stylistic choice that reminded me of the source material without becoming distracting.

I also appreciated how the story moved between Earth and Eternia. Adam’s struggle to reconcile those two worlds reminded me, oddly enough, of Barbie. Not because the stories are similar, but because both films use two vastly different worlds to explore a character trying to understand where they truly belong. Whether that was an intentional influence or simply my own interpretation, it worked for me.

Overall, I enjoyed Masters of the Universe more than I expected to. It isn’t going to replace the 1987 film in my heart, and it doesn’t quite capture the same lightning in a bottle that made that imperfect movie so memorable to me. But that’s okay. This never felt like a remake. It felt like a reboot. It takes familiar characters, builds an entirely new story around them, and gives a new generation its own version of Eternia.

Some pieces don’t fully work, but the film’s sense of humor, visual style, and willingness to embrace the spirit of He-Man without simply copying what came before make it one of the more successful franchise reboots we’ve seen in recent years.

If you’ve spent your life comparing every new version to the one you grew up with, you may find yourself wrestling with some of the same feelings I did. But if you can let this movie be its own thing, there’s quite a bit here to enjoy.

Verdict

Does it stand up to the original?

I actually think it does, provided you don’t walk into it expecting a remake.

This works best as a companion piece to the 1987 film rather than a replacement for it. It respects what came before, tips its hat to longtime fans, and then tells its own story. That is exactly what a reboot should do.

Will I watch it again?

Absolutely.

In fact, the film had barely ended before one of the songs from the soundtrack, this version of Princes of the Universe, had already found its way into my Amazon Music playlist. That alone says something about how much fun I had with it.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give it is this. I can’t wait to share it with the kids.

This is the kind of fantasy adventure families can sit down and enjoy together. While there are a few jokes aimed at adults, they’re mild enough that you’re not constantly bracing yourself for awkward conversations afterward. The focus stays where it belongs, on adventure, heroism, humor, and heart.

It may never replace the original in my collection, but it doesn’t need to. The 1987 film will always hold a special place in my heart. This version earns its own place alongside it, and I think that’s exactly where it belongs.