After decades of failed reboots, development struggles, and skepticism surrounding another live-action He-Man adaptation, Masters of the Universe has finally arrived — and the early critical response suggests the film is far more entertaining than many expected. Directed by Travis Knight and starring Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, the fantasy epic blends ’80s nostalgia, camp spectacle, self-aware humor, and emotional sincerity into what critics are calling one of the year’s most surprising blockbuster experiences.
The film follows Prince Adam, who has spent years living on Earth after being separated from Eternia and the Sword of Power as a child. When the legendary weapon reconnects with him, Adam returns to Eternia to confront the villainous Skeletor and embrace his destiny as He-Man. Alongside Teela, Man-at-Arms, and a larger ensemble of warriors and villains, Adam must reclaim his home world before it collapses completely into darkness.
Much of the early reaction revolves around the fact that many critics simply did not expect the movie to work as well as it does. Mashable called the film “surprisingly worth seeing,” while Digital Spy described it as a “genuine surprise that knows exactly what it is.” Other reviewers openly admitted they entered the film expecting another cynical nostalgia-driven reboot before being won over by its sincerity, humor, and fantasy energy. According to Rotten Tomatoes reactions, many critics now see Masters of the Universe as one of the more successful modern toy-based franchise adaptations.
A major reason for that response appears to be Travis Knight’s creative approach to the material. Instead of attempting a dark or grounded reinvention, critics repeatedly praised the filmmaker for fully embracing the weirdness, theatricality, and colorful absurdity of the original franchise. The AU Review noted that the film leans into the “heightened, knowingly cartoonish energy” that made He-Man such a beloved pop culture figure, while THN praised the movie for perfectly capturing the spirit of the original Saturday morning cartoon.
Several critics also appreciated that the movie refuses to treat the mythology with embarrassment. Rather than hiding its fantasy roots beneath gritty realism, the film embraces giant swords, magical kingdoms, exaggerated villains, and camp spectacle with confidence. San Francisco Chronicle described the movie as a “rousing fantasy adventure,” while multiple reviews compared its tone to films like Thor: Ragnarok and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves because of its blend of self-aware humor and emotional sincerity.
Nicholas Galitzine has emerged as one of the film’s biggest surprises among critics. Many reviews praised the actor for balancing vulnerability, awkward humor, and heroic charisma in a way that modernizes Prince Adam without losing the larger-than-life qualities associated with He-Man. THN noted that Galitzine “inhabits Adam perfectly,” while The AU Review praised the actor’s comedic timing and emotional sincerity.
Critics also highlighted the film’s attempts to explore masculinity and heroism through Adam’s character arc. RogerEbert.com and Geek Vibes Nation both noted that the movie reframes He-Man as a hero struggling between empathy, insecurity, ego, and traditional expectations of masculinity. While several critics acknowledged these themes are not always explored deeply, many still appreciated the effort to give emotional complexity to a character historically defined by exaggerated macho fantasy.
The film’s supporting cast has also received strong reactions, particularly Jared Leto’s wildly theatrical performance as Skeletor. The role has quickly become one of the movie’s most divisive but memorable elements. Some critics called Leto “magnificent,” “captivating,” and hilariously campy, while others felt the performance becomes chaotic and exhausting. Still, even many mixed reviews admitted that Skeletor’s exaggerated theatricality makes the villain impossible to ignore. One review even joked that drag performers would be lip-syncing this version of Skeletor before Pride Month had ended.
Idris Elba, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the film’s most consistently praised cast members, with critics highlighting his grounded and charismatic presence as Man-at-Arms. Alison Brie also drew strong reactions for her performance as Evil-Lyn, with multiple reviews describing her as perfectly cast and fully committed to the film’s fantasy-camp tone. Camila Mendes and Kristen Wiig similarly received praise for bringing energy and humor to the larger ensemble.
The movie’s tone has become one of the biggest points of division among critics. Positive reviews praised the campy self-awareness and playful humor, arguing that the movie succeeds precisely because it refuses to take itself too seriously. Consequence wrote that the film’s silly energy feels preferable to a grim reboot, while Geek Vibes Nation praised the film’s embrace of exaggerated fantasy absurdity.
Other critics, however, argued that the constant jokes sometimes undermine emotional sincerity. The Hollywood Reporter criticized the movie for overloading scenes with campy humor to the point where viewers “don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” while RogerEbert.com suggested the film occasionally retreats into self-aware comedy whenever genuine sincerity begins to emerge. Several reviews also described the movie as suffering from an “identity crisis” between parody and heartfelt fantasy storytelling.
The Earth-set sequences turned out to be another surprising strength for many critics. Several reviews admitted they were initially worried about another He-Man movie spending too much time away from Eternia, especially after the 1987 adaptation made the same choice. However, many reviewers said the Earth material actually provides some of the film’s funniest and most character-driven moments. Critics from Irish Times, THN, and The Hard Pass all praised how the modern-world setting helps ground the humor and emotional setup before the story expands into larger fantasy spectacle.
The action sequences and visual presentation have received mostly positive reactions, though not without criticism. Several critics praised the colorful fantasy battles, practical effects, comic-book energy, and retro-inspired production design. Others, however, felt some CGI-heavy sequences become visually chaotic or overly long. Even critics mixed on the film still praised Daniel Pemberton’s musical score, which has become one of the movie’s most universally celebrated elements. Multiple reviews highlighted the heavy-metal-inspired soundtrack and grand fantasy themes, with some calling it one of the year’s best blockbuster scores.
Another recurring debate among critics is whether the film works for viewers unfamiliar with He-Man mythology. Some reviews praised the screenplay for welcoming newcomers while still rewarding longtime fans. Others argued that the movie occasionally assumes too much franchise familiarity and may feel overwhelming to audiences without nostalgic attachment to Eternia and its characters.
Still, even many mixed reviews acknowledged that Masters of the Universe feels more creatively alive than most nostalgia-driven reboots currently dominating Hollywood. Critics repeatedly described the film as messy, tonally chaotic, and overstuffed — but also energetic, sincere, and genuinely invested in the mythology rather than treating it as ironic corporate content. Several reviewers even suggested the movie could eventually become a future camp cult favorite because of its unapologetically theatrical fantasy style.
Masters of the Universe ultimately reflects Hollywood’s growing obsession with reviving nostalgic toy and cartoon properties for modern audiences, but critics seem to agree that Travis Knight’s version stands apart because it refuses to be embarrassed by its own weirdness. In an era where many blockbusters hide fantasy beneath self-conscious irony, the film’s willingness to embrace sincerity, camp, emotional vulnerability, and giant-sword spectacle may end up becoming its greatest strength. Whether audiences fully connect with its chaotic tone or not, the early reviews suggest Masters of the Universe could become one of the year’s most passionately debated franchise revivals — and perhaps even the beginning of a larger Eternia saga.
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2h 12m
Genres: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Directed by: Travis Knight
In Theaters: June 5, 2026
Production: Amazon MGM Studios, Mattel Studios, Escape Artists
Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, Kristen Wiig.
